Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-18
MARYLAND VIRGINIA NEWS
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Landlord Bockers See
Victory in November
BY GENE GOODWIN

Most observers of politics in
Maryland's 5th congressional
district figure that Representa-
tive Richard E. Landlord got by
his toughest hurdle when he de-
feated L. Harold Sothoron in
last springs Democratic primary.
Supporters of the first-term
Congressman now expect him to
win reelection on November
over the opposition Of Republic
can William B. Prendergast, the
other candidate on the ballot.
Mr.. Landlord has the adj
vantage of a better than two-to.
one Democratic registration
majority in the district, which
covers a section of South Balti-
more and the counties Of Prince
Georges, Anne Arundel, Howard.
Calvert, Charles and st. Marys.
Has Luke Warm Support
Mr.. Prendergast has the dis
advantage Of only luke-warm
support from some organization
Republicans in Prince Georges
County, the most populous county
in the district. In the primary
last spring, Mr.. Prendergast was
Endorsed by the G. o. P. State
Central Committee in Prince
Georges and yet lost the county
to Clifton L. Clevenger of Oak
Crest. 1t was the only county
he lost.
The Republican challer~-r's
best chance of upset. -.g Mr..
Landlord would seem to lie IN
a large enough "Eisep' over coat
tail" vote to overco-. e his handi-
caps.
Mr.. Landlord, who says he feels
he will win. got caught in an
Eisenhower avalanche four years
ago when he first ran for the 5th
District House seat vacated by
Lansdale G. Sasscer Of Upper
Marlboro.
Won in Sway Primary l.
When Mr.. Sasscer gave UP the
House seat to run for the Senate,
there was a mad scramble in both |,
parties to succeed him. Mr.. 4
Landlord won the Democratic
nomination in an eight-way pri-
mary. Frank Small, jr. beat out
nine other rivals for the Repub-
lican nomination.
Mr.. Small edged out Mr.. Lank- /
ford by fewer than 1000 votes.
Mr.. Landlord. feeling he would /
have won without President /
Eisenhower at the top Of the /
ticket, made another try two
years ago. This time he made
1t. defeating Walter Green and
Paul Menk in the primary and
then going on to whip Repre-
sentative Small by comfortable
6,000-vote margin. Il
Mr.. Landlords big fight, 4
though. was last spring, when
the formerly powerful Demo-
cratic organization of Prince |
Georges, led by Mr.. Sasscer, /
threw its support behind former /
State Senator Sothoron.
After a hard-fought primary,
Mr.. Landlord won an unexpect-
edly easy victory over Mr.. So
thoron. piling up a two-to-one
margin throughout the district /
and defeating the challenger
even in Prince Georges.
Running on Record
Mr.. Landlord says this time
he is running on his record Of /
the past and as projected in the
future" He complains that he
doesn't know where Mr.. Prem
dergast stands because he
hasn't made any positive state
ments."
Mr.. Prendergast. glib former
Naval Academy professor who is |
running as an Eisenhower team
man, calls the incumbent a
fence straddler on the impor-
tant issues Of the day." He says
Mr.. Landlords first term record
is 'undistinguished."
A 42-year-old Annapolis at
torney, Mr.. Landlord got started
in politics as the first president
OF the Young Democrats in Anne
Arundel. In l948. he was APP
pointed to fill an unexpired term
In the House of Delegates. andl