Evening star., 1960-06-10
COP. MayUse
TdWes' Pledge
As Vote Issue

| N@ AeNAAA
State Convention will be asked
in Baltimore tomorrow to con-
denim Democratic Gov. Tawes
for failure to carry out his
campaign pledge to reappor-
ton the State Legislature.
A resolution criticizing the
Governor will be presented by.
Newton 1. Steers, jr.. chairman
OF Montgomery County's con-
vention delegation.
Mr.. Steers proposed resolu-
ton charges that the Governor
by feeble and inadequate ef-
forts (has) insured that his
pledge Ito reapportion the Leg
islature) would not be ful-
filed"
The Republican convention
will be asked to call upon the
Governor to secure legislation
to achieve fair" representa-
ton for localities in the Lepis-
lature.
Ask ReviSiOnS
The Republican group will
also be urged to ask for legis-
lation to permit political
parties to apportion their con-
Ventions in proportion to the
percentage of the total vote
received in the various juris-
dictions in the last election by
the party nominee for Presi-
dent.
Mr.. Steers said his resolution
II adopted, will call for divorc-
ing party convention organiza-
ton from legislative apportion-
ment.
Mr.. Steers said he thinks all
OF the Montgomery delegation
will back the resolution.
The county, he said, has over
10 per cent of the population
Of the State, but only 5 per
cent of the members of the
Legislature.
Cites Custom
Mr.. Steers noted that rural
opposition to reapportionment
is well organized and has done
a great job years ago to make
it very difficult to change the
present system.
A reapportionment resolu-
ton offered at the recent
Democratic State Convention
was backed by only % of 152
delegates.
Although the Republican
State Convention will open here
tomorrow, several issues to be
discussed will b. aired at a
meeting of party leaders to-
night.
The purpose of tonight's
meeting is to straighten out
any details which might pro-
duce an open fight at tomor-
rows convention of the 1852
delegates elected in the May II
primary.
One of the wrinkles was
ironed out yesterday when it
was agreed by ranking Mary
land G. o. P. members that
former Representative Edward
T. Miller will succeed Theo-
dore r. McKeldin as national
committeeman.
Split Avoided
Among those agreeing to the
move was the former Governor
himself. Mr. McKeldin has
held the post for eight years.
The agreement headed of a
possible dispute between the
forces friendly to Senator
Butler and those friendly with
Senator Beall.
Reports had been circulating
that Senator Butler was pre-
pairing to name Maj. Gen. Will
liam c. Purnell for the post
while Senator Beall would push
for D. Eldred Rinehart, now
chairman of the Republican
State Central Committee.
Indications of a switch came
after a Wednesday luncheon
meeting of Mr.. Rinehart with
Senators Butler and Beall. It
was reported that the two
Senators had agreed on the
selection Of the former con-
gressman from the Eastern
Shore.
McKeldin Retired
All three found they could
take" Miller. And Mr.. Nc
Keldin and other leaders said
they would be happy to see Mr..
Miller tapped.
The post of national COM 4
mitteeman will be filled by a
vote of the "a Maryland dele
gates to the Republican Ma
tional Convention in Chicago
next month. The delegates will
be named tomorrow at the
State convention.
Mr.. McKeldin'S retirement
was voluntary. He made it
plain to all that he did not
seek another four-year term
as national committeeman.
The former Governor, now
practicing law in Baltimore,
has lost favor with some Re-
publicans because of his close
association with dissident Dem
ocrats who helped elect him.
MOOs Was Mentioned
Mr.. Miller served II years
in the House of Representa-