Evening star., 1952-03-06
Sasscer Did Nothing
About Corruption and
Graft, Mahoney Says

George p. Mahoney charged last
night that Representative Sasscer,
Democrat, Of Maryland is unfit for
the United States Senate because
he "did nothing while law en-
forcement officers winked at graft
and corruption" and then "like
Plate" washed his hands of the
whole dirty mess"
For the more than 20 years that
"Sasscer, the political boss" ruled
Prince Georges County, Mr.. Ma
honey declared, crime and cor
ruption thrived in open contempt
of the law" and "the traffic in
vice was open and shameless"
Opening his campaign in Rep
|resentative SaSscer's home county,
the Baltimore contractor said at
Mount Rainier that he entered the
race because ''as Democrat, ]
refused to stand by and let the
senatorial nomination go by de-
fault to a man who. in my opinion,
lis not qualified to represent you
in the Senate Of the United
States"
Some Sasscer Backers There.
Mr.. Mahoney, Democratic ma
tional committeeman for Mary
land, spoke in the Melody Ball
room. but nothing he said was
melodious to the sprinkling Of
Sasscer adherents in the audience
of nearly 100.
His supporters said the meeting
was arranged primarily to com.
plete the Mahoney organization IN
the county. an objective which
was accomplished during confer
ences which followed his address.
Max Zupkin Of Hyattsville
agreed to head his executive conf
mittee and Mrs. Irma Bogdanof
of the same town will manage the
Mahoney campaign.
Hitting at his chief opponent in
the May 5 primary for refusing
to debate issues on a Statewide
tour, Mr.. Mahoney temporarily
switched his attack to "tax-happy
purchasing agents for the Army,
Navy and Air Force" who ne said
"have squandered millions en-
essentials"
On Services Committee.
more than ever" he said, "I
wish that Mr.. Sasscer was on this
platform with me. For Congress
man Sasscer was q senior member
of the Armed Services Committee
when these millions were being
wasted. Where was Mr.. Sasscer
when these orgies were taking
place? What excuse does he have
for his failure to uncover and
check them?"
Returning to the crime situa-
tion in Prince Georges, Mr.. Ma
honey referred to recently con-
victed numbers king Charles E.
Nelson and remarked that Mr..
Sasscer has said that "he would
not know Charlie Nelson if he
met him face. to face"
But" he added, "he cannot say
that about Irwin I. Main. a men,
ber Of the Democratic State Cen
tral Committee. Mr.. Main. a
former banker, was accused OF
making an unsecured loan to the
Nelson interests.
'While the Young Democrats OF
Prince Georges were demanding
that Main be kicked OF the COM
mittee, Mr.. SaSscer was defending
this man as an honorable citi-
zen.'"
Vance v. Vaughan, q Brentwood
attorney. acted as master Of cere-
monies. Other speakers included
Robert w. Mccullough, former
county trial magistrate, who said
he had not indorsed Mr.. Mahoney,
and John O. Rutherford, clerk Of
the Baltimore City Court.
Women Speak Briefly.
Mrs. Mahoney and Mrs. Bog
danof spoke briefly.
Mahoney supporters said Mrs.
Bogdanoff was selected to run the
campaign because Of her dem
abilities as an organizer
and leader" She is q past presi-
dent Of the county League Of
Women Voters and is now chair
man Of the Civic Federation's
Committee for County Affairs.