Evening star., 1952-05-30
Charter Group S
Directors Blast
Turner Letter
Executive Secretary
Seen Due for Custer
From All Duties
By J. l. Michnel

OOOQ government To-Day replied
to a resigning officials attack
calling it the desperate blast of 8
"fuehrer" acting in a SILLY tan
trum" to gain personal attention
and power.
The biting criticism was leveled
at William T.. Turner, directA.
OF the committee, who offered his
resignation Wednesday night. The
retorts were hurled by three pres
ent and one past director of the
warning unit, after Mr.. Truman
had aSSailed them in a letter.
AS a result. a showdown battle
for control of the civic spearhead
Tor home rule government in the
county appeared likely when the
organization holds it's annual
meeting tomorrow.
Faces Stiff Struggle.
Counter-accusations and ampli-
Tying remarks indicated that Mr..
Turner, who also is the groups
executive-secretary, will face a
stiff struggle if he attempts to
retain the post. His opponents
are in custer mood and have said
they will seek to relieve Mr..
Turner of all official duties.
The session is slated to begin
at $3.50 pm. in the Scout Cabin
OF the First Methodist Church,
Hyattsville.
Meanwhile, officers and some
400 members of the strife-torn
unit are trying to gauge public
reaction to revelations of internal
friction. The committee is driv-
ing for 10000 signatures to petit
tions which would place a home
rule, charter-county manager pro-
posal on November ballots. They
fear the squabble will make the
task more difficult.
Announces Resignation.
Long-continued and carefully
concealed quarreling among COM
mittee leaders f1ared yesterday
for all to see when Mr.. Turner
publicly announced his resigna-
ton as a director. He accom-
panied his declaration with a
three-page blast to the member
ship. He termed the letter "a
report from the executive Sec
retary."
The report" charged that the
directors have ignored most men,
bers while inviting favored in
dividuals to private meetings at
which sugar-coated information
was concocted for distribution to
the general membership.
The letter also charged that
the speakers bureau of the COM
mittee. headed by Mrs. Zella P.
Saylor, director, has attempted
to take over policy-making fune-
tionS.
"I deeply regret" Mrs. Saylor
replied, "that Mr.. Turner is
launching such a desperate attack
upon his teammates. It is
unfortunate that he should smear
his good record with a silly tan
trum. Mr.. Turner has handled
many problems with effectiveness
and has won wide approval for
his scholarly work. Now, when
Prince GeorgeanS are engulfed
during their spare hours in OBJ
tanning signatures on a charter
petition, it is a shame that they
should be distracted by a clamoi
for personal attention and power. .
Say Report Isn't Authorized.
Two other directors, who sale
they voiced their views as mem
bers and not as officials, asserted
that Mr.. Turner's report was not
authorized by the directors anc
that it represented "a grave
breach of trust"
"It is destructive in nature
incorporate. full of distortions
and designed for one objective
rule or ruin," Walter F. Mulligar
and Brendan O'Dwyer declared
They praised Mr.. Turner's capa'
bilitieS and lauded him for tn,
services he has rendered, bu
insisted that "the principle O
majority rule rather than tn,
fuehrer concept should guide u.s.
They said Mr.. Turner has twict
resigned as executive secretar!
within a period of a little NOR,
than q year because of tiffs will
other officials. Referring to hi
resignation as a director, thei
statement said: "In view of hi
past services, we wish him well.
Challenges Allegations.
The other rejoinder came from
Mrs. Irma Bogdanoff, a forme
director, who resigned a year age
Her letter was addressed to Byron
Allen, chairman of the Citizens
Committee.
Directly challenging portions o
Mr.. Turner's allegations, Mrs
Bogdanof said:
From my personal knowledg
of Mr.. Turner's activities whel
I was on the board, it was MI
Turner who attempted to domi
nate and to have the board operat
as an echo of Mr.. Turner's view!
And it was Mr.. Turner who, 70
the most part. operated withou
the knowledge and consent q
board members, often to the detri
ment of the home rule movement.
Mrs. Bogdanoff credited M
Turner with genuine ability fc
research" but declared he woul
not or could not function as pal
of team. She resigned for this
reason, she said.
Calling for a thorough airing I
the dispute. Mrs. Bogdanoff d.
clared that 'the disruptive qualit
of the report sent to members
this organization seems to stel
from a childish pique to wish
destroy that which he cannot col
troll"
War Widows to Meet