Evening star., 1954-10-01
Gov. MckeIdin
Pushes Fight in
Byrd Territory
WhirIwind Tour
OF Prince Georges
Begins in Laurel

Gov. McKeldin stumped Prince
Georges County today, buoyed up
by an unexpected statement of
support from William H. Bishop,
jr., secretary and assistant treas
urer of the Maryland Democratic
State Central Committee for
eight years.
Mr.. McKeldin, who is seeking
to become the first Republican
Governor ever reelected in
Maryland, began his invasion
of enemy territory" at Laureal
this morning. He planned
a whirlwind tour through the
northern section of Prince
Georges. ending up tonight at
an anniversary celebration in
Glen Arden.
His Democratic opponent, DIR.
H. C. Byrd, former president of
the University of Maryland, lives
in Prince Georges and is count
ing on a big majority there. The
Governor hopes to upset that
plan with today's tour and an
other in the southern part Of
the county October IS.
Mr.. Byrd in Somerset
DR.. Byrd, meanwhile, was sing
ing a song of unity as he cam
paigned in Somerset County. He
told a rally in Annapolis last
night that the states Democrat
ic leaders have never been as
unified as they are now.
No mention was made of Mr..
Bishops statement that he would
support Gov. McKeldin. Mr..
Bishop backed former DEM
ocratic Gov. Lane in 1850. but
in the recent primary, he worked
for George P. Mahoney. who was
defeated for the gubernatorial
nomination by DR.. Byrd.
Mr.. Bishop said yesterday the
Democratic party has wandered
far from the thoughts and wishes
of the party rank and file"
Fails to Mention Name.
He said, without mentioning
DR.. Byrd by name, that Mr.. Nc
~ '--~ f,iled
utterly to show a grasp of the
business affairs of the State
government or to face the issues
of what should be an intelligent
and enlightened campaign"
DR.. 3yrd stayed largely on the
speaking sidelines during the
$7.50-a-plate rally in Annapolis,
which drew $50 of the party
faithful. Former Gov. Lane did
the major speechmaking, accus-
ing the McKeldin administra-
ton of breaking promises.
After reviewing the program
and accomplishments of his ad-
ministration from 1946-1950. and
defending the retail sales tax
which was enacted to pay for
those accomplishments, Mr.. Lane
let go his attack on Gov. Nc
Keldin.
Record of Broken Pledges.
The former Governor said Mr..
McKeldin promised to eliminate
the real estate tax and eventu-
ally the sales tax and to "halt
the so-called crazy-quilt pro-
gram of road building"
ever since 1851, there has
been a mad rush to attach the
label of the present administra-
ton to every worthwhile COM
pleted public improvement that
had been previously accom-
plished." Mr.. Lane said.
He labeled this "an ill-dis-
guished and shallow effort to
hide the record of discarded
promises and broken pledges. !"
Spending at Higher Cost.
1.-The only thing the present
administration has accomplished
in building roads," Mr.. Lane said,
sis to haltingly continue what
we had previously planned.
spending the money we had pro-
vided but at higher cost to the
State"
The speaker said the budget
increased under Gov. McKeldin's s
administration from $3.50 million
in 1851 to $237 million this year.
During that period I have heard
of no substantial tax relief that
has been worthy of that name" !"
he added.
Gov. McKeldin said yesterday
the State has good credit and
solvency" and made known a
plan to help guard it.
Plan for Bonded Debt.
The plan is to ask the Com
mission on State Finance and
Bonded Debt to function perma-
nently.
The Governor said the COM
mission, headed by President w
Arthur Grotz of the Western
Maryland Railway. was an ex-
ample of "our determination to
keep building and borrowing
within safe. economic bounds. "
The commission. as a perma-
nent agency, would advise the
States fiscal officers, he said.