Evening star., 1951-11-28
PriinceGeorges
Patronage Plea
Again Denied
Board Stands Firm
In Refusal to Fire
Democrats in Office

holders and replace Thomas E.
Latimer as board president.
The demands were contained in
two resolutions presented to the
all-Republican commissioners in
a knock-down-and- -drag-out ses-
sion in Upper Marlboro yesterday
by Edwin A. Glenn. president of
the county Republican Club. Mr..
Glenn was supported by Marvin
S. Gallimore. member of the
G. o. P. State Central Committee
for the county.
The commissioners took no ac-
ton on either resolution, but the
majority made it clear they do not
intend to comply with them. Mr..
Latimer. obviously irked by the
demand that he be replaced,
moved that both resolutions be
put in File 49," meaning the
waste basket. but his motion died
for lack of a second.
Calls for Full Time Job.
The resolution against Mr.. Lati-
mer asked that he be replaced as
the $7,500-a-year, full-time presi-
dent by Commissioner Edward j.
Ned" Waters. Mr.. Waters and
the other three part-time COM
missioners receive SO, 500 a year.
Mr.. Latimer, who was elected
president by the board after it'll
was swept into Office a year ago,
said he could not be removed un-
less he is convicted of mall
feasance.
Mr.. Glenn said Commissioner
Waters spoke to the Republican
Club on october 18. the night the
two resolutions were approved.
Furthermore, he added. the reSo-
luton demanding dismissal of
Democratic job holders was pro-
posed by Delegate John F. Lillard,
jr., and seconded by Delegate Will
liam r. "Huck" Hughes.
Questioned on Resolution.
Under questioning. Mr.. Glenn
said he could not remember who
moved and seconded the resolu-
tion demanding Mr.. Latimer's re-
moval.
Mr.. Lillard, who was not pres
ent at yesterdays meeting. told a
reporter later he discussed the
purge resolution with other club
members at the October gathering
but could not remember whether
he moved its approval.
Commissioner Daniel A. Abbott
branded the resolutions "asinine
and ridiculous" and strongly sup
ported Mr.. Latimer's performance
as president.
At one point, he declared: "Just
being a Republican doesn't quail
fy person to hold down county
job. We want to hire as many Re-
publicans as possible-we make no
bones about that-but our prime
interest is in efficient, honest gov
ernment."
This brought a comment from
Mr.. Glenn that there isn't a
Democrat on the county payroll
who isn't out to cut your throat"
Emphasize Vacancies.
Commissioners Latimer, Abbott
and w. Everett Marion, repeat
edly emphasized that because of
low salaries the county pays, they
are having trouble filling jobs at
all, let alone with Republicans.
The other two board members.
Mr.. Waters and H. Wilson Spick-
nall, who often team up on issues,
had little to say during the
patronage argument.
Throughout the discussion, in
hearing room packed with high
party officials, Mr.. Glenn injected
yelled threats of reprisals against
the commissioners in the 1853
election unless they complied with
the clubs wishes.
Mr.. Abbott replied that many
Democrats helped put the Repub-
licans in office last year, thus end
ing Is years of Democratic rule in
the count.
Committee Withdraws.
A joint committee of the Re-
publican Club and the Young
Republican Club of the county
was to have aired demands for
the Democratic firings yesterday,
but at the last minute the COM
mittee withdrew. stating it did
mot desire to pursue this matter
any further at this time" Mr..
Glenn. after his final plea for a
closed discussion of the matter
was denied, then presented the
resolutions on his own.
The purge resolution was ap-
proved by both G. o. P. clubs. al
though the young Republicans
passed it only by a one-vote mar
gin after the word machine" was
injected before Democrats.
The Latimer resolution was an
action of the senior G. o. P. club
only.
At the end of the lengthy argu-
ment, Gordon Louk, another
G. O. P. leader and member of
the Mr.. Glenn's gruop, tried to
soothe some of the wounds with
a plea for unity.
Other Actions Taken.
In other business, the commits
sioners:
/. Deferred action on a motion
by Mr.. Spicknall to increase the
$50,OO0 insurance policy on
Hyattsville Elementary School
awarded to Republican Delegate
Albert r. Hassall last week to
$146,754. MIR. Spicknall proposed
the new policy be split between
MIR. Hassal and Edward A. Nylen,
president of the county Young
Republican Club.
2. Accepted deeds for two school
sites, totalling 20 acres, donated
by a group planning to build the
new Oak Park apartment de-