Evening star., 1952-04-29
Survey Indicates
Close Races for
Sdsscer, bed||
Both Seem Secure
In CountiesSbu
Not Baltimore City
BY the Asseeioted Press

0v HS %sSoesoteo FEeSS
BALTIMORE, April 29.-Two
veteran Maryland Congressman,
unaccustomed to strong opposition
at the polls in their own districts,
have all the competition they can
handle in their bids for the nom
nations to the Senate.
Both have their party organiza-
tions behind them, and both are
opposed primarily by men who
never have been elected to politi-
cal Office. Yet the vote next Mon
day is expected to be close.
This is the general opinion of
county politicians contacted by
Associated Press reporters on a
Statewide tour.
On the basis Of the personal
survey. both Representatives Beall,
Republican, and Sasscer, Demo-
crat, appear to have the edge in
unit votes among the % counties.
But their standing within Balti-
more City seems less secure.
152 Unit Votes.
Maryland nominateS it's candi-
dates for Statewide Offices by the
unit vote system. There are a
total of 152 unit votes-one for
each member Of the General
Assembly. The candidate who re-
ceives the plurality Of votes in a
county or legislative district in
Baltomire City automatically re-
ceiveS the entire unit vote Of that
county or legislative district, re-
gardless Of the margin in which
he wins it.
Representative Beall, who has
represented Western Maryland in
Congress for five terms, is opposed
by four other candidates.
His closest opponent, politicians
believe, is H. Grady Gore, Mont
gomery County businessman, who
became q Republican convert in
1948.
Mr.. Beall has the backing of
Gov. McKeldin and most of the
individual members Of the county
organizations. Virtually all State
Central Committees are remaining
neutral on nrthe surface.
But Mr.. Gore, the local leaders
say, has won considerable fol-
lowing through his attacks on Mr..
Beall as "do-nothing" Congress-
man and through a subdued feel
Ing apparent in both parties that
new faces might be in order.
Some Lack Strength.
Mayor Herman L. Mills Of Ha-
gerstown, Royden H. Blunt Of
Howard County and Thomas
Hankinson Of Bradshaw, Baltimore
County, the others striving for
the Republican nomination, are
net figured by the county politi-l
clans to be able to swing the
contest.
In the Democratic race it looks
even closer. George P. Mahoney,
Baltimore contractor, appears toI
have a secure hold on several
strategic counties and is expected
to be almost as strong within
Baltimore City as he was in 1850.
Two years ago Mr.. Mahoney
polled more popular votes than
the former Gov. William Preston
Lane. jr., but Mr.. Lane carried
more counties and received the
larger unit vote. Mr.. Mahoney'sI
biggest edge then was in the city.
On the other hand, the party
workhorseS in Southern Maryland
expect Representative Sasscer toI
carry his home district there with
little difficulty. Representative
Sasscer has State Controller J.
Millard TaweS and Arthur Brice
plugging for him on the Eastern
Shore. Both more or less monopo-
lie the watermen's vote there.
Mr.. Mahoney appears the
stronger in Western Maryland.
This results from the following he
built up during the 1850 campaign
and because Of the high percen-
tage Of Catholics and Irish blood
in Allegany and Garrett. Mr.. Ma
honey is Catholic and Irish.
Mr.. SaSScer has done little to
win Western Maryland support.
Politicians Estimate.
Taking the word Of politicians
with the counties, Representative
Sasscer has six counties with %
unit votes virtually tied down and
appears the stronger in eight
others with a more unit votes.
This would give him a total of 81
Of the ITO county votes.
MIR. Mahoney looks quite sure
in at least three counties for IS
votes and, the local lights say,
probably will win in five others
for % mora total of 80.
One county with five votes
Wicomico-remains a tossup.
That leaves Baltimore city's AZ
unit votes from its six legislative
districts.
Mr. SaSScer mas practically the
same city organization in back
Of him that supported Mr.. Lane
two years ago-and Lane lost the
city. Still. Mr.. Mahoney hasn't
the big campaign issue he welded
so effectively in 1950-the sales
tax-and can't bank on any big
protest vote this time.
A third candidate for thte Dem
ocratic nomination is Stephen B.
Peddicord, Baltimore electrical
contractor.
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