Evening star., 1946-10-16
By Mrs. }. Reed BrodIey
Republican

Inc RQOSG OF CAe 1854 FUSION
platform in Montgomery County,
on which Joseph A. Cantrel was
elected to the Maryland House of
Delegates, rose up to haunt him
last night at a candidates meeting
in the Bethesda Elementary School,
sponsored by the League of Women
Voters. Three hundred people were
in attendance. l.
Mr.. Cantrel is waging his cam
paign for the State Senate on the
record of the Democratic admin
istration in the county during the
past 20 years, which he said has
given the county the best schools,
police, roads, parks, health and
welfare facilities to be found in any
county In the United States These
blessings he attributes to the wise
leadership of the county's political
boss, E. Brooke Lee, and his fol-
lowers.
Charging that Mr.. Cantrel has
had serious change of heart since
the 1884 campaign, DR.. Roy Tasco
Davis, Republican candidate for the
State Senate, quoted the Fusion
platform of that year in which Mr.
Cantrel and his fellow candidates
called for "a county government
free from the dictation of a politi-
cal machine or boss and one in
which the citizen may obtain his
just dues as a matter of right"
Admits Fusion Episode.
Mr.. Cantrel admitted the Fusion
episode as the "sorriest chapter" of
his life. He said that when he
criticized that great soldier and
statesman" (Col. Lee), he had no
vision because he was trying to see
through dusty, misty old glasses" !"
whereas he now wears bifocals.
Then I was out, trying to get in,"
he laughingly remarked.
"But you are in now," rebutted
DR.. Davis. And drawing $4,000 a
year on part-time basis with a
So, ,400-a-year assistant. I think you
are worth the $4,000, Joe, but not
the assistant"
DR.. Davis declared there is a
difference of opinion in Montgom-
cry County as to whether it's schools,
roads, police and health and welfare
facilities are the best in the country.
All these facilities are shadowed by
a political hand, he claimed, "the
great master hand that moves his
figures about on the county checker
board"
Attacks School Board Shifts.
Referring to Mr.. Cantrel's boast
that Columbia University school
specialists have collaborated in
helping to develop Montgomery
County's school system, DR.. Davis
declared that these officials evi-
IDENTIFY were not consulted when
Julius P. Stadler was shifted from
the Board of Education to the Board
Of County Commissioners to make
room for James w. Gill, whose ap-
pointfnent was protested by the
parent teacher associations of the
county. He referred also to Lacy
Shaw's shift to the sanitary COM
mission to make room for Alfred D.
Noyes and Mr. Noyes' later shift to
the Juvenile Court to make room for
Mr.. Stadler on the board.
In rebuttal, Mr.. Cantrell accused
Mr.. Davis of not having any con-
structive suggestions for county i'm
provement. Hes just like I was in
1894" said Mr.. Cantrel. "An out try
ing to get in"
DR.. Davis. who is an educator of
many years experience, said that if
elected he would start his program
Of governmental reform by having
a nonpartisan survey made of the
county school system with the idea
Of finding out what the system lacks
and how that need can be met.
The Democratic candidates for
county commissioner, speaking with
an air of assurance, stood on the
record of the administration prom
ising to carry that work forward.
Samuel E. Bogley, Democratic
candidate from the Bethesda dis
trict, opposed the county charter
proposal and said he considered any
complete change of government
from the tried and true American
system to some new untried and
idealistic form dreamed up by a
group of so-called governmental
scientists to be an unnecessary ex-
pertinent with the American way of
life"
Republican candidates, bit nerv-
GUS fumbled in their promises Wes-
ley I. Sauter, Republican commits
sioner candidate from the Bethesda
district said he was trying to break
one-man rule in Montgomery
County and he believed that the
people had a right to decide for
themselves whether or not they
wanted a charter form of govern
ment.