Evening star., 1953-09-24
By Gene Goodwin

Gov. McKeldin probably will
go down in Maryland history as
its "talkingest" Governor.
He rode to Baltimcre's city
hall, to the Annapolis State
house and more recently to ma
tional fame chiefly through his
oratorical skill.
But now the Democrats are
trying to make political
liability of his sometimes
sparkling, sometimes profound,
always exuberant oratory, which
until now has been considered
his No. l asset.
The Democrats are saying the
Republican Governor is spend
ing too much time and making
too much money on speech
making tours, which take him
out of Maryland to distant
points all over the United States.
Fees Up to $1,000.
The States young Democrats,
taking their cue from former
Gov. William Preston Lane, jr..
passed a resolution last week
end, condemning Gov. McKeldin
for taking too much time away
from his desk on his oratorical
journeys. It looked like only the
beginning of an all-out Demo-
ratio assault on what may be-
come McKeldin's Achilles heel.
The Governor admits that,
since his Inauguration on Janu-
airy /, 1851, he has averaged an
out-of- State speech every week
or so.
His fees run as high as $1,000.
He says he accepts no money
for talks in Maryland, which he
makes at the drop of hat. some
times at the rate of three or
four in one day.
Maryland pays it's Governor
only $4,000 a year, although it
supplies him with virtually all
the necessities of life, including
a stately mansion in Annapolis,
a corps of servants and a chauf-
feured Cadillac.
$4,000 Up to Voters.
Under a bill passed by the
1858 State Legislature, Mary
land voters will decide in No
vember, 1854, whether the Con-
stitution should be amended to
raise that salary to $4,000 start
ing January /, 1855, when Gov.
McKeldin's present term expires.
One of the sponsors of that
bill, Delegate j. PAUL Marshall,
Republican, of Montgomery
County. said, at the time, that
Gov. McKeldin had to run all
over the country making speeches
in order to earn enough money
to send Teddy, Jr., to college.
After the Democrats issued
their blast last week end, a
spokesman for the Governor Che
was on an oratorial pilgrimage
in the Middle West at the time)
said his out-of State speeches
benefit Maryland. He also said
Gov. McKeldin easily makes up
for lost hours at his desk by
overtime work in Annapolis.
AS speakers go, Maryland's 81
year-Old teetotaling church-go-
ing Governor is a pro.
Advises Speechmakers.
He's even written a book on the
subject-a sort of a guidebook
for luncheon and after dinner
speakers and inarticulate politi-
clans ('The Art of Eloquence," in
collaboration with DR.. John C..
Krantz, jr., University of Mary
land professor of pharmacology)
ITO get elected to Office" ad-
wise McKeldin and Krantz,
speak out-make them laugh
and make them cry"
The Governor has spoken
out" in the last two years to au-
diences from coast to coast and
even some in Israel and Europe,
where he vacationed last year.
College graduating classes, re-
ligiouS conventions and Republi-
can gatherings are his favorite
forums. His speech nominating
Gen. Eisenhower at the Repub-
lican National Convention last
year brought speaking invita-
tions from groups of all descrip-
ton.
He is a favorite of religious
groups because he is one of the
few men of national political
prominence who make such a
point of their devoutness. An
EpiScopalian, Gov. McKeldin sell
dom misses a Sunday when he
does not speak from at least