Evening star., 1952-07-20
Nearby Delegations
Leave Here CheeriIy
For Political Wars
By Alex R. Preston

Virginia ana Maryland Qelega-
tions to the Democratic National
Convention, prettily dressed and
neatly pressed, departed for Chi
cago last night as cheerily as If
they faced no political wars.
Gov. Battle, who motored up|
from Richmond, led band Of Vir-
ginians aboard the Baltimore 81
Ohio'S Capitol Limited for the
overnight trip that seemed to find
everyone in good spirits.
Minutes later, Representative
Sasscer and a group Of Maryland
delegates trooped onto a special
train at Silver Spring and joined
hands with other Marylandersl
whose views they don't always
share.
Already aboard the special was
George P. Mahoney. the former
racing commissioner who defeated
Mr.. SaSscer for the Democratic
Senatorial nomination in the party
primary a few weeks ago. II the
cleavage between Mr.. MahoneyI
and Mr.. SaSScer remained, the ev-I
idence was lacking. The warriors
shook hands. exchanged pleasan-I
tries and posed together for pho
tographerS.
Lee Dominant Figure.
Dominant figure in the Silver
Spring group. however, was E.
Brooke Lee. the towering poll
tician from Montgomery County
whose influence is still feltI
throughout Maryland despite the
defeat of his organization in local
elections.
Mr.. Lee expressed the firm con-
viction that Maryland's delega-
tion will stick with Senator he
fauver as long as there Is any
chance for his nomination to the
Presidency.
The delegation is not bound by
. unit rule-itS members may
vote individual preferences after
the first ballot. But Mr.. Lee
told reporters he was sure that
the Free State Democrats would
back Senator Kefauver unless all
hope fades.
State Senator Harry F. Byrd,
1r.. of Winchester, son of the
United States Senator. Joined the
Virginia delegation at Martins
burg, w. Va. as did former Mary
land Gov. William Preston Lane,
jr., of Hagerstown.
MahOney Gets Sendoff.
Mr.. Mahoney received a big
send-off with a brass band and a
large crowd of boosters at Balti-
more's Mount Royal station before
the special arrived here. i
His term as national committee
man will expire at the end of the
national convention. The Mary
land State Convention voted to
replace him with Baltimore's |,
Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro, who
backed Mr.. Sasscer in the Senator
ial primary. Mr.. D'AleSandro and
State Senate President George w.
Della, another delegate and Balti-
more area leader, already are in
Chicago.
Senator Byrd, disturbed by Sen
ator Russell's pronouncements on
the Taft-Hartley Act, cancelled
plans to leave yesterday with the
Virginia delegates and went by
plane from National Airport Fri
day night.
Praise Is Deleted.
The Russell statement on the /
Taft-Hartley Act reached the Vir-
ginians just as they were prepared
to indorse him at their State
convention in Roanoke. Former
Gov. William M. Tuck, the key
note speaker, made a last-minute :
deletion of high praise for the .
Georgian from his prepared !
address.
Among Virginia delegates in
the Washington area, George p.
Grove of Arlington, took a plane
from National Airport yesterday.
State Senator Charles r. Fen
wick of Arlington is scheduled to
60 by train this afternoon.
Many other Virginia delegates
were leaving by Chesapeake &
Ohio and Norfolk & Western
Railroads from the central and
southwest sections of the State.
Four Washington delegates
were to fly up today. They are
Herbert P. Leeman, j. C. Turner,
Edward Williams and Frank j.
O'Conner. The delegation chair
man, Commissioner F. Joseph
Donohue and Joseph L. Rauh, jr.,
left by train Friday while A.. L.
Wheeler was to arrive in Chicago
today from Wisconsin.
The Virginians have been as
signed space in the Conrad Hilton