Evening star., 1928-05-08
MAYOROF TAKOMA
WINS IN ELECTION
Entire Anti Siding Slate Vic
torious After Bitter Mu-
nicipal Fight.

Mayor Ben &. Davis and his slate of
three candidates for the Town Council
Of Takoma Park. Md, emerged victors
yesterday in the bitterest town election
gaged there in many years. The princi-
pal issue in the election was the ques-
ton of continuing the North Taknma
freight siding. with the Takoma Cham
Der Of Commerce and Other groups OPP
posing Mayor Davis for his action in
closing the siding. II vas the heaviest
vote ever cast In Takoma Park elnc-
ton with ! 02i citizens casting ballots,
Mayor Davis defeated his opponent.
Chester c. Waters. an employe Of the
United States Treasury Department at
Washington. by vote Of 538 To 429,
while the three Davis candidates for the
council, Peter Remsen, r.. q. Sherburne
and Irvine r. Ware. also were elected
In re-electing Mayor Davis and his
councilmen TO Office, the voters Of the
town turned out Of Office two council
men who had served the community for
several years. They are Edgar v Crit
tenden and Marion -, Finch, postnas-
ter The other defeated candidate was
Robert z, pogue.
Votes Are Close.
The three Davis candidates for Office
polled the following vote. Remsen. 57l,
ShcrDurne. $40. Ware. 532. The three
opposing candidates who favored the
continuance OF the siding and we're
backed By the Takoma Chamber OF
Cnmerce polled the following vote Crit
tcndcn. 502: Pogue. 464; Finch, 449.
The election Is also regarded as
personal victory for J. Bond Smith.
town counsel Of Takoma Park and gem
eraI counsel Of the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion. Mr. Smith led the fight for the
adjustment Of the siding and because
Of his activities in this direction was
sharply criticized by the Takoma Cham
Der of Commerce two weeks ago and
asked TO resign from that organization
Last Saturday the opponents OF
Mayor Davis circulated handbiils
| throughout Takoma Park stating that
| the North Takoma siding was not the
! issue" but that - Bond Smith was
the issue" The nandbill further stated
! that a vote for Mayor Davis and his
/ slate of council candidates was a vote
/ 10 have j Bond Smith continue To d.
/ rect the affairs Of the town Of Takoma
J Park.
I The principal leaders IN the fight
/ against Mayor Davis were II L. Thorn
/ ton, president Of the Takoma Cham
| bcT of Commerce. Heber H. VotaW,
| brother law Of The date President
! Harding, and chairman Of the campaign
/ committee In charge Of raising funds
| for the new Takoma Park Volunteer
| Fire Department Building. and II. u
| Hendrlck. vice president Of the Cham
! Der of Commerce.
Chamber issues Statement.
/ Gtfs EYfAaH h0fnPG tbs aigctsn,, IT,
| Chamber 0f Commerce issued a long
statement signed by Mr.. Thornton
| pointing out the need for continuing
| the North Takoma freight siding and
urging the voters 10 aet accordingly al
| the election The feeling over the elec.
| lion became so bitter last week that
| Mr. V0tay publicly offered 10 resign
| ~ chairman 0f the iere Department
Z, drive committee because he was adj
viBed that his activities against Mayor
DAVIS we're iniufing The efforts ri The
| Fire Department volunteers IN their
| W0tk 0t raising subscriptions IN The
| building fund
| While the residents of 1akoma PARK
| have definitely fepldiated continuance
II the North Tak0ma siding by their
| Nesfieciion ot Mayor Davis and the
lFhree couneiimen friendly 10 him, the
I siding controversy Is stlll 10 be settled
The railroad siding passed into the
I courts last Friday. when railroad of
/ licisl III the Is H. . was arrested
( charged with violation 0f recently
passed city ordinance That was enacted
/ ~ prevent tfesspag6ing over town prom
| ffiy thus automatically closing lhe
| siding
The fana YES appealed and viii he
heafa aurlha ihf ne2l November term