Evening star., 1950-08-17
Lindsay Law
Repeal Pledged
By Candidates
Platforms Outlined
BY Free Democratic
Group in Montgomery
BYJ. B. Zotmon

A pledge that, if elected, they
will work for repeal of the Lind
say Law requiring party primaries
of council candidates was made
today by the five free Democratic
candidates for nomination to the
General Assembly from Montgom-
cry County.
The group also promised to
support laws to bring the Mary
land-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, the WASH
ington Suburban Sanitary Com
mission and the county Liquor
Board under the control of the
County Council.
Heading the candidates is Rob-
ert w. Beall, who is seeking NOM
ination to the State Senate. The
four others, Donald A. deLash-
mutt, r. Edwin Brown. r. Shir-
ley Hays and Charles D. Sanger.
jr., are running for nomination
to the House Of Delegates.
All Support Mahoney.
| All support George P. Mahoney.
who is opposing Gov. Lane for
| the Democratic .gubernatorial
nomination, and are running
against candidates Endorsed by the
Montgomery Democratic Victory
Committee.
The Lindsay Law was passed
at the 1945 session of the General
Assembly. 1t was challenged last
May when the council passed a
law providing for non-partisan
elections of council members. The
councils measure was declared
unconstitutional. however, by the
Maryland Court of Appeals re-
Gently.
| In pledging themselves to work
for repeal of the Lindsey Act, the
free Democrats said:
1T should be common knowl-
edge that the law was conceived
and sponsored by a local Demo-
cratic boss. The sole purpose in
sponsoring the law was to facili-.
tate his return to power in Mont
gomery County"
The group apparently referred
to E. Brooke Lee, longtime
county Democratic leader. Sup
porterS Of the county's charter
form Of government have accused
Mr.. Lee Of having former State
Senator James J. Lindsay intro
duce the bill to prevent placing a
provision for non-partisan council
elections in the charter.
The county's all Republican
legislative delegation made several
attempts to repeal the law at
subsequent General Assembly
sessions but was unsuccessful.
-,4 Other Platform Pledges.
In other platform pledges, the
free Democrats said they would
support:
A Statewide automobile inspec.
tion law with State-operated in
spections stations.
A study of all laws dealing
with the paroling and pardoning
of prisoners. with a view to pre-
venting the early release Of per-
sons convicted of sex crimes.
A revision Of the personal pro-
perty tax to eliminate the present
discriminatory" tax on farmers
and business men.
Changes in the State income tax
law to eliminate the unfair"
difference in the rate on earned
and unearned income and to per-
NIT an allowance for income tax
paid to the Federal Government.
At the same time, E. Austin
Carlin, publicity chairman for the
free Democrats, said they have
indorsed the following candidates
who are not on the free Demo-
cratic slate:
Judge Charles w. Woodward.
Circuit Court clerk Clayton K.
Watkins, both of whom are seek
ing reelection; Mrs. Margaret
Schweinhaut and Edward S.
Northrop for the House of Dele
gates; Malcolm H. White, Grover
c. Walker. Mrs. Stella Werner,
George L. Woodruff. John c. Post
and William B. Young for the
County Council; Leonard j. Will
liams for delegate to the State
convention, Frank I. Davis for
Register of Wills and Robert K.
Maddox for surveyors.
All except Mr.. White, Mr.. Post,
Mr.. Woodruff and Mr.. Young are
on the Victory Committee slate.
These four have been indorsed by
a special nominating committee of
the County Charter Committee.
The special committee also has
indorsed Mr.. Walker and Mrs.
Werner.