Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-07
Progressives After
Bitter Fight, Pre-
dict Landslide.
Elimination of Waste and
Bond Issues Their
RalIying Cry.

With their keynote elimination of
waste and extravaganza" the Progress
sive Democrats of Montgomery County
will make a strenuous effort tomorrow
in the primary elections to GUST the or
ganization headed by E. Brooke Lee
from control of the county Democratic
party, which he has dominated for 10
years.
During those 10 years dissatisfaction
with the administration has simmered
throughout the county, kept alive by a
group at Rockville, Of which the Peter
family has been the center. Now the
pot is boiling and Montgomery County
is in the throes of venomous political
tight which can be terminated only by
the overwhelming defeat of one faction
or the other.
Forsee Landslide.
That Is what the Progressive, or anti
organization, leaders say will happen.
Some of them predict a landslide in
their favor at the polls, while other,
more conservative politicians see the
turmoil created by tho campaign, but
are reluctant to forecast which way the
tide will turn. They are all agreed,
however, that the turn will be strong
one.
The extremely heavy registration of
new voters last Tuesday is construed by
the Progresstves as an indication of the
party. They point to the forecast made
by Maj. Lee before registration day that
fewer than 1000 persons would be en-
rolled and say that the assumption is
that the majority of the 1000 or. more
registrations are the outcome Of their
campaign.
Two of the Peter family, Edward
Peter and his brother, j. Vinson Peter,
are in the midst of the fight, but they
do not occupy position similar to that
Of Maj. E. Brooke Lee, sole leader Of
the organization. The Progressives
have half dozen or more leaders, none
of whcTn, If he desired, could take over
the reins of the party. The strongest
man politically affiliated with the anti
organization group is conceded to be DR..
Eugene Jones of Kensington, now State
Senator. His son, Charles Jones, is one
of the leaders Of the younger group.
Pick Administration Flaws.
Since they are on the outside trying
TO get in, the issues Of the Progressives
are based in the main on what they
say is lacking or wrong in the admin
istration. The changes they would
make are embodied in a platform which
was the first formal, written set of cam
paign promises in the political history
OF the county. The platform, it is said,
is the outcome of more than a years
work and reached its final form only
after consultation with hundreds of
citizens. 1t was issued by the exec
utive committee Of the party, composed
candidate for the House of Delegates,
and William L. Aud, candidate for
sheriff.
Mr.. Prettyman is the outstanding
recruit to the Progressive ranks during
the campaign. A Washington lawyer
of considerable prominence, who lives
in Chevy Chase, he has been the fea-
tured speaker at most of the party
rallies as we'll as taking an active part
in the publication Of the factions off,
cial newspaper.
Through this newspaper and the
courts, numerous charges against Diff
ferent members OF the administration,
and against the government as a
whole, have been made since the cam
paign began. The allegations range
from outright accusations of fraud to
eXtravagant and unwise administration
of public funds, and include charges
that favor Is shown for political pur-
poses in most branches of government.
The last two weeks have seen charges
Of various sorts, both new and old, re-
peated in various forms at the many
political meetings. For the last four
nights. two political rallies were held
each night. taking in most sections of
the county
The constructive issues Of the Pro-
orr Ind MI A.
efiicient, busineSslike, economical sys-
tenn of government, exposure of all
government acts to the public eye and
schools and similar branches of the
county administration free from pol
itics.
The first is stressed more than the
others. Toward the end of business
like administration of finances, the
ProgressiveS oppose bond issues as a
policy for financing public improve
mentS and advocate a pay-aS-you-go
system. They say that the county now
has no budget control of levies and ex-
penditureS and that such a system
should be installed. In the interest of
economy and efficiency they would
combine Offices wherever possible, thus
cutting the county's pay roll.
Economical administration, 1t IS
stated, would permit the lowering Of
taxes, while the people of the county
would receive more Improvements and
better government than at present.
In line with the policy of a govern :.
ment, every act of which would be a
matter of public record, the anti-organ-
ization forces would have the complete
minutes of the Board of County Com
missioners published Immediately fol-
lowing each session, and have the
treasurer issue periodic statements
which could be easily comprehended by
the layman.
While the upper section of the
county is the traditional stronghold of
the Progressives, they advocate aid to