Evening star., 1947-10-21
8Candidates
Offer Platforms
In Arlington
Two Civic Groups
Backing States for
County Boord


Board in the November 4 election
outlined their platforms last night
at a. meeting sponsored by the
Arlington League of Women Voters
in the Patrick Henry School.
The speakers were Robert w.
Gaines, Lawson Wimberley, Harry
w. Cuppett. Milliard p. Divine, Jacob
Bechtel, Mrs. Florence Cannon, T.s
oscar Smith and F. Freeland Chew.
The ninth aspirant, Lincoln Mackey,
was not present. :
Two civic groups-the Better Cow
ernment League and the Greater
Arlington Association-are backing
states for the County Board. In
dorsed by the league are Mrs.
Cannon and Mr.. Smith, while the
GAA supports Mr.. Cuppett and Mr..
Chew, both of whom are incumbents.
Remarks of Candidates.
Remarks of the candidates in
cluded the following:
Mr.. Gaines: Declared he is ABB
solutely independent and has not
made, and will not make any
promises to any groups or individ-
uals' favored a bond issue for a
county incinerator and thorough,
investigation of the tax situation.
so that all properties. business and.
otherwise, can be assessed Accord
ing to the proper market value"
Mr.. Wimberley: The public
should be told the truth" about the
proposed bond issue to finance an
incinerator in that no amount will
be specified and the people will be
voting the County Board "a blank
check" He favored adoption of
definite plans for coming; improve
ment and maintenance Of streets
and sidewalks and for capital i'm
provements.
Mr.. Cuppett: Declared he Is op-
posed to bond issues of from S10.-
100000 to $4,000, 900, just as he was
last May when bond issues for
schools and public works were pre-
sented, but he favors one for an in
cinerator. In addition, Mr.. Cuppett
said he is against a sales tax and
any increase in the tax rate.
Mr.. Divine: The County Board
has been 'penny-wise and pound
foolish County ordinances have
not been modernized as the county
has progressed. He advocated Civ
ing county department heads more
freedom in running their depart
mentS.
Poll Tax Opposed.
Mr.. Bechtel: Il am not going to
promise you anything but when
something of Importance comes
along, am going to try and find
the best solution"
Mrs. Cannon: Asked for better
co-ordinateda ste ecreation4 u ffaeiMties
and establishment of a Department
of Public Recreation improved liz
brary facilities, institution of a pro-
gram of sidewalk improvements,
publication by the county of an in
formation pamphlet, improvement
OF County Board procedures and
abolition of secret" session of the
board.
Mr.. Smith Called for a non-
partisan primary and runoff elec-
ton for all local offices; a merit
system for county employees: more
equitable regulation of public util-
tiles and five-man planning board.
Mr.. Smith charged the County Board
has not given the County Public
Utilities Commission the support
it needs to carry out plans to get
rate reductions for gas, electric and
telephone consumers.
Mr. Chew: Traced his record on
the board for the past few years.
He said he voted for construction
of an incinerator in 1943 but got
no support from the rest of the
board He said also he obtained q
six-day week for county policemen;
voted for an increase in the number
of paid county firemen; opposed a
sales tax and an increase in the
county tax rate.
Additional Statements.
Meanwhile, statements continued
today from other factions in the
Arlington political scene.
A statement by the Executive
Committee of the Greater Arlington
Association charged opposing School
Board candidates as being free
spending builders of air castles" The
group favors election of William
Montgomery Smith and Ernest c.
Belts, jr., incumbents, and DR..
Charles P. Cake, Ralph Kimble and
Ernest Gearheart.
Opposing them are candidates
nominated at countrywide con-
vention of civic groups. They are
Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell, Colin c.
Macpherson, o. Glenn Stahl. Ber-
nard Joy and Curtis E. Tuthill.
These loose-talking candidates.
lodging true statements of facts as
usual, are claiming the backing of
81 organizations comprising several
thousand members" Jack r. Jones
Of the Greater Arlington Associa-
tion said
Mr.. Jones said thousands Of
members" of the 81 groups are un-
aware Of "how, when or where they
are supposed to have indorsed or
nominated Joy, Stahl and Others"
Equipment Called Old.
From the opposing faction, how
ever, Mr.. Tuthill issued a statement
declaring school equipment is an
tiquated
Recreation equipment should be
bought by public funds and owned
by the school system" he said.
THE parent-teach associa-
tions should not be forced to be-
come mere fund-raising abilities to
the school system"
Oscar r. LIE Beau, chairman of
the Citizens Committee for School
Improvement, charged Greater Ar
lington Association sponsors are real
estate spectators" opposed to high
er taxes, but who have increased
the school burdens by examining
high density populations on their
lands.
They are perfectly willing to
crowd Arlington with congested
housing" he said, but attack any
public-spirited citizens who seek to
reduce hopless overcrowding of chill
dren in schools"