Evening star., 1946-11-02
Charter Fight Takes0n
Free-for-AIl Aspect
With Election Near

WIFI IIEIIlUn Ncdf
The Montgomery County political
campaign today took on the aspect
of a free-for-all with a barrage of
charges, countercharges and denials
by charterites, Democrats and Re-
publicans.
Meanwhile, the county assumed
an election air with the suspension
of Democratic banners across three
highways in Chevy Chase, Bethesda
and Silver Spring.
The banners, which have been
placed across Connecticut avenue
just north of Chevy Chase Circle,
Wisconsin avenue at Old George
town road and at Georgia avenue
and Colesville road, read: Demo-
Gratis Helped Your Countrywide
Tuesday"
E. Brooke Lee, county Democratic
leader, said permission to hang the
banners was granted by the County
Board of zoning Appeals. He added
that similar permission had been
given all county political parties.
including the Charter Committee.
Permit Granted Last Week.
Mr.. Lee said the permit was
granted last week at the request of
the Democratic organization.
E. G.. Duncan, district engineer
of the State Roads Commission at
Laurel, said that applications to
hang banners across State roads
usually must be made to the COM
mission.
He said he did not know whether
the Montgomery County Democratic
organization had applied for per-
mission to hang the banners, adding
that the matter probably was han
died in the commissions main Office
in Baltimore. Commission officials
in Baltimore could not be reached.
The County Charter Committee
led off in today's battle of words
with a charge that the county ad-
ministration permits the use of pub
lie property and county employees
for private work.
Charges Police Cars Used.
County policemen frequently
have transported individuals on per-
sonal and political trips in official
police cars" the committee said.
This is a long standing practice of
political favorites at county expense
and was in constant vogue during
the war, when gasoline was ra-
toned"
In addition, the committee ac-
cused A. A. Moxley, county inspector
of weights and measures, of using a
county-owne truck on his farm.
The committee also charged the
Veterans Better Government Group
with obtaining under false pre-
lenses signatures on a paid adver-
tisement opposing creation of al
board.
Declaring it has interviewed a
majority of the veterans who signed
the anticharter statement, the COM
mittee said:
Many of the signers told the
charter interviewer they signed be-
cause they were told the charter was
communistic or would mean Fascist
dictatorship. Others said they were
instructed by the boss to sign"
Ballots Called Illegal.
From Alfred D. Noyes, chairman
of the Democratic County Congress,
came, the charge that the. Charter
Committees sample ballots appear
illegal In form and contrary toI
law" go 4
He pointed out that under Mary
land law, sample ballots can~Sbe
printed only as guides or aids toI
voters and cannot include anya6ther
subject matter.
He also said Republicans sample
ballots are not marked for charter,
although COP candidates in Be-
thesda and Chevy Chase are for
charter. He added that the Charter
Committees sample ballots are not
marked for the Republicans.
Mr.. Noyes came in for criticism
from R. Duncan Clark, Republican
candidate for the House of Dele
gates.
Mr.. Clark said the county con-
gress chairman, who was appointed |
Juvenile Court Judge several months
ago, has violated the American
tradition of political impartiality of
the judiciary by continuing to en-
gage in partisan politics for the
Lee machine"
Shaw Target of Attack.
Also attacked by Mr.. Clark was
Lacy Shaw, chairman of the Demo-
cratic State Central Committee for
the county and a member of the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission.
Mr.. Clark declared Mr.. Shaw and
MIR. Noyes are among appointive
office holders who issue statements
against the Republicans and Inde-
pendents. while the Democratic can
didates are strangely silent"
Les Aries, chairman of the
County Republican Campaign Com
mittee, predicted that Republicans
and independents will win a ma
jority of the positions at stake in |