Evening star., 1942-09-13
Charter Board Plan
Called 'Trickery' by
Cantrel and Smith
Sponsors Contend Big
Majority Of Voters
Favor Proposed Chonee

Favor Proposed Chonse
The efforts to create charter
board to study proposed changes
on local government are regarded
as "a piece of unparalleled political
trickery," Joseph A. Cantrel and j.
Bond Smith, publicity co-chairmen
OF the United Democratic Organi-
zation for Montgomery County, have
informed Allen H. Gardner, chair
man of the County Charter Com
mittee
simultaneously, Mrs. John H.
Werner, the Charter Committees S
executive director, released partial
returns of canvassers indicating
that residents in Mr.. Cantrefs and
Mr.. Smiths home election precincts
to date have signed petitions for a
charter board representing 81 per
cent and go per cent of qualified
voters available In those districts,
respectively.
Reply to Gardner.
The Democratic organization Off
cials letter was in response to a
letter from Mr.. Gardner earlier this
week asking them to obtain authori-
zation from the organization to an
nounce publicly that they favor the
right of the people, through petition,
to vote in November on the election
of a charter board, and that they
favor the election of a charter board
and will postpone ANY opposition
until you know what kind of charter
is drafted by the board"
In response to the first question,
Mr.. Cantrel and Mr.. Smith said:
"As you very we'll know, this is
right conferred under the Maryland
constitution, providing the sigma
lures of 20 per cent of the voters
are secured.
"It was not intended, however,
that these should be obtained by
fraud or Misrepresentation, or with
out any disclosure whatever of the
specific objectives sought"
Political Trickery."
To the second question. they de-
clared they were unable to agree to
Its suggestion.
"On the contrary" they said, I'VE
regard the proposal to create a
charter board under the circum-
stances -. piece of unparalleled
political trickery which the voters
Of Montgomery County will en-
phatically reject In November If
they get the chance"
Referring to another portion OF
Mr.. Gardner's letter. the publicity
co-chairmen said that under the cir
cumstances the suggestion that local
government programs should be at
tackled without partisanship or
malice 'is not only extremely late,
but surely not seriously intended"
They reiterated charges that pro-
ponents of the charter board are
affihated with Republican, -Independ-
sht-Tusion groups and are conse-
ouently engaging in partisan activi-
ties.
The charter committee reports
were made from four precinct work
ers. H. S. Yohe of Chevy Chase, pre-
cinct captain for District 7, Precinct
6, In which Mr.. Cantrel resides, re-
ported 81 per cent of qualified vot-
ers available already have sgined
petitions for the election of char
ter board.
270 Sign Petition.
The total registration there is 426,
of which 279 are Democrats, 127 Re-
publicans and 20 declines" not af-
filiated with either party. Cam
vassers reported 96 voters were away
from the precinct with $50 available
and signatures were obtained from
270 of these.
Walter Prichard, precinct captain
for District Is, 4th precinct of Ia
koma Park in which Mr.. Smith lives,
reported go per cent of qualified
voters available have signed. There
are sos qualified voters officially
listed. of which 351 are Democrats
1913 are Republicans and 25 declines
Canvassers report about 105 have
moved away or are temporarily ab-
sent leaving 395 available and 23e
signatures were obtained. Mr.. Prich-
ard said the canvass of the area is
not complete.
In district 7, precinct Il in
Bethesda, Mrs. John F. Wilmott,
precinct captain, reported official
registration of 958 voters including
687 Democrats, 220 Republicans ard
81 declines. The number moved
away or otherwise not available has
not been determined but she re-
ported 435 signatures to date.
A virtually complete report from
the l4th precinct of the 18th dis
trict shows an increase over the
previously reported total signatures
there, Mrs Werner said. The sig
natures have been raised from 3l6
to $40 obtained, representing an in
crease from IS to SO per cent OF
voters available there, she said.