Evening star., 1946-10-16
By BIoir Lee. III
Democrat

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County Republicans and charterites
last night discovered that Joseph A
Cantrel is not a good target fol
political wisecracks.
Mr.. Cantrel, Democratic candi-
date for the Maryland Senate, was
the principal speaker for mis- party
at a candidates night" sponsored
by the County League of Women
Voters in the Bethesda Elementary
School. His opposite number, DR.
Roy Tasco Davis, carried the ball
for the Republicans
DR.. Davis started the fireworks
with several caustic references to
Mr.. Cantrel's impassioned attacks
on the Democratic organization
while running as Fusion party
candidate for the House of Dele
gates in 1884. The theme was pur
sued by other speakers from the
floor during the question-and-an-
swer period after the scheduled
speeches.
Cantrel Meets Attack.
Mr.. Cantrel surprised the hostile
audience by meeting the attack
head on. He stated bluntly that:
l.. The Fusion episode had been
lone of the sorriest chapters" of
his life.
2. He had behaved in 1884 as DR..
Davis was behaving in 1946-in the
usual manner of a political "out"
who wants to get lin"
8. The Fusion Party had erred in
attacking the planning activities of
the incumbent Democrats-such as
the location of new schools and
other public improvements-all of
which subsequently proved to be
wise and correct.
4. AS a Fusion Delegate to Anna
polls in 1934-38. he had faithfully
executed his campaign pledges, while
his Fusion colleagues in Rockville,
who controlled the Board of County
Commissioners, reneged on their
promises by increasing the County
payroll and raising the tax rate
from 80 cents to $1.50.
Cantrel Quiried on Lindsey Law.
The Fusion Party of that era was
a coalition of the regular Republican
Party with anti-organization Demo-
cratic elements.
Other speakers tried to back Mr..
Cantrel into a corner on the issue
of the so-called Lindsey Law, the
repeal of which is sponsored by the
Charter Committee. Introduced by
State Senator James j. Lindsey of
Baltimore County, the law requires
that nominations and elections to
a county council in any Maryland
county operating under a charter
form of government be performed
through the usual two-party system.
Mr.. Cantrel said he thought the
law was wise and that he would not
favor its repeal unless Montgomery
County should adopt a charter gov
ernment at some future date. In
such an event, he said he would
yield to the will of the majority and
work for the repeal of the law.
Stadler Clarifies Building Plan.
Julius P. Stadler, Democratic can
didate for county commissioner and
until recently a member of the
County Board of Education, was
asked by James v. Bennett and
Mrs. Dean Dinwoodey why the
school authorities had not added a
much needed auditorium to an
elementary school in Chevy Chase.
He replied that it was more i'm
portant to use the available build
ing materials for classrooms in other
--and more congested-areas.
After declaring his opposition to
the charter proposal, Samuel E.
Bogley, another Democratic COM
missioner candidate, was riddled by
verbal shots from all corners of the
room. When the smoke had cleared,
it appeared that Mr.. Bogley's posi-
ton consisted of support of the
supervisor system that now pre-
walls in Montgomery County, coupled
with opposition to the granting of
any further powers to county
manager.
DR.. Davis drew a long ovation by
declaring himself favorable to the
charter board question that will be
offered to Montgomery voters on
November 5. He asserted that the
shadow of politics" is cast over the
county school system and attacked
two recent appointments to the
Board of Education, presumably
those of Mrs. Durward V. Sandifel
and James w. Gill.
Brief addresses were made by the
remaining candidates for the Board
of County Commissioners, and the
other county candidates were in
troduced by Mrs. A. F. Brockmiller,
chairman of the leagues pre-elec-
ton Activities Committee. Mrs
Ralph Himstead presided.