Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-03
TAXPAYER CHARGES
BUYING OF VOTES
Pladensburg Ballots Sold for
SIS, According to w. P.
Magruder.

uaClOn In Prince A1eOIBeS county over
the week end.
The outstanding developments were:
l. Emphasis of the Republican plat
form attacks on the Washington Sub
urban Sanitary Commission through q
formal statement by the Republican
State Central Committee.
q Charges by w. p Magruder, active
worker of the, Taxpayers Association,
that votes are being bought for IS each
In Bladensburg district, and announce
ment that he would give 500 reward
for information leading to the dis
closure Of such activities.
3. The appearance of several "mys-
terry ballots and final rallies Of both
parties.
The Republican statement regarding
the Sanitary Commission. issued by
Samuel G.. Coale. chairman of the
State Central Committee, was in be-
lated answer to statement OF T..
Howard Duckett, chairman of the COM
mission, published In The Sunday Star
Of october IL in reply to the G. o. P.
county platform.
The committee declares its platform
planks contain no promise OF some
thing for nothing" but its observation
shows that the present chairman and
one of his associates have held men,
berships during the entire life of the
commission, not for nothing, but for
sum that totals more than $4,000 each.
I'VE also find the statement says,
shat the original commission has
among Its members a gentleman whose
reputation was of the very highest, but
who happened to be Republican. Ac-
cordingly the present appointive power
found it necessary to refuse reappoint-
ment in his case in order to create a
position for follower of the House
Of Lee"
@. o. p. Claims.
The statement, which epitomizes the
charges that have been hurled from the
platform at all Republican rallies,
claims Mr.. Duckett made no denial of
the platform declaration that improper
acts of employees of the Sanitary Com
mission in the Washington office can
not be prosecuted in Maryland.
mo person has ever demanded imme-
date construction of a sewer for the
entire Anacostia basin, but it has been
suggested that In making sanitary i'm
provements Montgomery County re-
ceives first consideration, the state
ment asserts. 1t is also charged that
cit Is reasonable to suppose some means
could have been found to france" the
extension of the Northwest Branch
sewer last Summer in view of the plans
Of the commission to build 1t during
viii surely add to the cost"
Can it be possible the delay has been
stimulated by the approach of an cleo
ttOn?" the committee asks. Neither the
platform nor any individual questions
the integrity or ability of any member
Of the Sanitary or Park Commissions.
IL Is merely asserted that in all fairness
the people who pay the cost should
have a voice in the management" the
statement concludes.
One Point Answered.
The implication that employees of the
washington office might embezzle funds
from the Sanitary Commission was the
only statement that Mr. Duckett felt
deserved an answer this morning
1.-THE great bulk of the money for
our commission is collected by the
county treasurers and banked in Mary
land" he pointed out. 1.-THE funds
received in the Washington ONCE are
simply stray water bills. amounting to
less than $4,000 a month; All officials
and employees of the Washington Office
are under substantial bonds After IL
years operation we have handled about
$l2,0O0,00o and no money has been
missed yet"
The charges of delayed construction
have been repeatedly answered in an
nouncements OF the commission and
news reports. the chairman recalled.
w. p. Magruders sensational vote
buying charge was the high spot Of a
meeting Of the newly organized Tuxedo
Volunteer Fire Department in the home
OF Thomas Moller. The meeting be-
came, in effect, rally of the Taxpay-
ers Association, j. F. Lillard, president
OF that organization, and Peter j.
Hagan, secretary, making addresses.
Final Rally.
The final Democratic rally was held
IN Carrys Hall, Berwyn, Saturday night
with Justice of the Peace j. H. Shipley
presiding. Speakers included Lansdale
q. SasScer, candidate for reelection to
the State Senate; Charles C. Marbury.
Kent r. Mullikin and William H.
Anglin, legislative candidates: Mrs
Mary w. Browning, candidate for
county commissioner; ]. H. Blandford,
candidate for the Orphans Court;
James w. Rogers, candidate for sheriff,
and Mrs. Virginia Peters, Parkhurst.
Another Republican statement was
forthcoming this morning from j. H.
Fetty. mayor OF Laurel and Republican
candidate for clerk of the Circuit Court.
Fetty's statement was in effect q decla-
ration OF personal confidence, and said
that a careful canvass of the voters in
each district led him to believe he would
be elected by a majority of at least
Z 1000 votes. Many political observers
however, expect Summerfield D. Hail.
Democrat, to be reelected.
The Republicans fired their final ora
eorical broadStde at Bowie Saturday
night, Thopsas p. Littlepage, j. WILSON
Ryon and Mr.. Coale, party leaders, tax
ing a. leading role. Candidates who
BpoH included William H. Duvall, can
dtdate for treasurer; George P. Nc
Ceney, Robert G. MacCartee and Bird
H. Dolby. candidates for the Legisla-
ture; Albert r. HaSsall, candidate for
states attorney. and w. Curtis Hop
kins, candidate for sheriff.
Mystery Ballots.
One of the mystery" ballots now
causing considerable comment in the
county checks all but four Republican
State and county candidates Oddly
enough. Oliver Metzerott. one of the
most popular Republican candidates,
Is not checked. The ballot has no
marks OF Identification and is headed,
vote this ticket and you won't go
wrong"
The ballot was studied by the Repub-
ncan State Central Committee Saturday.
but leaders labeled 1t "inconSeQuential"
and said no investigation would be made
20 determine the publisher, although it
Is violation Of the Maryland law to
issue an anonymous ballot.
The other strange ballot is a mark
over OF the taxpayers ticket. That
association made no indors ment for
the State Senate, and its ticket is so
marked, with the names Of both Senator
Sasscer, Democrat, and William r.
Smallwood, Republican, listed.
Many persons have received this bal
lot, but with the words no indorsa-
ment" and Senator Sasscer'S name
biotted out. One of the officials of the
association said today these ballots were