The Washington herald., 1912-03-14
TO FIGHT CHARTER
FOR CHEVY CHASE
State Senator Blair Lee Will
Oppose Incorporation on
Party Lines.
HEARING AT ANNAPOLIS

| securing charter, state Senator blalr
Lee, of Montgomery County, yesterday
intimsted to a delegation Of citizens Of
the Maryland town who journeyed to
Annapolis to press their claims that he
would oppose the Incorporation proposi-
tion on political lines.
The delegation, which numbered eighty
one persons, went 10 Annapolis on two
special cars over the electric line at
o'clock, arriving in Annapolis at o'clock.
The conference, at which Senator Lee
presided and Delegates Cummings, Bent
ley. Downey, and Waters, Of Montgomery
| County, were present, was held at $50
| o'clock in the senate chamber Of the
State capitol, the senate having ad-
journed in order TO allow the use Of the
chamber for the conference.
The delegation crowded the chamber.
large number being forced TO stand
| throughout the two hours hearing owing
to lack OF seating accommodations.
There were a large number OF women
in the delegation, the proposed charter
granting the right OF the ballot to women
\ taxpayers and property holders
The delegation was led by DR.. James
| Dudley Morgan, as head OF a committee
appointed to make arrangements for the
trip. The other members OF the COM
Frailey, DR.. Ryan Devereaux. Harvey
L. Curtis. Guy W. Comb. E. ]. Walsh.
w. Golden Carter, Thomas E. Robert
son. Vernon Hodges. George W. Dal-
zell, +. Van Dyne, and r. B. Clayton.
Votes in Sealed box.
The ballots which we're cast at the re-
cent vote on the preference OF the citi-
zens for q charter or a special tax levy.
as proposed by Delegate A. J. Cummings.
were carried with the delegation in a
sealed box. being in charge Of Ashby
Leavel. The ballot box contained 194
votes for the charter. IS against II. for
the special tax levy, and ! void ballot.
The delegation was nonpartisan in char
acter. a number OF Democrats as we'll
as Republicans being In the party.
The various speakers praised the work
Of State Senator Lee as n representative
OF Montgomery County. DR.. Ryan Dew
ereaux, In particular, eulogized the leg
islative efforts Of the Montgomery Coun-
| ty senator.
State Senator Lee called tn. meeting
TO order at 3:3O. In his preliminary re
marks he let the delegation know that
he would not introduce a bill providing
\ for a charter. His opposition TO the
measure was on strictly party lines.
I'VE have with US the citizenship of
Chevy Chase on the question of a char
ter" said State Senator Lee, 'and un-
derstand that a hearing is desired with
regard to the form which that legislation
\ is TO take. The matter has passed
through the house. and as I understand.
in q condition not satisfactory to a great
many people in Chevy Chase, and has
now come over from the house TO the
senate.
II understand that there has been q
mistake made-that nearly the whole OF
you people made an attack upon your To-
cal delegate from a political standpoint
\ last year. You had a perfect right to
DO that as Republicans. IL you are all
Republicans, and believe you are. You
| have just as much right to vote your
| sentiments as any other people, yet there
/ was an element Of misfortune in that be-
| cause II raised a certain sort of party
| alignment and IL brought up a question
that your delegates have got TO meet
| and that we have got to meet. as TO
! whether there shall be a delegation of
power of a Democratic county TO a To-
cal organization which is entirely of an
ether political faith
| Not Political Move.
| Taking their cue from the Introductory
remarks OF Senator Lee. the speakers OF
the Chevy Chase delegation endeavored
10 show that the charter was in no wise
4 political proposition. They called at
tentiop TO the fact that there were thirty
FIVE Democrats in the delegation of eighty
ole persons who were present. Fully
half of the votes cast for the charter
were Democratic votes, they asserted.
Stress was laid on the nonpartisan
character OF the proposed charter by
Charles L. Frailey, one OF the Chevy
Chase speakers. Mr.. Frailey replied TO
Senator Lee, who, in continuing his re-
marks, said:
Assuming that this town were incor-
porated and that II were administered
upon a more or less partisan basis. what
would be the position of the Democratic
minority? How many Democrats are
there in Chevy Chase and how many Re
publicans?"
In his reply Mr.. Fra!ley said: 81 am
so recent a resident in the State where
vote that ! am not a politician and do
not know much about politics: and I am
perfectly frank TO say that am present
I ing this matter as far as possible free
from these considerations, because do
not know enough to discuss them intelll-
gently. But am only here to put before
the delegation what I believe TO be the
sentiment OF the people. irrespective Of
any party.
DELEGATION Is Downcast.
Addresses were also made by DR.. Nor
gan. Ashby LeaveIl. NJ. A. Mess. Hull
bert Bisselle, r. E. L Yellott, and Guy
W. Camp. Attention was called to the
fact that the Chevy Chase residents had
concurred in all the amendments to the
charter proposed by Delegate A. j. Cum
mings. and had practically left the shap-
ing of the instrument in his hands. His
sudden change to a special tax levy took
them entirely by surprise, they asserted,
and they depended upon State Senator
Lee to uphold their interests.
The delegation was somewhat down.
cast by the action OF Senator Lee last
night Owing TO the fact that he ap-
parently views the charter as a party
proposition, they intend to secure the sig
natures of all the Democrats in Chevy
Chase who voted for the charter to a
petition. and TO forward II to State Sen
ator Lee, to show him that members OF
his own party desire the charter as badly
as members OF the opposition party,
Considerable bitterness over the stand
taken by their representative in the State
senate was manifested by members Of
the delegation. 1t is proposed to organ
Chase TO fight the denomination and re-
election OF Senator Lee. I'VE want some
body In the State senate who will look
out after the interests OF the people in
his district, not only a part of them"
said H. l.. Bisselle last night, ''and a
number OF residents Of Chevy Chase have