Evening star., 1948-11-14
Democrats a|Ienged
ByCouniy DeIegaiesto
Back Lindsay Repeal
By J. B. zotmon.


The all-Republican Montgomery
County delegation to the General
Assembly last night challenged
county Democratic leaders to sup
port any move to repeal the con-
troversial Lindsay law at the 1s4e
session Of the Legislature.
The challenge was contained in
statement issued by the delegs-
ton after o special meeting in the
Silver Spring ONCE Of its chairman,
Anders r. Lofstrand, jr.
The Lindsay law, which prohibits
the nonpartisan election Of county
councilmen in any county having
charter form Of government, was
passed at the 1s45 session of the
General Assembly. It's adoption was
interpreted by political observers as
an. attempt by the county Demo-
cratic organization to prevent the
placing of q nonpartisan election
provision In a county charter.
Repeal Bill Defeated.
Such q provision was in the 1914
charter, which was defeated by q
narrow margin in q referendum that
year. 1t Is not part Of the charter
approved by county voters in the
November 2 general election. A bill
to repeal the law, submitted at the
1947 legislative session by the county
delegation, was defeated after bit.
ter fight. Opposition to the repeater
was led by county Democratic
leaders.
The delegations statement fol-
lowed by one day a promise by
E. Brooke Lee, longtime county
Democratic leader, to swing his
party behind council candidate.
nominated by the Charter Commit
tee. The Democratic State Centra
Committee for the county previously
had announced it would refrain
from nominating council candidate.
or making any recommendations tt
the Charter Committees Nominal.
ing Committee.
The Republican State Centra
Committee has signified its inten.
ton to recommend candidates ane
its stand was supported last nigh
by the delegation.
Democratic Stand Cited.
In its statement, the delegation
said that if the Charter Committee
desires legislation to repeal tn,
Lindsay law, the delegation vii
again introduce such a bill, thus
carrying out its pledge to the Char.
ter Committee in 1916"
The delegation calls attention,
the statement said, ito the fact that
the bill to repeal the Lindsay Law
was actively opposed by the Demo.
cratic State Central Committee ano
other Democratic leaders at the l947
session.
Since the Democratic State Cen.
trail Committee and Democratic
leaders have announced they will
now support the charter and active.
ly sponsor the election of any coun.
Gil candidates selected by the
Charter Committee, the delegation
assumes it will not meet with op.
position in the next session of the
General Assembly in its attempt
to repeal the Lindsay law"
Offers to Meet Committee,
At the same time. the delegation
said 1t would be pleased" to meet
with the Charter Committee to dis.
cuss proposed legislation which may
be needed to implement the county.
new charter form Of government.
The delegation noted that while
adoption of the charter will relieve
it Of considerable local legislation,
there are many matters of state.
wide and local nature on which II
will have to act and in which citi.
zens and organizations of the county
will be vitally interested"
In supporting the decision of the
Republican State Central Committee
to recommend council candidates
delegation members said:
THE Republican Party has a re.
sponsibility to the people of the
county. who elected it to power ir
1946. to see to 1t that the best pos.
sible candidates are selected in
compliance with the request Of the
Charter Committee"