Evening star., 1953-06-23
Democrats See
|Byrd-k|cKe|din
Governor Race
Maryland U. Head
May Reveal Plans
At Meeting Friday
By chorIes [. Hoffmon

DR.. Harry c. Byrd. University
of Maryland president. is the
man to beat in the Democratic
gubernatorial primary next June,
party leaders agree.
The longtime university pres
ident has been an almost"
candidate several times. But at
the last minute. he always has
backed away to retain his lead
erShip at the school.
This time. party chiefs say,
he will be in the race. And, they
are quick to add, he will oppose
Gov. McKeldin in the general
elections the following November.
DR.. Byrd still is saying mo
comment" when directly ques-
toned about his political plans.
He denies persistent reports
that he will soon resign from the
university presidency he has held
since 1886. It has been rumored
that his resignation will be
rendered when the Board of Re-
gents holds it's final meeting of
the school year Friday.
Plans May Come Out.
DIR. Byrd says there in moth
ing to the report" It appears
possible. however. that some-
thing Of his plans may be re-
vealed at the meeting.
DR.. Byrd, or "Curley," as he is
best known and likes to be called,
has been mentioned as a poten-
tial candidate for the governor
ship since last fall.
He definitely has the guberna-
toriAl fever party leaders say.
Furthermore, he Is now "a and
this may be his now-or-never
chance for the States highest
office.
Travelling Speech Maker.
And there Is probably no other
man in Maryland's history, in
Guiding Gov. McKeldin, who has
made as many speeches in as
many communities as DR.. Byrd.
Democratic chiefs are saying
he's the perfect man to heal the
party's splits.
Democratic political stew is
boiling up something like this.
Besides DR.. Byrd, four other
prominent names have been
mentioned for the gubernatorial
race: j. Millard Tawes, State
controller; w. Preston Lane, jr.,
former Governor; Thomas DIAL
esandro. jr.. Baltimore Mayor,
and George r. Mahoney. Balti-
more contractor,
DR.. Byrd. late last month, said
Mr., Tawes and he had reached
an agreement on the relation-
ship Of their political futures.
The two men are cousins.
Political leaders have taken
this to mean that Mr.. Tawes has
agreed to run on a Byrd-topped
ticket. Mr.. Tawes, himself, is
a powerful Democrat and has his
fingers on some 80 unit votes
from the nine Eastern Shore
counties. 5
Lane for Party Unity.
Ex-Gov. Lane said yesterday
he has reached mo final con-
clusion" on his talked-about can
didacy.
But" he added, II am not
going to produce any primary.
am not going to engage in any
contest for the nomination"
The word in inner party circles
Is that Mayor D'Alesandro has
his eye on the Senate seat now
held by John Marshall Butler,
Republican. That comes up in
1856. Meanwhile. the Mayor
probably will run for reelection
in 1855.
But Mayor D'Alesandro could
be the stop gap for DR.. Byrd if
Mr.. Mahoney again decides to
tangle with the recognized party
leadership.
MahOney Draws Votes.
Mr.. Mahoney. considered a
party maverick, proved a power
full vote-getter. both in 1850 and
1852 in the primaries. He also
waged campaigns that bitterly
split the party.
But his strength lies in Balti-
more City, where Mayor DALE
sandro is supposed to be
top dog. Mr.. Mahoney'S filing
for the nomination might be
the signal, party spokesmen say,
for Mayor D'Alesandro to do
likewise to protect his standing
in the city political arena.
Such q move is seen as aiding
DR.. Byrd by splitting the city
vote,