Evening star., 1947-05-27
Referendum
(Continued From First Page.)

poll tax receipts dated on or before
December 10 are eligible to cast
ballots today If they are properly
registered.
Some See Record Vote.
Because there are no candidates
in the field and since the issues
have been fought on a non-partisan
basis, it was difficult to estimate
whether the totals by nightfall
would exceed last years record
IL 900 votes for an of-year election
Several estimated the total would
about equal the all-time record OF
5000 some odd ballots in the 1914
general election.
Today's. pattern was following
that of previous years. There was
the usual early morning rush after
polls opened at z o'clock, and then
a slack period after Offices opened
Another minor rush occurred when
housewives got their children off to
school and there will be another
slight rush during noon lunch
periods, according to election Off
cials.
During the afternoon campaigners
on both sides will settle down to
their telephones in urging residents
to come to the polls and both sides
are providing free transportation.
Heavy Late Voting Expected.
Heaviest voting will occur in the
hours just before the polls close, Of
f1cials predict.
/, The Citizens Committee for School
Improvement, which has spearhead-
ed the drive for school system
changes, ran into difficulty over the
color Of some of its placards. The
Opposition has used the term acoIii-
mutlist' to describe some ef those
seeking school changes and the
committee posters, bearing appropri-
ate slokafls, were printed on red,
white or blue cardboard.
Some one on the committee
ordered the posters printed on red
to be discarded.
No disorders were reported during
the first hours of voting despite the
fact that the issues have been the
most controversial in many years,
possibly since Arlington voted. to
come under the county manager
form Of government.
Sample Ballots Handed Out.
Proponents of a change In the
School Board selection system ap-
peared more active. Both sides
however, were handing out sample
ballots outside the prescribed 100
foot radius from voting booths.
Blue ballots of proponents for q
change and of the two bond issues
were being issued by the League of
Women Voters which does not take
a position when partisan candidates
are in a race, the Better Govern
ment League, headed by Harley
Williams, and the Citizens Commit
tee for School improvement, chief
proponents Of a change in the
School Board setup and a school
bond issue.
Yellow sample ballots were issued
at some places early today by the
Greater Arlington Association, an
organization that was extinct" for
several years until it recently was
revived expressly for the fight
against the current referendum
questions.
Seeks to Ar0unSe Campaign Interest,
The Better Government League
also was seeking to stimulate voters
in the fall election cam
paign when all county elective and
State Offices are to be filled-and
possibly new School Board will be
If today's referendum carries.
Literature handed out by Mr..
Williams asserted:
1.-THE small, closely-knit, inbred
group which has SO long run Arling-
ton County may have to give way to
broader representation that will re-
fleet more accurately and more will
lngly the peoples wishes"
Mrs. Harrison Mann, wife of a
Democratic candidate for nomina-
ton to the House of Delegates in
the August primary, was among
those issuing sample ballots in Vir-
ginia Highlands. on behalf of the
Citizens Committee for School I'M
provement. Yellow sample ballots
were not in evidence at this precinct
for awhile.
Three Schools Closed.
Three schools being used as poll
ing places were closed They are
Matthew Maurey, Glen Carlyn and
John Marshall. Two others, re-
manned open, Patrick Henry and
woodrow, Wilson.
Voters may approve any portion
of the $4,000 bond issue. for
schools or reject all proposals, If
they desire. The questions are
broken down into the following
items: For kindergartens, $685., 900;
for first and second grade full-day
sessions, $530,000; for elementary
school construction, $1,776,0o0, and
for secondary school construction,
1929 900.
On the School Board change bal
lot-and voters are being asked to
mark three separate ballots-a per-
son may disapprove a change in the
method of naming the School Board
and at the same time express a
preference of either of the two
alternate methods of naming board
members-either by County Board
appointment or direct election. The
board now is named by Circuit
Court-appointed School Trustee
Electoral Board.
The S., 900 general improve
ments bond issue must be approved