Evening star., 1948-02-09
Leaders Of 7 Groups
In Arlington Attack
Statements by Mann

C. Harrison Mann, jr., chairman
of the Arlington Democratic Execu-
tive Committee, was under fire
today by the heads of two county
civic groups for statements he made
last week regarding citizens organ
izations seeking legislation for non
partisan primaries and elections OF
the County and School Boards.
T. Oscar Smith, chairman of the
Joint Legislative Committee, de-
clared: "Mr. C. Harrison Mann, jr.
chairman of the Democratic Execu-
tive Committee and Mr.. c. Harrison
Mann, jr, citizen, had better get
together.
I'm some quarters Mr.. Mann has
been a strong advocate of the
principles of nonpartisan elections
for local offices, and in other quar-.
ters he has vigorously opposed in.
dorsement of these same principles.
Refers to Hatch Act.
Harley M. Williams, chairman o1
the Better Government League
asserted that the "groundless
charge" made by Mr. Mann against
the supporters of the legislation
constitutes an attempt to divert
pressure upon tie Arlington egisla-
tive delegation ="
More than half of Arlington
population are Federal employs
Fyhes cannotn participate actively il
,6iae election of their = governini
Bodies under the Hatch Act ane
Civil Service rules, except on non.
partisan basis" Mr.. Williams said
"Nonpartisan primaries and cleo
tions would be open to all, including
Federal employees and independents
as well as active Democrats anc
Republicans"
Mr.. Smith criticized a statement
of Mr.. Mann that 80 far the result
of the withdrawal of Democratic
primary from the County Boaro
seems to be that vacuum thereby
created is merely being filled by
several new political organizations
under disarming names, which have
no broad basis of responsibility tc
the general public -"
Endorsements Cited.
Both Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Williams
said the proposed legislation has
been indorsed by the Arlington Civic
Federation, the Citizens Committee
for, School Improvement, the Ar
lington Chapter of the American
Association of University Women
the League of Women Voters ano
several parent-teacher groups. In
addition, they said, the County
Board and the School Board ap.
proved legislation providing for q
referendum on the question.
Il wonder if Mr.. Mann consider:
! these organizations and offlcia
bodies to be new political organiza-
tions under disarming names and !.
he believes that they have no broac
basis of responsibility to the gen.
eral public" Mr.. Smith asserted.
ITO my knowledge the only or
ganizations in the county which
have thus far opposed this proposed
legislation are the Democratic Exec
utive Committee and the Democratic
Club, which heretofore have con
trolled practically all elections il
Arlington" Mr.. Smith continued.
Delegation Sent to Richmond.
Gould it be that their opposition
to this proposed legislation stem
from fear that they would lose con
troll of future elections if they wer
held on nonpartisan basis?"
/ Meanwhile, it was disclosed tina
the Joint Legislative Committee ha
sent a delegation to Richmond tt
confer with supporters of the legis
lation for a Richmond city charte
which would provide for nonparti
san elections of the City Council
The Richmond bill was reported ou
last week by the Counties, Cite
and Towns Committee of the Gen
eral Assembly by 9-5 vote.
] Albert A. Carretta, who unsuc
cessfully proposed that the Arling
ton Democratic Club 60 on recor'
as "favoring in principle" the legis
lation, today pointed out that unde
his motion the legislation would b
effective only so long as the Hatcl
Act applied. A move is under wa
to have Hatch Act provisions lifte'
insofar as residents Of Arlington
are concerned.