Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-19
End Of Unit System
Sought inMaryIand
Supreme Court
Decision Spurs
Bill by Curdin
BY JAMES B. ROWLAND
star staff Writer

ANNAPOLIS, Mar. ls.-The
House Of Delegates
Is making another stab at
abolishing the unit vote system,
even though the Supreme Court
apparently has beaten them to
the punch.
Delegate Maurice Cardin,
Democrat Of Baltimore, and
five others, last night again
introduced q bill that would
outlaw the 52-year-old practice
in Maryland primaries. 1t was
referred to the Judiciary COM
mittee.
Earlier in the session, Mr..
Cardin's bill sailed overwhelm-
ingly through the House, only
to be scuttled by two votes In
the Senate.
1T is uncomfortable to me
the Senate will not now pass
the BILL" Mr.. Cardin told the
House.
Aimed at Georgia
While the Supreme Court
decision yesterday was aimed
directly at Georgia. its broad
language probably win ban the
practice in Maryland where
primary candidates for State
wide office are nominated by
a county unit vote rather than
the popular vote. Each county
has as many unit votes as it
has seats in the Maryland
General Assembly. dominated
until now by rural lawmakers.
by virtue Of the Supreme
Court decision, this system is
unconstitutional in Maryland"
Mr.. Cardin said.
His confidence was shared
neither by Gov. Tawes nor
Attorney General Thomas B.
Finan. The latter, however.
said that since Maryland law
makers are in session, they can
deal with the matter.
Study Court Decision
Mr.. Finan also said he would
have to read the Supreme
Court decision before decid-
ling what effect the ruling
would have on Maryland.
But it would appear from
press reports that the Supreme
Court in the Georgia case in
dicates that no State may use
other than q popular vote in
nominating and electing State.
wide officials.
Until such time as we re-
ceive the full text Of the
opinion, we cannot state what
, changes. II any. will be required
in the election laws Of this
State"
Delegate w. Dale Hess, Dem
ocrat Of Hartford. House Ma.
: jority Leader and one of the
sponsors Of the bill introduced
I last night, said:
S We've put in the bill with
!. the thought that it will give
the attorney general time ts
!, study today's Supreme Court
: ruling. If he finds it clearly
E applies to Maryland, we can
then go ahead and act on the
? legislation"
/ Sponsors Of the bill in addi-
ton to Mr.. Hess and Mr.. Cardin
5 are Frank Harris, Democrat Of
E Cecil. Marvin Mandel, Democrat
I Of Baltimore, A. Gordon Boone,
: Democrat Of Baltimore County.
E and Mrs. Edna P. Cook, DEM
: ocrat Of Montgomery.
I Had Agreed TO Wait
0 Just before the Supreme
|, Court action, Mr.. Finan and
S the Maryland Commission for
Fair Representation had agreed
e to wait for the Georgia ruling
a before going ahead with two
g Maryland cases now In United
7 States District Court.
! = The attorney general agreed
!, that the State would admit thu
!" allegations by the committe.
If the Supreme Court ruled
: Georgia's unit rule unconsti.
tutional. The committee, OF
its part, agreed that 1t woulC
dismiss its court suit II tn,
Supreme Court upheld tn
Georgia unit rule.
Alfred L. Seaman, commit
tee counsel, said he believe
the court decision covers tn
stipulation.
mo matter how you cut II
the unit rule Is dead" MI
Seaman said.
Delegate ]. Glenn Beall. jr
Of Allegany County and Repub
lican minority leader, said
was horrible" that the ju
dietary had TO act for the legis
lative branch.