Evening star., 1951-11-04

Key Issue tuesday in
Voting
Montgomery County voters will
decide Tuesday whether their
county shall be the first in Mary
land to have an elected Board OF
Observers predicted less than
10000 Of the approximately $4,000
eligible voters will cast their bal
lots in the referendum, which il
expected to result in victory fol
the proposal.
The polls will be open from
am. to z pm.
The referendum is the first In
the county since November, 194S
when a home-rule charter provid-
ing for a council-manager form
OF government was adopted.
The bill which is the subject oi
Tuesdays referendum was passed
at the last session Of the Mary
land General Assembly. 1t pro.
vides for a seven-member schoo
board elected without party label.
for four-year terms. At present
the board consists of six member,
appointed by the Governor fol
six-year staggered terms.
Member for Each District.
There would be one member fol
each Of the five council district.
and two elected at large. Nomi
nations would be made by peti
tions bearing the signatures O
500 voters for a candidate at larg,
and 200 for a district candidate.
In addition, the measure pro
|vides that three present member
who have the shortest periods lef
in their appointed terms woult
serve until January. 1858. TIL,
remaining three would stay in of.
nee until January. 1855.
Four new members would bt
elected at large in November, 1852
and seven new members in No.
vember. 1854.
Amendment Studied.
To meet objections from those
who favor a continuation of the
staggered term method, State SEN
ator De Witt S. Hyde has an
he is studying the possi-
bility Of a constitutional amend
ment which would permit such a
system for elected officials. He
also has said he may seek legis-
lation calling for a primary elec-
tion to weed out excess candidates.
Nathan r. Gilbert, former
president of the County Council
Of Parent-Teacher Associations,
which spearheaded the fight for
the bill. said an elected School
Board would bring home rule
closer to the people"
This bill, If approved, will set
up a School Board which is re-
sponsible directly to the voters
who put them in Office" he as
, Political Action Predicted.
Mrs. Stella Werner. a member Of
the County Council and an OPP
ponent of the bill, has predicted
that despite the non-partisan pro-
visions Of the measure. active
party participation in the election
would be unavoidable. AS result.
she asserted. this would. throw the
pard into politics.
But this was described by Mr..
Gilbert as ridiculous.
Good persons have been ap-
pointed to the board by Gov
ernors of both political parties. "
Mr.. Gilbert said. The question
is always present, however
whether q board comprised Of
persons chosen primarily for
political acceptability will best
serve the interests Of our chill
dren."
Another opponent, Lewis B.
Sims. contended that If the elec-
ton procedure is followed to its
logical conclusion. I'VE would be
voting for all sorts of boards-for
parks, libraries, health, water, etc.
This would make for great con-
fusion and not for. simplicity. for
honest and efficient government" :"
Council Powers Urged.
"The solution to our present
difficulty," he said, 'is to have
the county council appoint the top
school officials, just as it now ap-
points the top officials for other
county functions"
He also expressed the fear that
under an elected board system,
we would not get as good a school
board as the county council could
you do not get democracy by
merely electing a lot Of people, !"
ne declared. In fact. you ordi-
narily get the opposite"
In reply. Mr.. Gilbert argued that
appointment of a school board by
the council, which provides funds
to operate the school, would tend
to cut down on any independent
thinking on the part of school
board members
5 Million Members Sought
By Taft Clubs Of America
BY The Asseeiaied Pres.
CHICAGO, Nov. 3.-A goal of
Ave million members for the Taft
Clubs of America, was announced
today on the heels of the Re-
81 L