Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-10
CITIZENS LEAGUE
OPENS CAMPAIGN
Cleaner Politics Organization
Formed in Prince Georges
County.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
HYATTSVILLE, Md. July 10-Ten
out OF twenty-one election districts
of Prince Georges county We're rep
| resented at the second meeting OF
citizens in the municipal building here
last night. over 80 women and men
Interested in the enforcement of the
laws and the general betterment of
.uItions were present
Practically all of the time of the
meeting was consumed in the adop-
ton of a constitution and bylaws
written by committee composed of
q. w. s. Musgrave of Laurel. chair
man: Mrs: H. J. Patterson. College
and Joseph H. Blandford. tr.. Brandy
wine. Considerable discussion arose
over the propriety of allowing the
nominating committee to recommend
filled, many being of the opinion that
nominations should be allowed out
side of those brought in by the COM
mittee. One speaker thought II un-
fair that nominations should be
rammed down the throats" Of people.
After the question had been argued
PRO and con for half an hour the
Temporary chairman. j. Frank Rushe.
ruled the whole discussion out of
order.
The Citizens League of Prince
Georges County" was adopted as the
official name OF the organization. Its
purposes are declared to be entirely
non partisan. shall be to secure fair
elections, promote honest and eff
Client government. expose and bring
to punishment official misconduct. in
fluence the enforcement of the laws
and encourage the nomination and
election of the persons best qualified
to serve as county officials and gem
orally protect. as far as possible, the
interests OF the citizens OF Prince
Georges county and the state OF
Maryland"
The officers of the league are to be
a president two vice presidents, a
secretary and a treasurer. These five
officers. together with seven other
members. duly elected. shall consti-
tute the executive committee.
Chairman J. Frank Rushe nam ed
the following nominating committee:
Charles w. Clagett. Hyattsville: Mrs.
Edgar Brown. Lanham; Gordon E.
Ferguson, Decatur Heights: Mrs. j. j.
T. Graham. Hyattsville. and Frank
VI. Stephen. This committee will rec
ommend officers for the league at the
next meeting. Monday. July 2.
The bylaws provide for the or
ganization of clubs in the various
election districts to be known as dis
trict citizens clubs. These clubs are
to perform such duties as may be as
signed them by the league or the
executive committee. and are to send
representatives to all league meet
4
own officers. The executive commit
tee is to appoint annually standing
committees on law enforcement. leg
islation, elections: public officials
publicity. membership and finance.
Individual members and groups of
members are expressly prohibited
from using the name of the league in
approaching persons whom they wish
to solicit to become candidates for
office and from representing that the
league is supporting any particular
candidate or candidates, unless spe-
cially authorized by the executive
committee. and no candidate or can
didates for Office are to be supported
by the league unless and until their
fitness and qualifications have been
passed upon by a special committee to
be appointed by the executive COM
mittee. and then only when duly au-
thorized by the executive committee.
In each of the twenty-one election
districts in the county the executive
committee shall appoint one repub-
lfcan and one democrat. who, together
with the executive committee, shall
constitute the council of the league.
This council shall meet whenever
called by the president or the execu-
tive committee to confer as to candi-
dates for office.
In order to secure the political af4
filiation of the members those who
signed the roster last night were
asked to indicate the party to which
they belonged.