Evening star., 1952-02-19
Crime Issue Selected
By Mahoney for Drive
In Opposing Sasscer

George P. Mahoney will file for
the Senate tomorrow and will CEN
ter his campaign attacks on "the
crime situation in Prince Georges
County,"
"I'm in to stay" Mr.. Mahoney
declared at a press conference
yesterday in the Mayflower Hotel,
where he again challenged Repre-
sentative Sasscer, Democrat. to
cross verbal swords with him on
stumps throughout the State.
The Baltimore paving contractor,
whose announcement of his can
didacy set Democratic circles spin
ming, said he called in reporters
here because he felt Washington
newspapers have been sighted.
They play big part in Maryland
elections, he asserted.
Sees Debate Needed.
Il feel Mr.. Sasscer should de-
bate the matter" said the Mary
land Democratic national COM
mitteeman, who topped Gov. Lane
in popular votes in 1850, but lost
the gubernatorial nomination be-
cause of the States unit system.
"Mr. Sasscer has long had czar-
like control of Prince Georges, ~
Mr.. Mahoney said, "and a leader
must accept a certain RESPONSE
bility for the fact that the county
permitted crime and corruption to
exist for several years"
Mr.. Mahoney said the question
is particular pertinent now.
l Wants "Alliance" Broken.
Reiterating his statement that
"the unholy alliance between the
underworld and some men in
Ipolitics must be broken" Mr..
Mahoney added:
During the same period when
|racketeers and gamblers were get
ting a stranglehold over the county
whose political organization has
long been headed by my opponent
for the Democratic nomination to
the United States Senate, I was
winning an uphill battle to drive
gangsters and dopesters from the
race tracks Of my State."'
! Il shall continue to fight cor
ruption," he declared, land my
record as chairman of the State
Racing Commission proves that,
as a crime fighter, I am a man of
action and not words"
Mr.. Mahoney referred to the
Nelson gambling case, tried re-
Gently in the District, and to Irwin
I. Main, who repeatedly made an
unsecured loan to Nelson interests
while connected with Prince
Georges County Bank.
i Promises Fight on Waste. j,
Il Of Mr.. Main, MIR. Mahoney said,
''he is righthand Sasscer lieu
tenant and is still member OF
the County Central Committee"
Promising to combat commu-
nism and governmental waste and
linefflciency during a shoe
leather" campaign to begin soon
in Prince Georges, Mr.. Mahoney
whose attractive wife will trudge
with him, said he believes his
entrance into the race will pro-
mote party harmony.
Before people can be expected
to rally around the party stand
lard" he asserted sit is necessary
Ito have a candidate who can win
1.-THE general election"
i Referring to reports that he has
Senator O'Conor's backing, Mr.,
lMahoney said, Senator O'Conor
lis a close friend, and I would well
come his support, but have not
, discussed the matter with him and
have no commitment from him. u
"AS Of today" he added, II am
lone man against a machine and
must concede that Mr.. Sasscer has
,la political army. But a number
!; ;Iof counties that have indorsed Mr.
|, lSasscer will shift to me, and an
Iother one-time Sasscer adherent,
| Mayor D'Alesandro of Baltimore,
|. right now is out at sea-"