Evening star., 1950-05-22
|G. 0. P. Draws
Battle Lines
In Maryland
Primories Assured
For Senute Roce
And Governorship
By J. |. MichoeI
Speeici Stor coFrsspondsns

BALTIMORE, May 22.-With
primaries for Governor and Sena-
tor assured, Maryland Republicans
today faced q new factional fight
which may result in reorganiza-
ton Of the party.
In his first public statement
since he was doomed for the gov
ernorship, Thomas B. r. Mudd OF
Charles County announced that
he and his supporters have
talked things over" with anti
organization forces with q view
to forming a coalition.
The groups with whom he con-
ferred are headed by former
Mayor Theodore r. McKeldin,
Paul Robinson and Miss Helen
Elizabeth Brown, leader of city
anti-organization women.
This became necessary, Mr..
Mudd said. when Jacob France,
national committeeman for Mary
land and party chairman Stan
ford Hof failed to solve a dilem-
ma which resulted from a
threatened four-way race for the
gubernatorial nomination"
Warn of ''Disaster."
State Senators James B. Mon
roe of Charles County and Paul
j. Bailey Of st. Marys County
who started the boom for Mr.
Mudd, said the two leaders "un-
willingness to accept responsibility
in a year when the party had a
real chance to win," may cause
IAN election day disaster unless
there are stronger hands at the
helm"
The Senators referred to the
candidates. for Governor Of Mr..
Mudd, State Senator Roy Tasco
Davis of Montgomery County. D.
John Markey of Frederick and
Royden A. Blunt Of Baltimore.
At a conference here April q
with Mr.. France and Mr.. Hof, the
four agreed to meet again in a
month in an attempt to select one
of their number as the candidate
and thus avoid a primary.
The meeting did not material
ize and meanwhile Mr.. Markey
and Senator Davis have formally
announced their candidacy.
Battle for Senate Seat Impends.
No statement has been made by
Mr.. Blunt, but reliable sources
said he is unlikely to enter a pri-
mary fight.
A battle for the nomination for
the seat held by Democratic Sen
ator Millard e. Tydings shapes
up when John Butler, a Balti-
more attorney, and Herman L.
Mills, Mayor Of Hagerstown, an
nounced their candidates.. Mr..
Butler has the backing of Mr..
France while Mr.. Mills is friend
ly' to the McKeldin faction.
If the proposed coalition ma
terializes, the new Senate leader
probably would be Mr.. McKeldin.
Informed Republicans say Sena-
tor Monroe, now chairman of the
party's Steering Committee, may
take over the post of State chair
man.
In any event, MIR. McKeldin ap-
pears to hold the whip hand. He
has been mentioned as a candi-
date for both Governor and Sen
ator. In case Of a primary. party
leaders believe. Mr.. McKeldin
could step in and win while county
contenders split the vote among
themselves.
Or, they reason. he can stay on
the sidelines and achieve party
control by throwing his strength
to the Mudd. Mills Brown combi-
nation.
Senators Monroe and Bailey
who are managing Mr.. Mudd's
campaign, say they are undis-
turbed about the Markey and Da.
Wis announcements. Both are
from Western Maryland" they OBJ.
serve. "and that means a split o1
the vote in that section"
The situation is a problem fol
Representative Beall. but he has
given no indication as to whom
he will support.