Evening star., 1948-10-28
Charter Stand
OF Democrats
Questioned
Violation Of Neutrality
On Issue Charged by
Women Voters
by J. B. Zotmon

The question whether the Mont
gomery County Democratic organ
ization is maintaining strict neu-
trality in the charter issue was
raised today by the County League
of Women Voters.
Mrs. ]. Rene Hemingway, league
president, said Charles Buscher,
general manager of the county
liquor dispensary system, and Dem
ocratic chairman of an election
precinct in Silver Spring, is dis
tributing sample ballots marked
against the charter.
j. Bond Smith, chairman of the
Democratic State Central Commit
tee for the county, when questioned
about the charge, reaffirmed the
committees position of strict neu-
trality' on the charter referendum
to be held Tuesday.
Reflect Personal Views"
He emphasized that the only SAM
pie ballots authorized and dis
tributed by the committee are
marked for President Truman, Sen
ator Barkley and F. Byrne Austin,
Democratic candidate for the House
from the 9Th Maryland district.
ANY marks for or against char
ter appearing on any such ballot"
Mr.. Smith declared. ARE placed
fhara h,y individual y,orty ,,,ort, ors
and reflect only their personal
views"
Where they are being distributed
by Democratic precinct leaders op-
posed to charter and so marked, we
will gladly supply Democratic pre-
cinct people who are in favor of
charter with sample ballots which
they may mark and distribute.
There are Democrats who are in
favor of charter and Democrats who
oppose it but both want the Demo-
cratic ticket to win. We wish to be
absolutely fair to all"
The charter controversy continued
to cut across party lines elsewhere
as a member of the county's all
Republican legislative delegation
supported the plan and a prominent
Democratic attorney opposed it.
Supported by Clark.
r. Duncan Clark, in declaring he
would cast his ballot in favor of the
home rule" plan, termed it "a move
toward better government"
In so doing, Mr.. Clark Joined five
other members of the county delega-
tions to the General Assembly in
indorsing the proposal. The seventh
delegation member, John r. Reeves,
has come out against the plan. In
his statement, Mr. Clark said that
while the plan would not solve all
the countys governmental ills. it
provided a framework for better
government.
On the other hand. 10 v. Morgan.
Democrat and former county civil
service commissioner, said approval
Of the proposed charter would be
Extremely unwise."
He agreed with the opinion ex-
pressed Tuesday by nine county at
torneys that all questions concerning
constitutionality of the plan had not
been settled in the recent decision
by the Maryland Court of Appeals.
Called Dangerous"
Mr.. Morgan said the power grant,
ed county council under the
charter to enact as well as ad-
minister all local laws violates one
of the most important fundamental
concepts of government-the sep
aration of powers"
ut has always been regarded as
extremely dangerous, Mr.. Morgan
declared" for the same group to
make laws an dthen to turn around
and enforce them"
James j. Hayden, a member of the
Montgomery County Charter Board
and dean of Columbus University
Law School, will debate the proposed
charter at 9 o'clock tonight with
Mr.. Reeves in the Garrett Park
Elementary School, Garrett Park.
Mr.. Hayden announced that he
will challenge the nine Montgom-
cry County attorneys who ques-
toned the constitutionality of the
charter to debate the matter on