Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-01
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For IopPosts
In Legislature
Maryland Senators
Tolk Of Replacing
Miles as Treasurer
By Charles Hoffman
Stor Stoff correspondent

ANNAPOLIS, Dec. New
corners to Maryland's General
Assembly got a lesson in prac-
teal politics yesterday, as vet
eran members Unanswered for
strength in the coming legisla-
INSTRUMENTATION fight.
One lesson they learned was
the political victories, like Rome,
are not built in a day.
The veteran members jockeyed
for top posts in the House and
Senate and talked privately of
replacing Hooper S. Miles as
State Treasurer.
Most of the politicking went
on in corridors and anterooms,
while the neophytes were attend
ing all-day classes in a cram ses-
sion on how the Legislature
works and methods members
can use to beat the rules and
get q bill passed.
The movement to replace Mr..
Miles, q Democrat, became evil
dent after a private luncheon
session. attended by the II Dem
ocratic Senators present.
Elected by Senate.
The treasurer is elected by
the Senate. It was obvious that
some members felt strongly
that MIR. Miles has been play
ing footsie too much" in voting
with Republican Gov. McKeldin
in Board of Public Works mat
tiers. The board consists of the
Governor, Treasurer and Con-
troller j. Willard Tawes, a Demo-
crat reelected last month with
out Republican opposition.
. Most prominently mentioned
to succeed Mr.. Miles were for
mer Representative Lansdale G.
Sasscer of Prince Georges
County, Ex-Governor w. Preston
Lane, jr.
Contests were in sight among
the Democrats, for both Speaker
of the House and president of
the Senate.
On the House side, candidates
included former Speaker john
c. Luber of Baltimore's 5th dis
-trict, Jerome Robinson of Balti-
more's 4th district, Perry Will
kinspn Of Prince Georges County
and Lloyd L. Simpkins Of
Somerset County.
Luber's Lead Slips.
Al the day began, Mr.. Luher
was the man to beat. BY eve
ming. however, it appeared that
at least one potential combine
had a good hold on. the rug
under Mr.. Luber and needed
only TO yank IL.
Most observers agreed the
battle in either house would be
unsettled for some weeks. Fast
action will come when the big
Baltimore City delegation gets
the word from city leaders as to
which way to move.
Strongest contenders APP
peared to be Mr.. Robinson and
Mr.. Wilkinson.
Mr.. Robinson's chief draw
back is his tie-in with Jack Pol
lack. the Baltimore City boss
in his 4th district, one delegate
said. Mr.. Robinson has been a
prominent leader in the House
for Is years.
Mr.. Robinson's supporters
claimed he could muster 10 of the
80 Democratic votes in the city.
Mr.. Wilkinson's friends were
quoting "a ballots behind him
from the big Anne Arundel.
Prince Georges and Montgomery
delegations and Howard County
and Southern Maryland. Mr..
Luber's protagonists claimed he
had only IA votes in the city.
Eastern Shore Bloc.
The largest bloc was being
claimed by Eastern Shore dele
gates, who number Is. A spokes-
man for the group said they were
ready ito talk turkey" with any
one who could match the votes.
That would be enough to assume
a victory.
Rumors were that Mr.. Robin
son, A. Gordon Boone of Balti-
more County and Mr.. Simpkins
might come up with the right
combination. That would be for
speaker, floor leader and Judici-
airy Committee chairman, re-
spectively, on the basis of
seniority Of service.
Such q deal would be costly,
as the Eastern Shore delegates
would want at least four other
chairmanships.
There was also talk that eff
forts would be made to unite
the Western Shore delegates,
numbering 40. who are In their
best position for more than eight
years.
Candidates seeking to unseat
George w. Della Baltimore
6th) as Senate president in
clude Senator Louis L. Cold
stein Of Calvert County, Senator
Laynlan j. Redden of Caroline
County and Senator John Graz
son Turnbull of Baltimore Coun-
ty.
Della Absent.
All but Senator Della were on
hand for the first big opportun-
ity for maneuvering since the
general election.
Senator Redden's supporters
indicated they thought he could
muster seven Of the eight East
ern Shore senators, excluding
only Senator Fred c. Malkus Of
Dorchester County. who was alb
sent yesterday.
On the other hand, Senator
Goldstein had fair assurances he