Evening star., 1934-08-19
PRETTYMAN VOWS
FAIR REFERENDUM
ON NTAKOMA LIQUOR
Pledges Preservation of
Rights of Both Sides in
License Fight.
TENTATIVE REGULATIONS
FOR VOTING ARE ISSUED
Drys Considering Formation of
Official Organization to
Get Out Voters.

effort would be made to see that all
rights of both sides are preserved in
the referendum on issuance of liquor
licenses to stores in Takoma, D. c.,
was pledged yesterday by Corporation
Counsel E. Barrett Prettyman.
The statement was made in reply
to criticisms from spokeSmen for dry
leaders of the section that inaccuracies
had been discovered in the tentative
list of eligible voters compiled by 80
canvassers, assigned to the work by
the emergency works division.
Prettyman, chairman of the Board
of Electors, stated it had been ex
pected some mistakes would be found
in the tentative list and that ade-
quate machinery had been set up to
rectify these before the referendum
is held September IL.
Tentative Rules Released.
"I don't know of any election where
more care is being exercised to assure
accurate registration and careful
check of the voting" Prettyman de-
clared
At the same time, Prettyman re-
leased tentative rules for the referen-
dunn voting. They are published to
give all concerned advance notice of
the details SO that any change can
be made, if necessary, before Sep
tember IL.
Meanwhile, opposing Takoma fac
tions are organizing their forces for
the contest. The drys are consider
ing formation of an official dry or
ganiZation, with precinct captains,
and are arranging for precinct work
ers to get the voters to the polls on
voting day. Women have volunteered
to provide automobiles for the pur-
pose.
Dry spokesmen have made two
radio addresses and third is sched-
uled for Tuesday evening. The
speaker Is to be Mrs. Emma McIndoo,
1925 Blair road.
The wet forces have been more
quiet, but are reported active.
Directory Names Checked.
The Takoma directory was used as
a start in compiling the registration
list. Names taken from this volume
were turned over to E. w. A. workers
to check. When residents were not
at home next-door neighbors were
questioned. Last Monday and Tues
day this list of 5000 names was
placed on display at the Takoma
Public School. Prettyman said very
few" inaccuracies were reported to
election judges.
Both dry and wet leaders are being
given typewriter copies of this list.
The books also are open to inspection
at Prettymans Office. ANY addi-
tional names are to be filed before
August 20 and any challenges before
September 4. The Board of Electors
will sit at the Takoma School Sep
tember 7, all day, and the morning
of September to act on contested
cases.
On September IL, election day, the
polls at four precincts will be open
from 8 am. to pm. Each side.
those opposing licenses and those ia
Voring them, will be allowed one elec-
ton clerk at each place and one
watcher Two election judges will be
provided by the District. Their work
will be supervised by the Board of
Electors, which consists of Prettyman,
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, and
Capt. Hugh P. Dram. District direc-
tor of inspection. The four judges
so far named are Vernon E. West and
Thomas Gillespie Walsh. assistants to
the corporation counsel; Louis Gelb-
man, editor of District publications,
and Ross Haworth, secretary to Com
missioner Allen.
Secret BaIloting Provided.
Secret balloting is provided in the
election rules. Upon entering poll
ing place voters will announce their
names, which will be checked against
the registration lists. Those not reg
istered will not vote.
Voters will be given a ballot and
retire to private booths, where they
are to place an TX" mark after state
ments of their favor of issuing no
licenses, or some form of license, and
in the latter case will also mark
places opposite on-sale beer and wine
off-sale beer and wine or on or of
sale hard liquor.
The judges will deposit ballots in
the boxes without noting how the
vote was registered and a check will
be made of serial number on the bal
lot. No one is to be permitted to
leave the polling places without CIV
ing up the ballot.
No one. except persons voting or
waiting TO vote, the Board of Electors
judges, clerks, watchers, police or
representatives of the Washington
newspapers, is to be allowed in the
polling places.
Judges to Decide Contests.
Registered voters on voting day
may be challenged only for identiti-
cation and the judges win cast de-
Gliding votes on contested cases.
The ballot boxes are not TO be re-
moved from the polling places until
after the count is completed by the
Board of Electors. They will travel
from precinct to precinct to make the
count. An elaborate system of check
ing is arranged to keep this work en-
tirely from suspicion.
Prettyman believes that before mid
night the count will show whether the
majority Of Takoma residents desire
to keep the section free from sale of
alcoholic beverages