Evening star., 1934-09-04
.TAKOMA ELECTION {.
DECLARED BINDING
ON DISTRICT HEADS
Allen Says Wishes Of People
Should Be Respected
on Liquor.
POLLING PLACES OPEN
7 INSTEAD OF 8 Am.
Four Additional Judges Are APP
pointed as Final Arrangements
Are Made for Balloting.
Picture on Page Az

picture on Page A-4)
The results Of the referendum on
the granting of liquor licenses in
Takoma, D. c., will be binding on
the Commissioners so far as Commits
sioner George E. Allen is concerned,
he declared today as the election
board announced that the polling
places will be opened at instead of
8 am, on September IL, the day set
for the balloting.
The Commissioners are not bound
technically to grant or refuse Licenses
in the Takoma area in accordance
with the results of the poll, but Allen
believes the Commissioners should
follow the wishes Of the residents Of
Takoma as revealed in the
referendum.
Additional Judges Named.
Another development today was an
nouncement by the election board Of
the appointment Of four additional
judges. This completes the roster Of
eight who will be on duty that day
at the four polling places.
The new judges are Miss Ruth N.
Nickles. secretary to Corporation
Counsel Prettyman; Miss Margaret H.
Davis ard William E. Meredith, mem
bers of the staff of the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board, and william
c. Cleary, general manager of the
works division Of the District Emer-
gency Relief Organization.
The fixing of an earlier hour for
tho ar,aniy1y Of he
by the board at the request Of dry
leaders. who pointed out that 8 am.
would be too late to allow much time
to those who wish to vote before work
ing hours. George z. Sullivan, on
behalf Of those who favor retaining
Takoma as dry area, had suggested
that 6 am. would be q reasonable
opening hour. In deciding on am.
the election board left the closing
hour at pm, so the change adds an
hour 10 the voting period.
Accord Is Expected.
When plans for the referendum
were made, Ii was explained that 1t
would be an advisory vote, but Com
missioner Allen, who supervises ad-
ministration Of the liquor law, made
known today his belief that majority
rule should be followed. It is be-
lieved the other two members of the
board will be In accord with this view.
Allen went step further to de-
clare that II the majority Of the resi-
dents Of the District showed they did
not want liquor to be sold in WASH
ington, then their wishes should be
respected and the sale Of liquor
banned. He was not suggesting that
city-wide referendum be held on
the question, but made the declara-
ton to emphasize his view that under
the American form of Government
and under the District liquor law the
motivating principle is majority rule.
Allen took the opportunity to scout
the possibility that the holding Of
the referendum on the Takoma ques-
ton was contrary to law and might
be stopped by court injunction. He
cited a provision of the District liquor
law which requires the District, be-
fore issuing permit, to ascertain the
wishes of the residents of the COM
munity for which a permit is sought.
In the Takoma case, he said he be-
lieved the referendum the best means
Of determining community sentiment.
Subject 10 Challenge.
Corporation Counsel Prettyman,
chairman Of the Election Board,
stated today that names on the reg
istration list Of persons who have
moved out Of the Takcma area since
the lists were prepared are subject to
challenge. The time limit for hling
challenges, however, ends AZ $50 pm.
today. Any person Oh she re2;stra-
tion list who moved cut OF the Takoma
area after today, therefore, world re-
main on the list G. those eligible
vote on September 1c. the corpoTf
ton counsel said.
There Is another election rule p.
viding that any person who has movt
into the AREA, bet whose name do>
not appear on the registration boo.
may not vote. Prettynan explaine
that last Wednesday was the 6eadlin
for adding names to the registration.
list, 50 that any newcomers 10 th
community after that date and whoe
names have not been submitted car
not become eligible to vote.
After the time limit for challenge
ends this afternoon, the Electio:
Board will determine what methot
to adopt in notifying those chal
lenged. The Election Board will con-
vene Friday and Saturday at thl
Takoma School to act on the chal-
lenges.
The four judges named some time
ago, will serve with those appointed
today, are Assistant Corporation
Counsel Vernon e. West, Assistant
Corporation Counsel T. Gillespie
Walsh, Louis Goldman and Ross
Haworth.
Commissioner Allen, In discussing
general phases Of the beverage control
problem not related to the Takoma
referendum, again voiced his opposi-
ton today to the proposal of the Hotel
and Restaurant Employees Alliance that
the liquor rules be amended to permit
mixing Of drinks at open service bars.
The petition of the alliance Is sched-
uled to be taken up for action by the
Commissioners this week. The main
argument for the change Is to pre-
vent insanitary conditions resulting
from the repeated use of fruit In cock
tails and the use of glasses said not
to be sterilized. Allen believes these
are matters which can be handled by
the Health Department, the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board and the
police.
Allen said he was favorably inclined
to the suggestion that the Commits
sioners shut down on the issuance of
liquor licenses during the Thanks
giving and Christmas holiday season
to prevent outsiders from entering
business here just to capture the
holiday business. Since license fees
are prorated according to the time
remaining in the calendar Year ''tor-