Evening star., 1948-12-08

| !$$ lZatlOn 1alled To
materialize last
Mr. Davies. night at the an
nual meeting of the Montgomery
County Charter Committee, and the
members unanimously indorsed the
ticket already approved by its di-
rectorS.
Persisting reports indicated. how
ever. that effort may yet be made
to enter an independent candidate
from Silver Spring. This community
is not represented in the Charter
nominations, although it is the
largest in the county.
Charles Davies Enters Race.
The latest independent candidate
to announce is Charles K. Davies,
jr., Gaithersburg and Bethesda at
torney, who will run for the I'd dis
trict seat. Earlier entrants were
Mrs. Alma T. Opal, Takoma Park,
for a seat at-large, and Romeo w.
Horad, colored, Silver Spring, for
district S.
The Charter nominees, by council
districts, are: P. G. Lyon. Brinklow,
district No. l: Augustus r. Selby,
Germantown, No. 2; Thomas C.
Kelley. Darnestown, No. 3; Mrs.
Dorothy S. Himstead, Chevy Chase,
No. 4: j. Douglas Bradshaw, Ia
koma Park. No S. and two for elec-
ton at-large. Frederic P. Lee. Be-
thesda, and Dr.. Lewis Merriam,
Kensington.
BY implication, Allen H. Garner,
Nominating Committee chairman
for the charter organization. took
cognizance last night of the threat
ered revolt against the organiza-
tion's slate.
Enemies" Wait for Mistakes.
He said first that charter "en-
emies' wanted the committee to
make fatal mistakes" which would
lead to eventual downfall Among
the mistakes" he listed were the
nomination of IA persons instead of
7, the selection of a top-heavy ma
jority for one political party, mat
tention to age balancesand repfe~
sentation for various religious faiths.
They hope that some one we Sc
lect belongs in the rule-or-ruin cate-
gory," he said, some one who, once
he disagrees with the majority deci-
sion on some major issue. will tell
the newspapers that the other coun-
cilmen are scoundrels'
Then Mr.. Gardner commented on
criticism that none of the charter
candidates lives in Silver Spring.
He noted that two. Mr.. Bradshaw
and Dr. Merriam, live within the
boundaries of the 5th Council Dis
trict, which includes Silver Spring
and expressed confidence that both
would be concerned about the in
terests of the large suburban COM
munity.
Would Welcome Other NOmina tions.
There is no reason why other
groups should not nominate other
persons for every post on the coun-
Gill;" said Mr.. Gardner. I'VE of the
Nominating Committee would well
come 1t. Neither the Allied Civic
Group Of Silver Spring nor the Sill
yer Spring Board of Trade gave
any Endorsement to our committee
and we understand that they had
good reasons for not doing so.
If they can find another out
standing candidate for the 5th dis
trict or for any other council post
We wish them God-speed. That is
democracy"
Mr.. Gardner also observed that
over a period of 10 or Is years
the voters of the Silver Spring area
had not elected resident of Silver
Spring to the old Board of County
Commissioners.
Lee Explains Stand.
Blair Lee III, president Of the
Silver Spring Board of Trade, said
after the meeting that his organi-
zation held its regular meeting No.
vember 3-one day after the charter
referendum victory-and had hao
no time to consider the questions
of candidates, even If its constitu-
ton permitted participation in po-
litical affairs.
Wesley I. Sauter of Bethesda, one
of the retiring county commission
ers and answering opponent of the
charter system, was among those
invited to the dinner and business
session in the Indian Spring Coun-
try Club. He was the guest of Mr..
and Mrs. John H. Werner.
Confessing that he probably
should not comment on the pro-
ceedings since he was a guest, Mr..
Sauter remarked:
"They talk about political party
organizations. In this meeting to-
night they have really done a beau
tiful job of scotching any opposi-
tion."
Six Directors Elected.
The committee elected six direc-
tors. They are P. Y. K. Howat, Ed
ward L. Stock, Frederic P. Lee.
Thomas c. Kelly, William Dahl and
James v. Bennett.
Mr.. Bennett was master of cere-
monies last night. Col. Norman B.
Ames. committee president, presided
for the business session.
Gerald D. Morgan, Legal Com
mittee chairman, reported on the
Civil Service Commission ruling yes
terday that Federal workers could
not, under the Hatch Act, become
council candidates or work for the
election of any candidate.
D. ElLl