Evening star., 1952-02-21
District G. 0. P.
Walks Out Of
Primary Par|ey
Protest. Nonportison
Committee Proposal;
Eisenhower Men Stoy

IolScuSS Clle nOlQ1ng OF a general
primary election here.
The walkout came after Jo-
seph c. McGarraghy, committee
chairman, heatedly protested a
resolution by William A. Roberts
to permit use of public buildings
for a primary to be arranged by
a non-partisan committee. 49,.
Terming the Roberts proposal
extraordinarily" Mr.. McGarraghy
declared that "the whole matter
is completely out of the power of
the Commissioners" ...
Bill Roberts, as a Democrat. is
not going to tell the Republican
party how to conduct their elec-
tions," he said.
He told Commissioner F.. Jo-
seph Donohue: II think it is per-
fectly ridiculous. as you have
made yourself on several occa-
sions already this morning." CAP
parently he referred to several
Jocular remarks made by Mr..
IDonohue as the meeting opened
After Mr.. McGarraghy and
half a dozen other Republicans
left the District Building board
room. the remainder - mostly
Democrats and Eisenhower Re-
publicans-adopted Mr.. Roberts
resolution.
To Consider Matter.
Mr.. Donohue said after the
meeting that the Commissioners
would take the matter under
consideration, but that Mr.. Nc
Garraghy's action apparently
CLOSED the door to a general pri-
mary.
Mr.. Roberts motion was that
the city heads permit use of public
buildings here and provide custo-
dial services for a responsible,
non-partisan committee Of adult
District residents who would pro-
vide facilities without discrimina-
tion throughout the city to re-
ceive the Identification of resi-
dents. their designation of political
party and their ballots cast for
delegates to the national conven-
tions.
It called for provision of the
primary facilities by the commit
tee in accordance with written
rules and regulations to be sub
mitted to the city heads and the
central committees at least 30
days before the primary.
The motion further would re-
quire provision by the committee
OF responsible and qualified coun-
ters to protect the ballots and take
them to the national committees
for determination of results under
the rules of the respective COM
mittees.
General Primary Proposed.
Today's meeting had been called
by the Commissioners to decide
whether the proposed general pri-
mary of "free and open nature"
was desired here, and whether
those interested could voluntarily
agree on uniform set of rules.
The proposal was supported by
a number of speakers, including
A. L. Wheeler, chairman of the
Democratic Central Committee
here.
Also speaking in favor of the
primary was Robert E. McLaugh-
lin. president of the District
Eisenhower for President Club,
who asserted that the primaries
have grown into a thing con-
trolled by very small group"
After the meeting, Mr.. Nc
Laughlin said that the Eisenhower
group had no present intention of
holding a separate primary or
"any type of rump convention. :"
He said he felt that Mr.. Roberts
motion, however, should be sup
ported.
Opening Statement.
In his statement at the begin
ming OF the meeting, Mr.. McGar-
raghy declared that the RESPONSE
bility for determining the pro-
cedure of electing delegates from
the District to the Republican
National Convention was vested
in the Republican State Com
mittee here.
THE Republican organization
cannot and will not share with
the Democratic Party any con-
troll or participation in the method
Eof electing delegates to the Re-
publican National Convention,
Mr.. McGarraghy was accom-
panied in his departure by Mrs.
Elizabeth E. Bolts, vice chairman
tof the State committee; George
L. Hart, jr.. secretary. Mrs. How
ard A. Coffin. national committee
woman from the District; Clyde D.
Garrett, national committeeman
from the District; Carl Shipley,
president of the Young Republican
Club and Gilbert Hahn, jr., Young
Republican national committee
man.
Inn Dnro C4r