Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-21
2 Parkway Routes
Backed by Planners
Baltimore Leaders Back
Birmingham for Senate
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN

By CHARLES L. HOFFMAN
Baltimore City Democratic
leaders have thrown their sup
port to Michael j. Birmingham
to succeed Willard E. Tydings,
as the party's senatorial candi-
date, as the field narrowed to
Mr.. Birmingham and George p.
Mahoney.
City leaders, after a series of
caucuses yesterday, finally an
nounced their support of Mr..
Birmingham, who is the new ma
tional committeeman.
Birmingham supporters already
are claiming enough votes to give
the nomination to him. They say
they have So votes. Seventy
seven are needed.
The State Central Committee
will meet at 8 pm. Monday at
the Belvedere Hotel to name a
successor to Mr.. Tydings who
withdrew as the candidate SUM-
day because of his health.
Notices Go Out Today
Party Chairman T. Barton
Harrington, who set the meeting
time, said official notices would
go out today to all 152 county
committee members.
A number of leaders had
hoped for a committee meeting
tomorrow night.
The Baltimore City action
puts AZ votes in the Birmingham
column.
Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro
said today the Baltimore City
leaders had not taken their ac-
ton until they had offered to
support Mrs. Tydings. He said
she declined to seek the COM
mittee'S nomination.
The Mayor also said Mrs
TydlngS had "categorically" de-
MED a rumor that her husband
and she were supporting Mr.
Mahoney for the nomination
Mr.. Mahoney is claiming sup
port of both Hartford and Carroll
Counties, but has declined to list
any of the other county COM
mittees backing his candidacy.
Montgomery, Prince Georges
and Baltimore County, each with
| z votes. also are reported ready
to support Mr.. Birmingham
Others reported definitely with
him are Kent and Calvert Coun-
ties with a total of six votes.
The county leaders have de-
cided to follow the lead of Balti-
more City in selecting nominee
Mr.. Harrington's delay IN set
ting the date of the committee
meeting is resented by 3irming-
ham supporters.
Two Withdraw Names
They had wanted a candidate
to put forward over the week END
when the United Democratic
Women of the State hold Their
annual meeting at Ocean City.
The other two candidates men,
toned yesterday in the scram-
BILE for votes have withdrawn.
They are William C. Walsh
former attorney general anc
member of the Maryland Court
of Appeals. and Philip B. Perl
man. former United States solicit
tor general.
| In statement, Mr.. Walsh sale
he was supporting Mr.. Birming.
ham.
MY chief interest is in seeing
our party unite and I hope my
withdrawal will contribute tt
that end" he said.
Mr.. Perlman also indicated hi
would back Mr.. Birmingham fol
the nomination if he could moi
have it for himself.
I Despite the Birmingham band
wagon. Mr.. Mahoney was fal
from quitting the race.
Il am in this to the end" he
said to The Star this morning
| In a telegram to committee
members yesterday. he said that
as a "staunch Democrat" he hac
to forget factionalism after the
primary and to give his whole
hearted support to Mr.. Tydings
| Il humbly feel that / deServe
your kind consideration for this
nomination." he wrote.
| And. in another statement, hi
noted that some of the Other
candidates for the nomination
now had toyed with the idea
prior to the primary but doubted
their own vote-getting abilities
Il cannot see how those who
have SO little confidence in theil
own gote-getting abilities can
expect to convince the State
Central Committee of their abil-
Iity to win the November cleo
ton for the United States Sen
ate"
He noted that he "alone of all
the present aspirants has beer
campaigning the State fol-
months"
/ 1t is ironical that he now faces
his chief opposition from his
own primary campaign manager
Mr.. Birmingham. active in pol
IYou+h NrouI,