Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-21
Byrd Leaders Find
5th District trouble
In Congress Race
By Gene Goodwin

SSuS SOS0W"
Leaders of DR.. H. C. Byrd's
battle for the Maryland Cover
nor's Office are having trouble
in their reported attempt to
handpick the Democratic candi-
date for Congress in the 5th
(Southern Maryland) district.
They've been trying to get
Democratic leaders Of the six
county district to rally around
State Senator Louis L. Phipps
of Anne Arundel County for the
congressional nomination.
That proposition has been met
with something less than en-
thusiaSm in many quarters.
Byrd hackers also have met
rebuke in their efforts to get at
least two other Democratic as
pirantS for Congress to with
draw in favor Of Mr.. Phipps.
May Support Landlord.
AS a result of these Stumbling
blocks. the Byrd organization
may throw its support behind
Senator PhippS' arch political
foe, Richard S. Landlord of An
napolis, a member of the House
of Delegates. Mr.. Landlord mar
rowly defeated Mr.. Phipps for
Democratic congressional nomi-
nation in the last 5th district
primary. He then was beaten in
the general election by Repre-
sentative Small, Republican.
Leaders in DR.. Byrd'S cam
paign for the Democratic guber-
Material campaign in the June
% primary seem almost unani-
nous in the belief that Byrd
Democrats need an Anne Arun-
del County man as their con-
gressional nominee in the 5th
district W
The reason that a Prince
Georges County. nominee would
be of little vote-getting benefit
to DR.. Byrd. who is expected to
fare we'll there anyway since 1t
is his home county.
With Prince Georges thus
ruled out. the Byrd leaders
turned to the districts second
most populous county-Anne
Arundel. The 5th district en-
compasSes a small part of South
Baltimore and the counties of
Anne Arundel. Howard. Prince
Georges. Calvert, Charles and st.
Marys.
Their plan hit a snag almost
Immediately because Anne Arun-
del Democrats are bitterly split
into two almost equal factAns
headed by Mr.. Phipps and Mr..
Landlord, although the county
central committee has officially
Endorsed Phipps.
Mr.. Landlord has made ii
clear in recent meetings Of 5th
district Democratic leaders that
he will not withdraw from the
race even if the Byrd organiza-
ton strength is thrown behind
Mr.. Phipps.
Byrd Democrats from the
other counties have taken the
position that they are not ready
to indorse any Anne Arundel
County candidate until Byrd
leaders can work out some
understanding between the
PhippS and Landlord factions
! Attempts are being made now
/ to reach some compromise, which
Byrd men hope will keep both
factions in the fold.
! Watkins Denies Deal"
In their efforts to pave the
way for Democratic agreement
on Mr.. Phipps as the nominee
it is understood that Byrd lead
ers recently approached Mr.
Landlord and another Demo
cratic candidate with offers to
withdraw.
The other candidate ap-
proached-Robert NJ. Watkins
chairman of the Maryland-Na-
/ tlonal Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission repeatedly
/ was offered a post on the State
Roads Commission. perhaps a:
/ chairman. in return for his with.
! drawal from the race.
| Asked about this, Mr.. Watkins
told The Star he definitely woulo
not withdraw in favor of Mr.
Phipps. 1t is believed, however
that he would be less reluctant to
back out for Mr.. Landlord.
Mr.. Watkins emphasized that
he wasn't making any deals
with anybody"
Walter L. Green. Hyattsville
attorney who finished well up in
an eight-man field in the 1851
congressional primary. has said
he is willing to support Mr.
Phipps.
John S. White of ColmaI
Manor. former Speaker of the
House of Delegates. also has an
nounced his candidacy for the
/ 5th district Democratic coLgres-
sional nomination. So far. how
ever. only Mr.. Landlord and Mr.
Watkins have fled.
/ On the Republican side. Mr.
Small has announced he will run
again and no one has yet chal-
lenged him in the primary.