Evening star., 1950-10-23
F.P.LeeSupport
OF Republicans
Brings Replies
Both Parties
In Montgomery
Issue Statements

President Frederic P. Lees an
nouncement that he will support
Republican candidates for the
Council in the November 7 elec-
tions today drew answers from
both sides.
TIE answers were contained in
separate statements by Warren r.
Browning, chairman of the coun-
tvs Democratic State Central
Committee, and R. Duncan Clark.
chairman o. the Republican Cam
paign Committee for the county.
At the same time, the seven
Democratic candidates for the
Council released a statement Civ
ing their views on the zoning situ-
alton in the county.
Mr.. Browning, replying to a
letter from Mr.. Lee, said: II be-
lleve you have long since forfeited
all right to call yourself a lifelong
Democrat in view of your con-
tlnuouS support of Republican
candidates for public office and
your persistant efforts to destroy
the tWo-party system"
Mr.. Browning criticized, Mr..
Lees reputation of Mrs. Stella
Werner, Democratic Council
candidate who had the support of
the county Charter Committee in
the recent primary balloting, as
being politically expedient." He
added that Mrs. Werner's "ac-
knoWledged leadership of the
charter movement :. entities her
to your support rather than being
made the butt of your political
mdneuvering."
Attacks Patronage Charge.
The Democratic leader said Mr..
Lees references to political pa
tronage "are not worthy of con-
sideration especially in view of
your employment of Plummer
Shearin, paid Charter Com
mittee political worker, as a coun-
ty attorney on the day he passed
his bar examination" Mr.. Brown
ing added the county merit sys-
tenn prevents dispensing of polit-
ical patronage by succeeding
Councils without a charter
amendment.
Mr.. Browning said Mr.. Lees al
legation that the Democratic
Council candidates are "organiza-
ton supported" is an insult to
the intelligence of the Democrats
of Montgomery County who so
overwhelmingly supported them in
the recent primary election"
/ The committee chairman added:
I'VE do not propose to be ruled
by any one short of a majority of
the entire electorate of Mont
gomery County"
/ Mr.. Clark praised the present
County Council for it's non
partisan accomplishments" and
added that Mr.. Lees leadership
has been invaluable" He de-
clared:
/ The issue is one of providing
the best possible government at
the least possible cost to the resi-
dents of Montgomery County.
Politics should play no part and
under the Council for the last two
years politics have played no
part"
II the situation had been re-
versed, Mr.. Clark added, lit would
be the accepted duty of all re-
sponsible Republicans to support
the best candidates"
Lee Speaks Tonight.
Mr.. Lee, the center of today's
controversy, will speak over Ra-
dio Station WMAL at 8 o'clock
tonight.
The Democratic Council candi-
dates, in their statement, PROM
ised, if elected. to work for early
adoption of revised zoning code
for the county, Asserting that
the greatest need is for a total
revision of the county's outmoded
zoning ordinance" the candidates
said they would hold as many
public hearings as necessary be-
fore adopting any proposals.
The candidates said they could
see little need for granting fur
ther apartment zonings in the
foreseeable future.