Evening star., 1942-09-17
County Appoints
5Candidates for
Charter Board
Commissioners Name
Three Who Have
Opposed Move

Five candidates for election to q
proposed charter board which would
study changes in the government OF
Montgomery County have been
nominated by the Board Of County
Commissioners.
A referendum on the question Of
whether the board shall be estab-
lished will be held coincident with
the election on November If petit
tions now before the Board of Elec-
ton Supervisors are found to be In
order.
The commissioners action was
taken at a special session at Rock
vile yesterday. Three of those
nominated already are on record as
opposed to charter form of gov
eminent. fourth is the leader OF
charter proponents and the other
nominee has not publicly committed
himself.
Farm Agent Named.
Joseph A. Cantrel, counsel to the
commissioners, and j. Bond Smith,
counsel to the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, both of whom have bitterly
assailed the efforts of those seeking
change to a charter form of gov
eminent, were among the five nomi-
mated.
Another nominee is Roger ].
Whiteford, attorney, who told a
recent meeting of the Congress of
the United Democratic Organiza-
ton OF the County that "the char
ter form of government for Mont
gomery County won't let you keep
a democracy"
The others are Allen H. Gardner,
chairman of the County Charter
Committee which has led all efforts
to bring about study of proposed
changes in government, and Otto
w. Anderson, county agricultural
agent, who so far has remained
aloof from the controversy.
The commissioners action was
taken day after Mr.. Garner had
presented the petitions to the elec-
ton supervisors. The names on the
petition are now being checked.
COP Member Absent.
The only Republican member OF
the Board of County Commissioners,
Walter johnson, was absent yester-
day, and John E. Oxley, anti-organ-
ization Democrat, voted against the
nominations because he said a ma
jority of those selected would nat
urally oppose any change proposed
by the Charter Committee"
The remaining members, all
Democrats, voted for the nomi-
nations. They are Board President
Thomas E. Hampton, r. Watt
Farmer and o. w. Roby.
Mr.. Hampton said that in addi.
ton to naming Mr.. Gardner and Mr.
Anderson, whom the commissioner,
regarded as the most capable and
best-informed farm agent in ths
State, I'VE have nominated three ex.
perienced and capable attorneys, all
OF whom have f1rst-hand knowledge
OF governmental practices and prob.
lens in Montgomery County and the
District Of Columbia"
He added that I'VE believe the
drafting of the new constitution OF
charter for the county is primarily 9
task for lawyers with real experience
in affairs of local government"
Oxley Opposes Action.
Mr.. Oxley said he did not believe
it proper for the county commits
sioners, who have opposed the
charter movement, to nominated a
slate that is made up predominately
of organization Democrats.
IF should vote for such a list OF
candidates, I would feel like a lawyer
hired to defend man and at the
same time doing everything possible
to help the prosecution, he declared.
The commissioners had until next
Thursday to make their nominations,
but any private citizen or organiza-
ton may make nominations in not
less than Is days before the election
by submitting petition bearing the
no,ars names OF per cent OF the registered
1t Is regarded as a foregone con-
clusion that other candidates will be
named who have either remained
neutral in the controversy or who
nave expressed themselves in favor
OF study or of definite changes in
the existing plan of government.