Evening star., 1954-05-25
Three Fifth District
Candidates Present
Views al Forum

Inree men seeking Democratlc
nomination to Congress from
Maryland's fifth (Southern
Maryland) district gave varying
views last night on sending
United States troops to Indo-
China and other issues at. a
candidates forum, sponsored by
the Prince Georges County
League of Women Voters.
Richard E. Lankford Of An
napolis, who was the Democratic
nominee in 1852, said, on the
1ndo-China question, that al
though he is no military strate-
gist. ut would seem to me that
the situation is so far gone in
Indo- China that it would be USE
less sacrifice of life to send Amer
lean troops there"
Paul Menk Of University Park
said Indo-C China cannot be COM
pared with Korea.
I'VE have not guaranteed the
sovereignty of Indo-C China as we
had in Korea, nor did we main
tain a military force there" he
said. II think the administra-
tion's decision to send aid to
1ndo-China was an unwise one."
Green for Military Advice,
Walter L. Green of College
Park said. Communism should
be contained, and we should do
everything we can to stop it in
1ndo- China. but on a question
like that, I would bow to the
opinion Of the military experts" ("
Robert E Ennis Of Capitol
Heights, who is Republican Rep
resentative Small's only chal-
lenger in the primary, also said
he would defer to the opinion of
military leaders on such a Ques-
ton.
Mr.. Small was not present at
the forum. attended by about
100 persons in the Bladensburg
Junior High School. The pri-
mary election in Maryland is
June %.
In short speeches before the
question period, Mr.. Green took
a stand on Is issues. He said
he supported the United Nations
"as q means Of establishing in
ternational law and order" a
code Of ethics for public officials.
fun parity for farmers, adequate
housing "by public means, If
necessary" limitation 'of con-
gressional investigations to mat.
ters clearly affecting legislation"
and the adoption of well-defined
rules Of procedure for the pro-
lection of witnesses at con-
gressional investigations" The
latter two points drew loud ap-
plauSe.
Menk Attacks Hearings.
Mr.. Menk attacked the Army
Mccarthy hearings as "a sorry
spectacle" He also criticized the
voting record of Representative
Small. to whom he referred as
"this Ford dealer" He said the
Bladensburg Peace Cross flooding
problem would have been solved
long ago If it were in Arkansas
or Louisiana or amy number of
other States" e
Mr.. Lankford said "the only
ism I will tolerate is Ameri-
canisrn, but at the same time I
believe that individual rights
must be protected with all our
strength" He said he supports
all conservation measures, which
includes solving Peace Cross
flooding"
Mr.. Ennis attacked the lead
erShip OF the Republican Party
in Prince Georges.
I'm 1882" he said. there were
10 candidates for Republican
nomination to Congress here.
Today I am the only opponent
of the rich banker. I don't say
that facetiously: say it some
what forlornly."
Representative Small is presi-
dent Of the Clinton bank.
James w. Gum, candidate for
the Republican nomination for
Governor. showed up just before
the forum closed and told the
audience he is fighting for o
free and open primary"