Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-29
DR.. Byrd Seeks
|ToCance| State
Chairman Post
Would Avert Fight
Over Choice; Cites
Need for Harmony
By Gene Goodwin
SA-.. SA..kk HarrasnanelanA

By Gene Goodwin
Star Stoff Correspondent
BALTIMORE, Aug. 28.-Dr.
H. c. Byrd. Democratic candidate
for Governor of Maryland. pro-
posed tonight that the party do
without a State Central Com
mittee chairman and direct It's
campaign through big execu-
tive committee.
That was his suggestion for
unifying the party and avoiding
a possibly harmful fight over
selection Of q Democratic State
chairman at the party's State
convention here Monday.
Tradltionally, the convention
follows the wishes of its guber-
Material nominee in such mat
tiers.
Lee Backs Plan.
E. Brooke Lee Of Montgomery
County. who managed DR.. Byrd's
primary victory over George p.
Mahoney. said last night:
1.-THE candidate for Governor
is entitled to be voted by the
convention the kind of campaign
organization he thinks can bring
victory in November. After all.
he's the team captain"
Mr.. Lee announced after the
June % primary that he would
be a candidate for the State
Craftsmanship. But about two
weeks ago. he withdrew his
candidacy and moved himself
and his assistant out of DR..
Byrd's Baltimore headquarters.
It was generally understood
that DR.. Byrd persuaded Mr.. Lee
to withdraw because he felt the
longtime political leader would
not be acceptable to some of
the younger elements Of the
party and some of the anti
organization groups that backed
Mr.. Mahoney.
Seeks Accord.
DR.. Byrd said in last nights
statement that "the Democratic
party is in far better shape on a
Statewide basis and in the dis
tricts and counties than most
people realize"
1.-THE one problem that con-
fronts the party is that of bring
ing about a harmonious situation
between the older and younger
groups in the party" he con-
tinued.
| cit might as we'll be recognized
that there are elements in the
younger groups that feel that
they have not had much OPP
portunity to work as party
members"
Praises Committee Plan.
The former University Of
Maryland president expressed
confidence that he would be able
to bring the younger and older
groups together. One of the ways
he intends to accomplish this
is through his proposed exec
utiKe committee. which would be
better. he said, than having a
chairman of the State Central
Committee who would be vir-
tually q power unto himself"
| He said he has invited the
members Of the conventions re-
solutions committee and the 20
Democratic candidates for the
State Senate to have breakfast
with him at 8 am. Monday to
discuss his proposal.
Under his suggestion, the exec
utive committee, would be made
up OF the central committee
chairman from each of the %
counties and six Baltimore City
districts, a woman from each
county and district to be chosen
by the local central committees
and representative from the
minority faction in any county
or district where the local organ
ization is dominated by one
group.
Calls for Regional Officers.
In addition, his committee
would have several vice chair
men, selected on a State wide or
regional basis.
Until DR.. Byrd's announcement
last night. the leading candidates
for the State Craftsmanship were
C.. William HetZer, of Hagers-
town, who has been party chair
man since January, and T. Bar
ton Harrington, Baltimore attor-
ney who polled an unexpectedly
large vote as an independent in
the attorney general race June
%.
The main business before the
convention Monday is the for
mality of naming DR.. Byrd as
the official Democratic candi-
date for Governor. The Repub-
licans held their convention last
month, re-nominating Gov. Nc
Keldin.
The convention Monday also
will nominate State Senator C.
Ferdinand Sybert of Howard
County as Democratic candidate
for Attorney General and re-
nominate State Controller j.
Willard Tawes.
Mr.. Mahoney, who finally
conceded defeat to DR.. Byrd yes
terday after long series of re-
counts and court challenges, was
mentioning today in Pennsyl-
vania. He announced that he
would not attend the convention.
DR.. Byrd defeated Mr.. Ma
honey in q close Orimary bv