Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-25
Green S Drive
Gap on
Landlord Lead
Party Leaders See
5th District Race
As Tossup Today
By Gene Goodwin

BY Gene Goodwin
Walter L. Green's profession
ally polished campaign has made
a neck-and-neck race out of
Southern Maryland's three-way
Democratic congressional con-
test.
Two months ago most Demo-
cratic leaders believed organiza-
tion-backed Richard e. Landlord
of Annapolis had the 5th district
Democratic congressional nomi-
nation in his pocket and could
start laying the ground for a
tough battle with Republican
Representative Small next No
vember.
But today, as Democratic
voters prepare to go to the polls
Monday, the picture has
changed. Democratic leaders
throughout the six-county dis
trict are now calling it toss-up
between Mr.. Green and Mr..
Landlord.
Hoping to refute the punditS,
the third man in the race-Paul
H. Menk. jr.. of University Park
has been confidently concen-
trating on the populous sections
of the district in South Balti-
more and Anne Arundel and
Prince Georges Counties.
Effective Campaign.
What has elevated Mr.. Green's
political star in these two
months?
For one thing. the tireless
Hyattsville lawyer and real estate
man has been waging what ap-
pears to be one of the most eftec-
tive campaign seen in Southern
Maryland in some time.
He hasn't, as is often custom
airy in primary contests. confined
his campaigning to the barbecue
and crab cake circuit.
With the aid of his campaign
manager, Eric Smith, Washing
ton public relations man. Mr..
Green has published and dis
tributed thousands Of attractive.
readable brochures and news
papers, detailing his background
and his views.
He has introduced radio talka-
thons to the district.
AS a gimmick, he has been
printing most of his campaign
material in green, signing MS
name with green ink and all but
sleeping in green string bow ties.
He's also passed out scores OF
the ties to his campaign workers
and supporters.
Winning Mahoney Groups.
The second factor raising Mr..
Green's rating is the increasing
support he is getting from groups
backing the gubernatorlal can
didacy of George P. Mahoney:
MI. Green has made no ALL
ance with Mr.. Mahoney apd has
in fact, gotten Endorsements
from splinter groups supporting
DR.. H. C. Byrd for the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor.
But. as the campaign has pro-
crossed. he has more or less be-
come the Mahoney candidate,
while Mr.. Landlord is more
closely identified with the BYRD
forces.
Green leaders figure the only
place in the district the Ma.
honey Endorsement will hurt
their man is in Prince Georges,
where they hope his local stand
ing will overcome any bad re-
action. Prince Georges is DR..
Byrd's adopted home and is gen.
orally regarded as one OF MS
political strongholds.
Landlord men privately con-
cede that Mr.. Green's seemingly
effective campaign has taken
them by surprise. They had
hoped to coast through the
primary and save their money
and effort for the November
general election.
Counts on Organization.
Mr.. Landlord. who won the
districts Democratic congress
sional primary two years ago
but lost to Representative Small,
is counting on organization
votes to overcome his onsurging
opponent.
Mr.. Menk, a newcomer to
Maryland politics. says he is PIN
ming his hopes on South Balti-
more, Anne Arundel and Prince
Georges. He also is hoping tc
get half" of Towards votes but
is conceding the three other less
populous counties to his oppo-
pocnfS