Evening star., 1954-10-17
Byrd, Ex-Crub Fisherman,
Hopes Maryland U. Tour
Will Attract Democrats
By Gene Goodwin

VIII AttIuSt ISItiOSIutS
By Gene Goodwin
DR.. Harry Clifton Byrd. In his
climb from crab fisherman to gu
bernatorial candidate, has doggedly
avoided stereotypes.
The fact that few gridiron coaches
have ascended to the presidency Of
their university and few university
presidents have become governor Of
their State does not deter 65-year-
old "Curley" Byrd Che likes that
"e" in his nickname). He is a de-
termined man with a much better
than average record of doing what
he sets out to do.
Curley Byrd became a prominent
figure when he took over direction
of Maryland's sprawling university
19 years ago. Far from retiring to
the groves Of academe. DIR. Byrd
found himself more and more deep
ly embroiled in politics until
finally-there was nothing for him
to do but take crack at the gov
ernorship Of his native State.
Characteristic Announcement
Never one to hide his light under
q bushel. Curley gave his first hint
of overtly political plans in char
acteristic fashion. In a letter to
the University regents in July 1858,
announcing his intention to retire
from the presidency. DR.. Byrd said:
1T seems absolutely essential to
me. eUen considering my north to
the University OF Maryland, to take
up some other endeavor and go into
field in which retirement is not
compulsory" Emphasis supplied
Ed
The field, obviously. was politics,
and this year saw the white-maned
educator spang in the middle of the
field, running like Roger Bannister.
This retirement bit caused some
eyebrows to rise out College Park
way. A hale IS today, DR.. Byrd at
the time of his resignation had six
years ahead of him before he would
have reached the statutory retire
ment age of 20.
Remained on PoyrolI
Though he quit as president eff
fective January 2. 1854, DR.. Byrd
contrived for several months to have
his cake and eat it. too. 1t was not
until March that his opponent in
the Democratic primary. George P.
Mahoney, diScovered-and revealed
that DR.. Byrd was continuing to
draw his $22,500 salary from the
university after having assumed the
title of president emeritus. On July
l. the former president went off the
State payroll-after having labeled
Mr.. Mahoney's revelation a piece of
political chicanery"-and began
drawing a lifetime pension of about
$1,000 year.
There is one hurdle that DR.. Byrd
may have to face next January
legal question whether he can con-
tinue to draw his pension while
earning the salary of Governor of
Maryland. But before that hurdle
is an even bigger one-the problem
Of getting elected on November 2.
DR.. Byrd just squeaked through
the Democratic primary last June
to win over Mr.. Mahoney. After
a long and querulous series of
vote recounts, it developed that he
had won the gubernatorial nomina-
ton by unit vote" of 80 to 72.
The victory was not conceded by Mr..
Mahoney until late in Augustine
months after the primary. BY that
time. the party was riven by strife.
A few days later, with the Demo-
Gratis split wide open, Mr.. Mahoney
undertook to heal the breach by
wiring his congratulations to DR..
Byrd. The message had all the sim
cere fervor of similar sentiments Mr..
Gimbel might be expected to express
to Mr.. Macy, and did little to heal
the breach.
The Accreditotion MM-Up
Undaunted, DR.. Byrd has plunged
into the gubernatorial campaign
with both feet. Last week, he was