Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-18

I'D uWC NuilliN
Him, Byrd Says
BY the Associated Press
DR.. H. c. Byrd said yesterday
it is all right with him if the
Democratic State Convention
doesn't nominate him for Gov
ernor of Maryland Immediately
when it meets a week from Mon
day.
At the same time, the appar-
ent winner of the primary on
June % said he won't stand any
undue delaying tactics on the
part of his opponent, George P.
Mahoney.
Mr.. Mahoney suffered set
back Saturday in his attempt to
nullify DR. Byrd's victory by the
recount process.
Judge John B. Gray ruled in
Calvert County Circuit Court
that Mr.. Mahoney and his aides
have no right to examine the
poll and registration books as
part Of a recount.
This left intact the 80-vote
margin by which DR.. Byrd won
the county and its three unit
votes in the nominating conven-
ton. Three days of recounting.
finished on Friday. had trimmed
only two votes from the edge Dr.
Byrd held on the basis of the
official returns.
RecountS still are pending and
will resume Monday in Queen
Annes and Talbot Counties,
where DR.. Byrd also won by mar
row margins.
Another recount is scheduled
to get started Monday in Gar
rett, where Mr.. Mahoney won.
Baltimore Action Pending.
Also coming up Is another
court action in Baltimore, by
which Mr.. Mahoney seeks au-
thority to compare the voter au-
thorization cards issued at the
polls on election day with the
registration books in the city's
fourth legislative district.
The statement DR.. Byrd issued
today about the forthcoming
state convention had to do with
whether it can go ahead and
formalize his nomination with
out waiting for the outcome of
the various recounts.
DR.. Byrd holds and 80-72 mar
gin over Mr.. Mahoney in county
unit votes and the Mahoney
forces have been charging their
rivals plan to "steamroller" the
nomination through on July 26
while some of the recounts still
are in doubt.
AS an alternative, the conven-
ton could meet on July 26 cit
mist meet by July % under the
law, but then recess until the
recounts and court actions are
disposed Of.
May Ask For Recess.
eff the recounts are not suffi-
GENTLY completed to enable the
convention to nominate candi-
dates" DR.. Byrd said. II per-
sonally shall ask the convention
to recess for such time as may
be necessary to enable the con-
vention to act with f1nality.
"The convention should not be
expected to take any action that
the subsequent completion of q
recount might possibly upset.
Certainly / have no intention
Of being a party to asking that
the convention do anything that
might in any sense indicate that
it was ignoring the authority of
the boards of election supervisors
or the courts.
$50 far as I have any influ-
ence, there will be no action in
the Democratic convention not
in conformity with the LOCALITIES
and high ethical standards.
Sees Chances Threatened.
obviously. though, it would
not be good sense for the Demo-
cratic Party to sit by and allow
unjustif1able and delaying tao
tics that would postpone the be-
ginning of the Democratic cam
paign to such an extent that the
Democrats chances in November
might be seriously impaired.
eff it be that something of this
kind develops, then the delegates
would have to take such action
as might be necessary to circum-
vent such a possibility"
Lyman A. Pressman, Balti-
more attorney and prime mover
in Mr.. Mahoney's recount bat
ties, viewed DR.. Byrd's state
ment as indicating "the return
to reason and the realization
that a general election is to fol-
low"
Mr.. FRESHMAN said, 81 am will
ing to accept DR.. Byrd's state
ment at it's face value, to wit. a
promise that he will not attempt
to steamroller his nomination
through the Democratic State
convention and that he will wait
a reasonable length of time for
any recounts and court action.
I'VE will return the courtesy
and promise the same to him.
We will also cooperate fully to
expedite an early conclusion of
any court action, including
appeal "
Mr.. PreSSman said it Is essen
tial for the party to defeat the
Republicans in November. How
ever" he added. I'VE are keeping
our powder dry and will not
be caught unprepared If any
treachery is attempted.
Comdr. Kotz TO Speak
comdr. Bernard !. Katz, of the
Navy Bureau of Yards and Docks.
will speak at a meeting of the