Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-30
Dr.. Byrd Acts
10 Bring Unity
To Democrats
Holds Conference
With ~ Condidute.
For Stute Senate
By Gene Goodwin
Sior Ssoff Correspondent

4$4s A4s ~ 6y4A 4AOksC0 VOQays W
bring much needed unity to the
Maryland Democratic Party.
The Democratic candidate for
Governor met this morning prior
to the party's State convention
with the 90 Democratic candi-
dates for the State Senate and
the conventions resolution COM
mittee.
DR.. Byrd had two purposes in
calling the breakfast conference.
They were:
Hammer out q 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
a 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.
It as expected that the con-
vention would follow their gub-
ernatorial nominees program
for a unified campaign. Although
Democrats have about a Stool
registration majority In Mary
land, most party leaders feel
they can beat Gov. McKeldin,
the master campaigner, only with
completely closed ranks.
Mahoney Not on Hand.
George P. Mahoney. the man
DR.. Byrd defeated in a tight and
bitter primary was not in evil
dence as the convention opened
in the Hotel Emerson. He's
mentioning in Pennsylvania and
said Saturday night he would not
attend.
Mr.. Mahoney has not pledged
to support DR.. Byrd. Dr.. Byrd
and his supporters believe. how
ever, that his absence today can
not hurt them in any substantial
degree because he has virtually
no organization and drew his
support mostly from dissident
groups which they hope win be
brought back into the fold.
The platform which was To be
presented to the convention later
today. was expected TO score Gov.
McKeldin 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 20
through the formality Of noni-
mating other candidates - C.
Ferdinand Sybert for attorney
general and ]. Willard TaweS
for controller.
Recessed without Action.
Delegates first got together on
June 26. but quickly recessed
without taking any action be-
cause Of the bitter recount and
court battle then under way be-
tween DR.. Byrd and Mr.. Ma
honey for the nomination.
DR.. Byrd nudged out MIR. Maho-
ney by 1000 popular votes and a
nominating count Of 80-72 In
the June % balloting.
After three trips to the Mary
land Court of Appeals, Mr.. Ma
honey finally threw in the sponge
and conceded to DR.. Byrd last
week.
Pledge Harmony Before.
-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"
There was much talk Of
harmony yesterday as the Demo-
Gratis kicked off their fall CAM
paign at the United Democratic
Women's Clubs meeting at Ocean
City. Messrs. Byrd, Sybert and
Tawes addressed the 400 dele
gates.
DR.. Byrd. as he has previously.
outlined his plan for putting
new life in the party. He pro-
poses formation Of new State
wide executive committee rep
resenting all factions of the
party to take over the duties Of
the chairman of the State
Central Committee.