Evening star., 1946-02-18
Democratic Chances
In Montgomery Seen
Endangered by Split
BY ]. B, ZATMAN

The Montgomery County Demo-
cratic organization this year faces
its stiffest fight since the 1884 elec-
tions, political observers believe.
In 1884, a coalition of antiorgani-
zation Democrats and Republicans
won control of the Board OF County
Commissioners and took two of the
five county seats in the State Legis.
Nature. sses-
Although the political situation in
the county this year is not identical
with that of IL years ago, it is similar
in one important respect-a split in
the Democratic ranks.
This fact, coupled with the emer-
gence in the political arena of the
tightly knit charter organization
which nearly upset the Democrats
in 1914, has considerably improved
Republican chances.
Appointments Rankle.
Another factor, that observers feel
may place additional obstacles in the
paths of Democratic candidates, is
the reported dissatisfaction among
rank -and-file workers over the re-
cent appointment of at least two
out-of-county persons for county
jobs.
That there still is disunity within
the party is shown in the recent an
nouncement by Trial Magistrate
Einar Christensen that he will seek
the Democratic nomination for
States attorney, even though the
candidacy of Assistant States At
torney Charles w. Prettyman had
been indorsed at a mass meeting of
Democratic workers the same day.
County Republican leaders make
no secret of their joy over the part
ing of the ways between State Sem
ator Thomas E. Hampton, who has
formed his own Democratic organ
ization in the Bethesda-C Chevy Chase
area, and 1t. Col. E. Brooke Lee,
titular head of the Democratic party
in the county.
Second Slate in Prospect.
Plans are underway by this new
group to name its own slate of can
didates in opposition to the regular
Democratic ticket and the resulting
split in the Democratic vote may
permit the minority Republican
party to enter Office, it is felt.
For the first time in several years,
county Republicans, believing that
they have their best opportunity to
win since 1884, will put full ticket
in the field, with the exception of a
candidate against Circuit Court
Clerk Clayton K. Watkins.
Charterites, who apparently hold
the balance of power, are represent
ed as not intending to indorse any
one. They are concentrating on the
election of a charter board in No.
vember and are looking forward to
the 1948, elections, when voters will
decide whether or not they want a
charter form of government.
Maneuver Seen in Break"
Several charter workers have ex-
pressed the opinion that if the Re-
publican candidates indorse the
charter, they stand a chance of
being elected. They emphasized,
however, that this was not to be
construed as a bid for Republican
support, since they are standing
strictly on the merits of their own
proposals.
Most regular county Democrats
outwardly express confidence that
they will win in November, although
some have said privately that the
disaffection in party ranks in the
Bethesda Chevy Chase area may be
the forerunner of an upsurge of
sentiment among county residents
against the party.
This latter group points out that
there are two excellent targets at
which the opposition is sniping-
the garbage and trash collection sys-
tenn and the new personal property
tax law, both of which were spon-
sored by the Democratic organiza-
ton.
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