Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-03

ACAt III Aoffs
His opponent Is States At
torney J. Harold Grady. an
afiable boyish-looking former
FBI agent who at ~ Is involved
In the second and final round
In his first political battle.
on paper. Mr.. McKeldin. who
Ia SO. can't win.
Democrats outnumber Re-
publicans 4 10 ! In the city.
The Democratic trend Of last
November. although slowed
somewhat. Is still prevailing.
even the most optimistic Re-
publicans concede.
Pon Forecasts Victory
Grady forces in the primary
conducted an extensive tele-
phone poll which was excep-
tionally accurate. Today q
similar poll. aides say, forecasts
a victory margin Of $4,000 to
$4,000 next Tuesday.
Mr.. McKeldin not only faces
an alignment of bosses
throughout the city, without
any Democratic split typical of
past elections but also Is OPP
posed by every major daily
newspaper in the city.
Nonetheless the political pros
In discussing the odds on Mr..
Grady invariably end UP with:
But you can't count Nc
Keldin out"
Mr.. McKeldin, fresh from an
eight-year stay in the governor
ship. enjoys the campaign trail
and is playing his role in q
masterful manner.
A few night ago he was adj
dressing some 500 Negro church
leaders In the front row was
the Democratic candidate for
city council president. State
Senator Philip H. Goodman. AS
Mr.. McKeldin brought the house
down again and again, Senator
Goodman murmured:
Hes still the master"
Mr.. McKeldin wheedles his /
audiences. entertains them and
urges them to break ranks with |
Democratic bosses and support
him in the voting booth.
He uses a string Of anecdotes, |
complete with dialect which
even when heard for the Jump
teenth time, still bring smiles,
then laughter and finally ap-
plause from his listeners.
Mr.. McKeldin thrives on q
fast-moving campaign. Occa-
sional barbs from people he
approaches in the markets, on
the waterfront or the streets,
bring only laughter and some
times a personal attempt to
change the voters mind.
Undaunted by Defeats
Mr.. McKeldin has lost cleo
tons but defeats have left him
undaunted. He ran for mayor
in 1889 and governor in 1912
and lost both times. He was
bac kin 1943 and defeated four
term mayor Howard w. Jack
son.
In 1946 he took another try
at the governorship but lost to
w. Preston Lane. -Four years
later, with the Democrats badly
split, he defeated Gov. Lane
and in 1854 became the first
Republican to win reelection.
That time his opponent was
former University of Maryland
President Harry C. Byrd.
Today, however, Mr.. Nickel
din finds himself up against a
man who has no enemies nor
mally made through service in
public ONCE.
He finds himself a veteran
war horse in a race with one
Of those bright new faces" the
Democrats have been pleading
for but ignoring during the last
decade:
The Grady story is an unex-
purgated plagiarism of "the
Last Hurrah," the political
novel which saw a veteran boss
crushed by an amiable, mex
perienced family man whose
selection and campaign was
manipulated by seasoned be-
hind-the-scenes politicians and
newspapers.
On an anti-bossism platform
MIR. Grady went forth in March
to do battle with three-term
Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro, jr.
He beat him with a $4,000
vote margin.
Ironically, Mr.. Grady be-
came States attorney when
Gov. McKeldin elevated his
predecessor to the bench,
thereby eliminating him as a
potential opponent. And it was
Mayor D'Alesandro who insist
ed on giving Mr.. Grady a free
ride last year when he ran un-
opposed for States attorney.
His hair unruffied, one hand
in his side coat pocket, Mr..
Grady moves smoothly and
confidently through the crowds
at mass meetings laid out for
him by Baltimore's district
Democratic bosses.
While Mr.. McKeldin has two
novices on the ticket with him,
Mr.. Grady has two seasoned
politicians, DR.. r. Walker Gra-
Eham, city controller, and SEN
ator Goodman.
Bosses Support Grady
Mr.. Grady gives the impress
sion Of being a man marking
time until he can officially walk
in and take over the mayors
Office.
Although he ran on an anti
bossism ticket. he now finds
himself supported by virtually
all the bosses in the city in
GLIDING some, such as Irwin
Kovens, who in the past have
been in the McKeldin camp.
The most confusing and
amusing facet of the campaign
is the role of Democrat Boss
James H. tJacD Pollock, ally
of Mayor D'Alesandro.