Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-30
Mahoney Goes
Over TO Byrd
AfConyention
Wires Best Wishes;
Democratic Leader
In Drive for Unity
By Gene Goodwin
Stor Ssoff Correspondent

BALTIMORE, Aug. 30.-Mary-
land Democrats convened here
today to nominate their State
candidates with the good wishes
of George p. Mahoney, who was
defeated by DR.. H. c. Byrd for
the gubernatorial nomination
after a bitter primary.
Mr.. Mahoney did not appear
at the convention-he was va
cationing in Pennsylvania-but
he sent DR.. Byrd telegram
which fell somewhat short of an
outright pledge to support the
conventions nominees.
He wired:
please accept my congratu-
lations on your nomination rs
Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor of Maryland. Please ex-
tend to all Democratic candi-
dates and Maryland Democracy
in convention assembled my best
wishes Tor success in November"
Supporters on Hand.
Although Mr.. Mahoney was
absent, several of his supporters
were here.
DR.. Byrd, who presented the
convention with a plan for unity
ing the party, said he would
devote most of his acceptance
speech to a hitting attack
on his Republican opponent, Gov.
McKeldin.
In a speech prepared for de-
livery this afternoon, DR.. Byrd
planned to say that Mr.. Nc
Keldin has "a record of broken
promises"
His speech specifically attacks
the Governor for failing to carry
out pledges to eliminate the
State sales and real estate taxes
and to submit the veteran bonus
question to the people.
The Governors financial poll
cieS of spending above income
have left the State in position
where next year it will have to
drastically reduce its budget or
raise new taxes, DR.. Byrd
planned to say.
COnferS With candidates
The former University of
Maryland president met this
morning prior to the party's
State convention with the 20
Democratic candidates for the
State Senate and the conven-
tion's Resolution Committee.
DR.. Byrd had two purposes in
calling the breakfast conference.
They were: a'ss >
Hammer out a platform.
Present his plan for a unified
campaign in the November 2
general election against Gov.
McKeldin and other Republican
candidates.
Committee to Direct Task.
His plan for unity, DR.. Byrd
said. involved the formation of
a large executive committee to
direct the campaign in lieu of
State Central Committee chair
man.
The Executive Committee would
be made up of men and women
party leaders in every county
and Baltimore city district and
members of minority or dis
sident factions.
1t as expected that the con-
vention would follow their CUB
ernatorial nominees program
for a unified campaign. Although
Democrats have about a 3-to-l
registration majority in Mary
land. most party leaders feel
they can beat Gov. McKeldin,
the master campaigner, only with
completely closed ranks.
The platform which was to be
presented to the convention later
today. was expected to score Gov.
Mcclellan for his frequent out
of-State speaking engagements
and criticize his administration
as being one that merely carried
out the projects and policies of
former Democratic Governor
Lane.
Delegates also had to 60
through the formality Of nomi-
mating other candidates &C.
Ferdinand Sybert for attorney
general and j. Willard Tawes
for controller.
Four years ago when Mr.,
Mahoney lost the nomination to
Gov. Lane he struck the har-
mony note at the convention
pledging his support to the party
and "all its candidates"