Evening star., 1954-07-11
Byrd and Mahoney
Refuse 10 Withdraw
In Favor Of Neural
By ,he A.,oeiuted Press

h u
A suggestion that q neutral
Democrat" like Millard TaWeS
be nominated to run against
Republican Gov. McKe1din OF
Maryland yesterday brought en-
phatic noes from III. C. Byrd.
and George p. Mahoney.
DR.. Byrd, apparent winner Of
the Democratic gubernatorial
nomination, gave his answer
through campaign manager, e.
Brooke Lee. Mr.. Mahoney.
speaking for himself. insisted he
eventually Is going to win the
nomination.
Leading Democrats have ex-
pressed growing concern over re-
counts Of the June % primary
asked by Mr.. Mahoney and DR..
Byrd.
Several have claimed the re-
count will hurt the ultimate
nominee in campaigning against
Gov. McKeldin IN November.
The Democrats are supposed to
call q convention by July % to
name their candidate officially.
Sees No Cause for Alarm.
'No one should be disturbed
by the prospect of a possible de-
lay In calling the convention
pending our efforts to insure a
fair and accurate determination
OF the results Of the primary
election" was Mr.. Mahoney's
answer to that cry.
He reminded them that four
years ago. the primary election
was held in September and the
parties gubernatorial candi-
dates had ample time to conduct
general election campaigns be-
fore November.
"This year, the Democratic
candidate will be chosen earlier
than heretofore"
Mr.. Mahoney expressed conf
dence he would be that candi-
date although unof11cial returns
show that DR.. Byrd won the
nomination with 80 unit votes to
n.
Depends on 3 Counties.
Mr.. Mahoney said those re-
suits win be changed by q re-
count started by him this week
in Queen Anne's County and
others next week in Talbot and
Calvert.
DR.. Byrd has asked for re-
counts in Worcester and Gar
rett and both candidates seek
them in parts Of Baltimore city.
The prospects that they win
be followed by court tests have
alarmed some Democratic lead
ers over dragging out the de-
cision through the summer.
But Mr.. Mahoney said "posi-
lively not" to one suggestion that
both he and Byrd withdraw and
a neutral Democrat like Mr..
Tawes, the comptroller. be NOM
mated by the convention.
See Replies for Byrd.
State Senator Louis N. Phipps,
Democrat, of Anne Arundel,
made the suggestion that Mr.,
Tawes be the neutral" candi-
date.
MIR. Lees statement for DR.
Byrd follows:
'Dr. Byrd has been voted the
Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor by eight convention votes
and by a nearly 5000 popular
majority.
"He was both the strongest
candidate and the best qualified
man to be Governor who was
willing to endure a Six-month
Statewide primary against
Mahoney.
BYRD is still the strongest
Democratic candidate in Mary
land this year against McKeldin
One of the other candidates men,
toned has had too much re-
sponsibility for the record Of the
McKeldin administration. which
is so vulnerable that the voters
will reject McKeldin In Novem-
ber.
Gov. Lane, DR.. Byrd and
discussed Senator Phipps' amaz-
ing proposal in Baltimore Fri
day, after the idea had been
telephoned to me. Gov. Lane con-
tinues strongly for DR.. Byrd. DR.
Byrd'S answer to the Phipps
suggestion was that he expects
to be elected over Gov. McKeldin
in the general election"
Tawes Won't Comment.
Mr.. Tawes, who earlier thi.
week was one of those who sale
he would like to see an early
peace between the two candi-
dates, wouldn't comment on thu
Idea that he be substituted.
The board of election super
visors in Queen Annes County
Saturday threw out "a ballot.
which were initiated by a persoY
other than the election judge
DR.. Byrd lost one vote out O
the batch, cutting his margiI
to II. then lost three more vote
for margin Of 38 as checker
completed the fifth and sixth
Of 15-ballot boxes to be counted
The official canvass gave DI
Byrd an edge of SO votes and hi
lead has been as low as 81.
Recounting win resume Mon
day morning.
At the rate it has been going
1t would take a second week 70
Queen Annes' officials to finisl
the recount.
AAAAA 49, - -.