Evening star., 1953-09-19
4dReNot Eager
To Run, Doesn't t
Rule Out Draft
Young Democrats
At Meeting Leon
To Ex-Governor
By Gene Goodwin
Stor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

Star Stoff Correspondent
OCEAN CITY, Md, Sept. 10.
Former Gov. William Preston
Lane. jr., said today that az
though he has no personal de-
sire to run for Governor again.
he is not yet ready to close
the door on a possible draft.
He made that statement as
draft-Lane sentiment built up
here at. the biennial convention
of Maryland's Young Demo-
Gratis.
Although most of the possible
and probable Democratic cam
didates for Governor are here
Tor the weekend meeting-in-
cluding DR.. H. c. Byrd, Balti-
more Mayor D'AleSandro and
George P. Mahoney-it was Mr..
Lane who was getting the lions
share of attention and applause.
Hope for Party Unity.
Many of the approximately
$50 delegates and alternates said
they believe Mr.. Lane is the
only candidate who could unite
their ridden. party and
defeat Republican Gov. Nickel
din next year.
1t is known that the former
governor, who was overwhelm-
ingly defeated by Gov. Nickel
din in 1850, would be reluctant
to return to public Office and
give up his private business in
tereSts, particularly his two
newspapers in Hagerstown and
the Fairchild Aircraft Corp, of
which he is vice chairman of the
board.
But that did not dissuade the
Young Democrats from urging
his candidacy. And many of the
delegates and alternates here are
influential party members in
their home districts.
Mayor in Race to Stay.
Mayor D'Alesandro, who has
announced his candidacy for the
Democratic gubernatorial nomi.
nation in next June's primary.
told the Young Democrats yes
terday he "is in the race to
stay"
DR.. Byrd, retiring president of
the University of Maryland, had
nothing to add to his informal
statement of August 20 conceding
that he will be a candidate.
Mr.. Mahoney, wealthy Balti-
more contractor, parried report
ers' questions as to whether he
would be a candidate.
Mr.. Lane told the Young DEM
ocrats at a banquet last night
that Maryland Republicans are
guilty of political quackery" for
attempting to take credit for
things his administration had
either done or started to do.
Lane Critical of Fights.
MI. Lane also criticized his own
party for its 1850 and 1852
primary campaigns. which he.
said had the appearance of
"barnyard .squabbles."
Mr.. D'Alesandro followed that
line in his keynote address ex-
cept he made it clear he felt Mr..
Mahoney was the villain in the
1850 and 1852 primaries. He ac-
cuSed the anti-organization
leader of "mud-slinging, charac-
ter assassination and the de-
struction of the peoples" conf
dence in the Democratic Party.
The party came in for more
criticism from James C. Morton,
jr., outgoing president of the
Young Democrats. He said the
party "ostensibly remains lead
erless" a half year after the
death of Robert Ennis, who was
State Democratic chairman. Mr..
Morton called for selection of a
chairman now instead of watt
ing until after the primaries
when the Democratic gubernato-
rial candidate can make the
choice.
Mr.. Morton's successor was to
be chosen late today. Two can
didateS seemed to have the in
side track-Joseph D. Tydings,
son of the former Senator, and
Charles Buscher of Silver Spring.