Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-26
MARYLAND
Real TussIe
Shaping Up
This Spring
BY GENE GOODWIN
Star staff Correspondent

llhC 1CUikC e mhkiukley WIS
going to get a virtual free ride
p. to the Senatorial nomination
that will be up for grabs In
the Democratic primary on
May Z.
But the Old Guard came up,
almost at the last minute.
with Willard z. Tydings Of
Havre De Grace (where he
votes) and Washington (where
he operates). And now Free
State Democrats win have q
reason to 60 to the polls.
The political forecast is for
q warm spring.
Mr.. Tydings. who at s. Ii
one of Maryland's best-known
sons, served In the Senate for
"a years before his defeat by
Republican Senator John
Marshall Butler In 1850. He
achieved great stature there
as chairman Of the Senate
Armed Services Committee.
Yet. when his name was
first mentioned early last fall
as a possible candidate to re-
turn to the Senate, nothing
happened-no boom, no draft
movement, nothing. The rea-
son. apparently, was that the
Old Guard at that time was
still shopping around.
Many of the Old Guard
and we mean by that term the
gentlemen who have been
steering Maryland's Demo-
cratic Party through foul and
fair weather for the last dec-
ade or severe known to pre-
fer former Gov. w. Preston
Lane for the race this year.
Others liked Baltimore's
Mayor D'Alesandro or former
Court Of Appeals Judge VIII
liam c. Walsh Of Cumberland.
Sudden Decision
The decision to 60 with Mr..
Tydings was made suddenly
only a couple of weeks ago
after a determined, search for
an acceptable candidate to
run against Mr.. Mahoney. who
has been battling the Old
Guard for more than six years
In his hunger for high ofi1ce.
The decision was made so
suddenly, in fact, that Old
Guard. leaders were almost
caught with two anti-Mahoney
candidates. It is understood
that when word came down
that Mr.. Tydings finally had
agreed to enter the race. Judge
Walsh already had been per-
suaded to run. However. the
judge had never been keen
about becoming a candidate
and repeatedly stepped down
with pleasure In favor Of Mr..
Tydings.
Now the big question is
whether Mr.. Tydings can beat
Mr.. Mahoney and stu have
enough steam and support left
to defeat Senator Butler, who
seems almost assured at this
point Of winning denomination
in his own party's primary.
Mr.. Mahoney has proved
himself in four Statewide
campaigns to be an aggressive
and effective campaigner, and
he has the advantage Of o
head start.
Some of Mr.. Mahoney's sup
porters. particularly in Balti-
more City, are so loyal that
they refuse to vote for the men
who beat him In primaries. In
1854, for example. Mahoney
Democrats by the hundreds
flocked to the camp Of Re-
publican Gov. McKeldin rather
than support DR.. II. c. Byrd.
who had narrowly defeated
Mr.. Mahoney for the guberna-
torial nomination. That same
thing can happen to Mr.. Tyd-
tngs,
Tydines' Chances
Most observers feel today
that Mr.. Tydings has a very
good chance Of winning an
uphill battle against the
wealthy Baltimore paving con-
tractor.
Mr.. Mahoney is very strong
in Baltimore City and may be
able to carry five out Of the
city's six legislative districts.
His managers say they are not
disturbed by Mayor D'Alesan-
dro's support Of Mr.. Tydings
because their man has man
aged to carry i've districts In
each of the last three State
wide primaries despite the
Mayors opposition.
But In most Of the coun-
ties, Mr.. Tydings is expected
to do very we'll. He should
find a great source of strength
In Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties. whose resi-
dents include Old Guard lead
ers E. Brooke Lee and Lans-
dale G. Sasscer.
Since Maryland primaries
are decided on the basis of
unit rather than popular
votes, good strength in the
counties can easily Offset MIR.
Mahoney's advantage In pop
ulous Baltimore City.
The Republicans. meanwhile.
are delighted with the entry
Of Mr.. Tydings into the DEM
ocratic primary and the pros
pect Of a hard-fought cam.
paign which could benefit
them in the general election
next November.
Gov, McKeldin apparently
has thrown his considerable
support behind Senator But
Ter, even though they have
been at odds at many times in
the past. The Governor re-
portedly tried last fall to get.
first, Representative Miller
Of the LIST district and then