Evening star., 1938-11-05
Ballots Are Rushed
By Prince Georges
Officials
Delay May Open Way
For Court Contest
Over Election

SVCI 6tSStIVu
Prince Georges County oficials
proceeded today with preparations
for the State and county election
on Tuesday but with the fear that
the election may be ruled illegal
through delay in the printing OF the
ballots.
The delay was occasioned through
injunction proceedings under which
the name of William A. Duvall,
Republican candidate for county
treasurer, was ordered removed from
the ballot yesterday because he failed
to file his candidacy within IS days
OF the September primaries.
Under the law it is required that
all ballots bein the hands of the
Board Of Election Supervisors four
days before an election and to COM
ply with that statute the ballots
should have been printed and dis
tributed before last midnight.
SV,VVO b1llOtS Discarded.
However, the injunction proceed
ings forced the supervisors to dis
card 10000 ballots already printed
with Mr.. Duvalls name as one of
the candidates, and start anew the
printing of the $4,000 ballots needed
for the election. They will not be
ready until late this afternoon.
During the injunction proceed
ings. heard at Upper Marlboro yes
terday by Circuit Court Judge Wal
ter J. Mitchell. it was pointed out
by the jurist that If the four-day
requirement was not met, any voter
dissatisfied with the election could
then challenge the legality of the
balloting because of the technicality.
LIE Roy Pumphrey. who served as
special counsel to the election board
in the injunction proceedings, today
declared that while the technical
ity might open the election to a
challenge on the point of legality he
does not believe the election would
be thrown out.
'By its order to remove the name
Of Mr.. Duvall from the ballot" he
said, 'the Circuit Court stayed elec-
ton officials from carrying out the
requirement that the ballots be
printed and distributed within the
allotted period and in my opinion
any court would throw out a chal-
lenge to the legality of the election
because of that fact.
1T is my belief that the courts
mandate yesterday would be held to
supercede the four-day statute"
Removal of Mr.. Duvall's name
from the ballot was ordered on q
petition filed by Raymond Winston
of Berwyn. who alleged that the Re-
publican candidate filed his notice
Of candidacy only two days before
the primaries.
AS a result of the removal, the
names of only two candidates for
treasurer will appear on the ballot.
They are Harry w. McNamee, Demo-
cratic nominee, and Capt. Vinton D.
Cockey, Democratic member Of the
Board of County Commissioners,
who is running as m Independent,
after failing to secure q place on the
Democratic ticket.
Space for Write-in.
However, the ballots used In the
election will carry q blank space In
which Mr.. Duvall's supporters may
write In his name If they desire to
vote for him, and Mr.. Duvall declared
today that vigorous effort is being
made by Republican campaign
workers to acquaint the voters with
that fact.
He said that G. o. P. workers went
into every district today to bring this
to the voters attention.
Mr.. Duvall stated the removal of
his name "unquestionably will hurt
me a great DEAL" but Duvall sup
porters were inclined to regard the
development with mixed emotions.
Some feel 1t will hurt him while
others predicted that he will get
many votes he would not otherwise
receive because the sympathy OF q
large number Of county residents
has been aroused by the develop
ment.
It was rumored that plans were
being made to contest the candi-
dacy Of Mr.. McNamee on the same
ground on which Mr.. Winston had
Mr.. Duvalls name removed, but Mr..
Cockey, the other candidate, said
that the rumor lis absurd"
He declared that mo such step
will be TAKEN"