Evening star., 1948-06-06
Arlington COP.
Accused Of Deal
In Board Race
Mann Charges Party
Is Negotiating With
Independent Unit,

The Arlington County Republican
high command yesterday was ac
cused Of negotiating a deal witt
Independent voters for the Count.
Board election November 2.
Harrison Mann, chairman OF TIN
Arlington Democratic Executiv
Committee, charged that idea
was in the making between tn
Better Government League party
and the Republicans.
His accusation came on the heel
of similar one by Francis j. Clair
Republican who filed as a Count
Board candidate last Thursday. MI
Clair asserted that his party ane
county independents are making
IDEAL" to back an Independent
County Board candidate.
Smear Attempts Charged.
Mr.. Mann's charge was met witt
a countercharge by Harley William.
of the Better Government League
who labeled it an attempt to force
a party candidate on the Republi-
cans.
Referring to Mr. Mann's mention
of the Better Government League
party" Mr.. Williams said the Ar.
lington machine" repeatedly has
attempted to smear supporters Of
non partisan local elections with 9
third party label.
The political machine in Airing
ton that usually masquerades be-
hind the Democratic label, but
which last year called itself the
Greater Arlington Association, is
deliberately trying to confuse the
people about the County Board sit
uation," Mr.. Williams declared
Like Hitler. the machine bosses
believe that if the people can be
sufficiently confused by false propa-
ganda. the majority can then be
divided and conquered by a minor
ity.'
The Better Government League
is an outgrowth Of the organization
that supported Daniel H. Dugan
successful independent candidate in
the 1916 county board election. 1t
has led the fight for non-partisan
county elections in recent years.
Says Potter Is Candidate.
Mr.. Mann said the Republican
plan was to have a candidate an
nounce as an independent and later
receive the Endorsement of the Re-
publicans and the Better Govern
ment League.
This is the so-called nom -parti-
san activity in which the Better
Government League is engaged, .
Mr. Mann declared.
The Democratic leader said he
had been informed that the "inde-
pendent" candidate to be supported
would be Lee Potter.
In due time he will be trotted
out to run as an independent" Mr.
Mann asserted.
Other political sources, however
were of the opinion that Clyde B
Stovall would run as an independ-
ent candidate with the support of
the Better Government League.
Criticizes Pumphrey.
Mr. Mann asserted that the pro-
jected deal explains in large part
the shenanigans of the Republican
chairman Edgar Pumphrey) and
why he was not available when he
heard that Republican, Mr.. Clair,
was attempting to file for the Re-
publican primary on Thursday.
While Mr. Pumphrey made him
self scarce" Mr.. Mann declared,
stephen Smith, president of the
Republican Club, told the news
papers that the Republicans had
never said they were going to have
a primary but that they had only
said they wouldn't have a primary
if the Democrats didn't have pri-
mary. He made this statement
despite the fact that an announce
ment of a Republican primary was
carried by all the newspapers.
Mr.. Williams contended that "for
years a minority of political job
holders, real estate spectators and
special interest ruled Arlington by
the device of invoking the Demo-
cratic label and adding to their
voting strength the ballots of those
who always blindly vote straight
party ticket. A County Board can
didate with the Democratic label
could win against both Republican
and independent candidates. even
though between them the opposi-
ton had majority of the total
vote"
Dugan Victory Recalled.
The Better Government League
spokesman recalled that in 1916, no
Republican candidate entered the
County Board race and an inde-
pendent, Mr.. Dugas. who ran as a
champion of partisan local elec-
tions, defeated the Democratic
nominee
In 1947," Mr. Williams continued,
"the machine gave up the Demo-
cratic label and became the So
called Greater Arlington Associa-
tien. They were soundly licked. los
ing one County Board seat and all
five School Board seats"
Mr.. Clair accused the Republican
leaders of attempting to make deal
with independents after his Thurs
day night chase" of Mr.. Humphrey
to file as a candidate in the Repub-
lican primary he assumed was to be
held.
Mr.. Humphrey said Republicans
still nave no candidate, but that Mr.
Clair's name would be submitted to
the Republican Executive Commit
tee as a possible candidate when
the group meets June IA.
Gold Star Mothers Name
Arlington Woman 10 Post
Mrs. Thomas G. McBroom of 805
South Ok street. Arlington, has
been elected first vice president OF
the American Gold Star Mothers