Evening star., 1928-03-07
ARLINGTON BODY DEMANDS
PASSAGE OF ENABLING ACT
Senator Ball and Delegate Reid Told by
County Federation Refusal to Keep Pre-
Election Pledges Deplorable Tyranny.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

| Special Dispatch TO The Star.
CLARENDON, Va, March T.~-urgent
appeals made to the citizens of Airing
ton County by State Senator Frank l..
Ball and Delegate Hugh Reid that they
be released from prediction pledges
to support the Arlington Incorporation
referendum bill fell short of their mark
last night when the Arlington County
Civic Federation. III regular meelnis'
adopte0 resolutions demanding that tnc
county representatives in the State
legislature seek passage OF the meas
ure at the present session.
In asking that he be allowed TO WITH
draw the bill Delegate Reid ADVISED
| the federation that he was OF the opln-
| ion. after comforting with Senator Bali
! and John S. Barbour, leading counsel
| for the county in the annexation suit.
| that to press the bill In the Legisla-
| ture at this time would be preJudiclal
| TO the county's annexation interests:
| In connection with this feature OF the
controversy the resolution. which was
| introduced by Arthur Orr, chairman oil
the federation'S executive commlttee
cites:
AT the time such campaign pledges
were made the city of Alexandria had
already taken the initial legal steps
looking to annexation of large portion
If Arlington County. and. according TO
the letter written by the Hon. Frank l..
Ball TO the civic federation, allegations
were being freely expressed at the time
such campaign pledges were made TO me
federation that further attempts looH-
ing to the passage OF the enabling act
would ALLEVIATE many OF the countyS
friends in Jefferson district in the an
ncxation suit: 50 that there Is now
existing no condition or situation wnich
lid not obtain at the time those pledges
were made.
No Change in Situation.
The federation" the resolution con-
tinues has been advised of no change
. in the situation indicating the wisdom
or the desirability of any modification
of its adherence 10 the bill.
Adoption of the resolution puts tne
! federation on record as adhering 10
our position that the right of the people
of this country TO determine Tor tnem-
selves the form of local government un-
der which they wish TO live, as guaran-
teed to them by the Declaration OF IN
dependence and the Bill OF Rights. Is
inherent and inaleaabie. and that any
further denial Of the power to exercise
that right would be deplorable act OF
tyranny inconsonant with the character
of our people as free citizens OF the
State of Virginia."
Mr. Orr declared that certain persons
who are opposing the bill on the ground
that it will jeopardize the county's an
nexation interests nave Sug9e ;ted that
efforts TO have it passed be deferred
until the next session Of the Legislature.
With this in mind Mr.. Orr sent
telegram TO Senator Ball stating that
consent OF the federation TO Withdrawal
of the bill would likely depend on as
surances that II would be enacted at
the next session Senator Bali replied:
Can only say will do what ] think
right IN 1880 in the light OF conditions
then existing. which no one can row
foresee"
A telegram similar in character was
sent to Delegate Reid by Grover f.
Payne treasurer OF the federation.
which brought forth the following: 1t
viii be time enough TO announce plat
form when and II ! announce my can
didacy. / would rather have the fed
Grafton settle the question on its mer-
its"
Reasons assigned by Senator Ball for
a change of heart on the proposal are
given in letter read TO the meeting
last night. Il personally think" Mr..
BAH states. that passage OF the Bill
would turn several hundred people Who
are now aligned with the county. over
to the side OF the city in the annexation
suit and would be absolutely disastrous" !"
Sees Possible Injury.
Mr.. Barbour, In letter TO the fedora
| ton. which was read last night. asserts
| that passage OF the act can In no way
help us in our efforts to block pending
| attempt 10 disrupt your county. On the
| contrary, however. ii may. IL passed, BE-
used. however unfairly, as evidence OF
| legislative sanction of the propriety OF
/ dismembering your county under cir
/ curnstances contemplated but yet 10 be
| determined In the pending annexation
| litigation.
In addition 20 this. and wholly inde-
pendent OF this consideration. / am led
| TO believe from opinions hear Of as
1 being expressed on The merits involved
| in the incorporation measure by resi-
| dents Of your county that passage OF
| the bill al tic present time will tend to
breed dsscord between elements thereof
now united IN their opposition TO the
[
boundaries and 10 contract the terri
| torial limits thereof This. think,
would be highly preiudiciai TO the ia
| terest by which and my associates have
been employed in The pending li,iga-
ton"
The statement OF Ball and Barbour
that passage OF the enabling act would
| ALLEVIATE the county'S friends In Jeffer-
son district was attacked by Mr.. Orr
who declared that such was ''meresi
speculation" end that there was better
/ authority on the question OF sentiment
IN the section affected than that offered
by the opponents.
We have been given the impression
Mr. Orr declared. that We could put
| through the enabling act two years
hence after termination 0: the annexa-
ilon question and that 1t would be ad'
! sisabie 10 put 1t of until that time In
order 10 hold the people In the affected
area on The side Of the county. II thf
ma lorlty OF the people OF that district
would prefer W 80 into Alexandria.
for one would not oppose them IN ilie
achievement ot their desires. ] think
li.ey ilase the same fundamental right
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