Evening star., 1934-11-16
FUSIONISTS DEMAND
IMMEDIATE REINS
IN MONTGOMERY
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commissioner race, which he lost to
King by margin Of SO votes. 1t was
the defeat Of Diamond, coupled with
that Of two other Democratic candi-
dates, that cost the Democratic Or
ganization control Of the County
Board, a position it has held for Is
years.
The Governor was advised in the
letter that the three Fusion party
commissioners-el were duly elected,
that the Board Of Election SUPERVISE Z.
had filed the required certificate of
election with the clerk of the Circuit
Court for Montgomery County, and
that the latter has mailed to the
Governor a copy of the certificate as
required by law.
Delay Motive Charged.
'The Lee organization in Mont
gomery County is attempting to delay
the taking Of Office by these officials
by contesting this election" the letter
reads.
The voters of Montgomery County
have expressed their desire for an i'm
mediate change of government in the
county and feel that the condition in
the county is so serious that these
new officials should take office with
out delay.
Our understanding of the Mary
land law is that you as Governor are
required to issue these elected officials
their commissions Immediately. You
are required to do this whether there
is any contest in the election. Be
cause Of the situation in the county
today We must insist that you comply
with the provisions of the law in issu-
ing these commissions Immediately.
Any delay on your part will force us
to ask the court for a writ of manda-
mus to compel the performance of
this duty"
Although 1t had been customary
for duly elected officials to take Of
flee at the outset of the new calendar
year following Montgomery'S cleo
tions, Edward Peter, member of the
firm Of Peter & Simpson, said this
morning that the county law pro-
NlOCo IlldI Su(CCoSlul dlC W
take office Immediately after they are
elected and have qualified by taking
the oficial oath after receiving their
commissions from the Governor.
Immediate Action Decided.
He said that the three commissioner
candidates who give the Fusion party
the controlling vote on the county
board, had decided last night to take
advantage Of the law Immediately.
1T is our feeling" he declared,
that the election contest threatened
by the organization with reference TO
the Diamond-King recount is merely
an effort on the part Of the organi-
zation to delay our duly elected Of
f1cials from taking office at once as
provided by law.
We are determined that the wishes
of the voters in Montgomery County
for an immediate change shall be re-
Spected, and in order to enforce their
wishes in this regard we stand ready
to throw the force Of the entire Fusion
movement behind this demand.
We have gone into the law thor
oughly. and there is no question but
that Mr.. Coughlan. Mr.. Karn and Mr..
King are entitled to their offices as
county commissioners Immediately
The fact that contest is threatened
or started by the machine does not
change their right in this respect.
Since the Lee machine in Mont
gomery is merely part Of the Ritchie
machine in the State. We feel that
prudence demanded that we advise
Gov. Ritchie of our determination in
this respect"