Evening star., 1954-01-20
County Group
Indorses Byrd
For Governor
Central Committee
In Prince Georges
Is First to Act

The Prince. Georges County
Democratic Central Committee
today indorsed DR.. H. c. (Curley)
Byrd in his campaign against
George P. Mahoney for the
Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor in the June % primary.
It was the first county CEN
tral committee Endorsement to
be issued in this campaign.
The committee in q statement
said that DR.. Byrd's "contribu-
tions to the useful and much
needed growth of the university
have proven his ability to
work diligently in the interests
Of all Maryland citizens"
DR.. Byrd retired January 2
after II years as president Of
the University of Maryland.
Fears Primary DiscOrd.
DR.. Byrd said yesterday that
"the greatest menace to Demo-
cratic success in Maryland next
November" would be a repeti-
tion Of the type of primary cam
paign waged by Mr.. Mahoney
in 1850 and 1852.
DR.. Byrd and Mr.. Mahoney
are vying for the Democratic
nomination for Governor in the
June % primary.
DR.. Byrd made his reference to
his opponent in what he called
his last statement on their con-
troversy about who approached
whom with q proposition that
Mr.. Mahoney withdraw from the
race.
Recalls Bitterness.
Last summer" DR.. Byrd's
statement declared, "all thinking
Democrats were concerned for
the state of the party here in
Maryland.
This concern was justified
after Mr.. Mahoney had waged
three Statewide campaigns in
four years for Governor and
Senator.
Practically every Democrat
that I talked with told me that
the greatest menace to Demo-
cratic success in Maryland next
November was another primary
campaign by Mr.. Mahoney, in
which tactics similar to those
he used against Gov. Lane and
Congressman Sasscer were likely
to be employed"
Mr.. Mahoney, wealthy Balti-
more paving contractor, lost the
1850 Governors nomination to
w. Preston Lane, who then was
beaten by Gov. McKeldin. Mr..
Mahoney defeated former Rep
resentative Sasscer for the Sem
ate nomination in 1850, but then
lost the general election to SEN
ator Beall. Republican.
Charges 'Mahoney Tactics"
DR.. Byrd said "Mahoney tao
tics" started the argument re-
sulting from his statement on a
recent television show that Mr..
Mahoney had come to him and
offered to stay out of the race
If he (Byrd) would back Mr.,
Mohaney for State controller.
Mr.. Mahoney replied that 1t
was the other way around, that
Mr.. Byrd had made such a pro-
poSal to him.
DR.. Byrd, who is president
emeritus Of the University OF
Maryland, explained in his ver-
sion of the ruckuS yesterday that
he and Mr.. Mahoney met at a
Baltimore County fair last
July Is.
Tells Of Conversation.
Mr.. Mahoney asked him tc
come to his home in nearby
Worthington Valley, DR.. BYRD
said, and he agreed.
"At this meeting" the BYRD
statement added, "Mr. Mahoney
said that he wanted to stay ir
the State political picture. and
to do so, he offered to run fol
controller on my ticket.
II told him that under no cir
eumstances would I fail to sup.
port Millard TaweS for control
ler," DR.. Byrd said. "At later
meetings with Mr.. Mahoney ]
expressed the opinion that he
could not be considered for ap-
pointment either as chairman o1
the State Roads Commission OF
as chairman of the State Racing
| Commission I promised
nothing and we agreed on moth
Ling"