Evening star., 1952-07-21
Support in Maryland
After First Ballot
Claimed by Russell
BY q stoff Correspondent of Tn. stur

CHICAGO. July Ex-senator
Russell of Georgia today was
claiming substantial support from
Maryland after the first ballot for
the presidential nomination at the
Democratic convention.
Senator Kefauver of Tennessee
is assured of all of the Free States
18 votes on the first ballot, pos
Sibly Thursday, after having car
ried the State in an unoppoSedI
preferential primary last May.
But the Georgia senator told al
press conference yesterday that
he had talked with a Maryland
delegate and then made this
statement:
"Ill have rather substantial sup
port there after the first ballot"
He refused to name the person
with whom he had talked.
Kefauver at Caucus.
Senator Kefauver was among
presidential hopefulS who paraded
before the Maryland delegates toi
WOO convention votes. He and his
wife, Nancy, put in an appearance
at a caucus of the States dele
gates at the La Sale Hotel. Vice
President Barkley. Senator Kerr
of Oklahoma and Representative
Roosevelt of New York, also showed
up at a reception a short time
later.
Senator Kefauver was asked for
comment on the Russell state
ment.
"a large part of Maryland dele
CATION will stay with me all the
way through" Senator Kefauver
said. 1--WE been assured of this"
His assurance appeared to be
well founded, based on events that
took place at the meeting.
SasScer Praises Tennessean.
Representative SaSscer Of Upper
Marlboro, who Is chairman Of the
delegation, introduced Senator Ke-
fauver this way:
HE made a good Congressman
and he made a good Senator and
I know that if he's elected. he'll
make good President"
Mr.. SasScer wore a tin coon
skin cap campaign button in his
lapel. .
Added significance was given
the Endorsement when George p.
Mahoney, who defeated Mr.. Sass
Ger in the recent primary for the
senatorial nomination, said, 1--WE
should stick by this man (Kefau- !,
ver) until he's out of the running
completely. We owe a debt Of OBJ
legation to the people of Maryland
who voted for him. I, as a candi-
date in Maryland, feel that Mr..
Kefauver can get more votes than
any of the presidential candi-
dates"
D'AleSandrO Joins in Chorus.
Senator Kefauver's strength in
Maryland apparently scared even
further when Baltimore's Mayor
Thomas D'Alesandro joined in the
chorus. Mayor D'Alesandro sup
ported Mr., SaSScer against Mr..
Mahoney in the Senate race and
was elected by the State conven-
tion to succeed Mr.. Mahoney as
national committeeman.
Citing the Maryland election
laws. Mayor D'Alesandro said, II
feel we are duty-bound to sup
port Kefauver on the first. second
and up to the 50th ballot, if nee (
essary, as long as there is any
chance of his winning"
Maryland is not bound by the ]
unit rule. E. Brooke Lee. Mont
gomery County party leader. who
wore large orange colored
Kefauver button, admitted that
delegates would be free to go to t
some one else after the first ballot It
If "in their Conscientious judg- l
ment" they believed Senator Ke- 4
fauver could not win the nomina-
ton.
Mayor D'Alesandro foresaw a K
floor fight on an FEPC plank in 6
the party platform and said, I'VE
don't want to bind any one who [
came here with an open mind on
the subject" |,
But he pleaded for unity to (
carry the entire democratic slate t
national and State-to victory in II
November. '
Senator Kefauver said that next It
to TenneSSee-which has 20 con-
vention votes-Maryland is the
largest State in the South. which h
Is supporting him. II
Aid in State Pledged. C
IF nominated" Senator Kefau- v
yer said. II will do all that I can r
to help you elect a Democratic r
Senator and Congressman. I will
spend all the time I can, COM IS