Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-29

|Handshake
Fails toCIick
Ex-University Heed
Withdruws His Hand
At Unity Dinner
BY the Asseeiossd Press

@AoAeD5a1N, Mu., jail. z0.--
The crowd cheered for unity"
and harmony" but the two
Democratic candidates for the
Maryland Governors nominal
ton failed even to shake hands
last night.
DR.. H. c. Byrd and George p.
Mahoney. the opponents, were
brought together for the first
time at party meeting by Mil
lard Tydings. the former Sena-
tor. to pose for photographers.
"Shake hands," prompted .
photographer.
Mr.. Mahoney put out his hand.
So did DR.. Byrd, and then on
second thought withdrew it. DR..
Byrd remained adamant against
urging. while Mr.. Mahoney stood
embarrassed and f1abbergasted.
Byrd Office Explains.
Campaign headquarters of DR..
Byrd in Baltimore today issued
this statement on why he would
not shake hands with Mr.. Ma
honey:
HE will debate with Mahoney
on any platform and speak to
him when they meet.
"He will not shake hands.
HE feels Mahoney misrepre-
sented the situation last week
about the controllership and
then called Byrd liar to cover
up.
"He does not react pleasantly
to this"
The statement was issued by
E. Brooke Lee, manager of the
Byrd headquarters.
DR.. Byrd and Mr.. Mahoney
crossed swords last week about
who offered whom what in dis
cussions involving the control
lership.
If DR.. Byrd doesn't want to
shake hands with me. that is his
own affair."" replied Mr.. Ma
honey. "He is within his rights
not to do so.
But I am sure that thousands
upon thousands of Maryland
voters will shake my hand be-
tween now and election day.
Thousands have done so during
the past few months. The voters
are the ones who count"
Stresses Sincerity in Talk.
The Aberdeen unity" and
harmony signs were at either
end of the Recreation Hall where
265 diners came to raise party
funds. DR.. Byrd proceeded to
add sincerity" as a Democratic
slogan and neither candidate
mentioned the other in their
talks.
Those who aspire to places in
Government have an obligation
and a responsibility for that sin
certify Of purpose that leads
people not to make a lot of
promises they canno+ keep" DR..
Byrd said.
"A candidate who stands and
promises people better schools,
health service, agricultural serv-
ice and so forth. and says at the
same time he will reduce taxes
is knowingly making statement
that is not true.
THE only promise I make Is
there is sincerity in everything
that I do"
Pledges Open Book Finances.
He then went on to promise
I'VE shall have our finances laid
as an open book. We shall have
a balanced budget and it shall
be based on income for a given
year.
I'VE shall not trade upon the
future and build up problems for
future governors"
This might have been criti-
cism Of an advance report that
Republican Gov. McKeldin will
recommend next week that gross
receipts tax on utilities be COL
lected twice in the next fiscal
year. That would provide an
added SIS million for balancing
the budget.
DR.. Byrd pledged the same
Kind OF operation. if elected, as
in ID years of administering
the affairs of the University of
Maryland" in which I'VE fin.
lshed each year in the black,
working within the income for
that year."
He spoke without reference
to notes. ignoring remarks pre-.
pared in advance.
Discusses Highway Financing.
Mr.. Mahoney read from a
text in which he said he was
beginning discussion of what
ne thought were the issues of
the elections.
He limited himself to the r.
year road improvement program
on which Maryland is embark
Ing this year at a proposed cost
Of $728 million.
This program has certain
aspects which disturb me great.
~" he said.
Zone disturbing feature is the
proposal to finance the greater
part Of this construction on
borrowed money. II, as is
planned, $500 million worth Of
new highway bonds are issued.
The road users of the State of
could pay into the
State treasury between now and
1880, nearly 500 million which
will be used to pay the interest
On bonds"
He suggested the interest
night be kept down by being
certain that bonds aren't issued
Until they are absolutely neces-
'ary, putting the greatest pos
'ible emphasis on 'pay as you
20" construction, and watching
closely changes in conditions
it desirable to postpone
)r eliminate certain projects.