Evening star., 1952-10-03

Federation Official
Calls Arguments on
Issue Exaggerated
Three civic groups seeking home
rule in Prince Georges County
today were smarting from a new
verbal attack from inside their
own camp.
Ernest L. Hines, chairman Of
the county civic federation's
Roads Committee and current
winner Of The Evening Star Tro-
ply for outstanding contributions
to good citizenship. scorched sur
prised colleagues at a meeting of
his unit in Hyattsville last night.
Standing beside Daniel Greene.
head of the federation's Legisla-
tive Committee, and a hard-f1ght-
ing opponent of charter-c county
manager government, Mr.. Hines
Launched his first blast at the Citi-
|zens' Committee for Good Govern
ment. spearhead Of the home rule
drive.
Calls Propaganda Extravagant.
OF this group he said:
1.-THE federation knows, or
should know that propaganda
put out by the Citizens Commit
tee is exaggerated and extrava-
giant and is aimed to fool the mis-
Informed" The campaign for
home rule. he said, is being con-
Quoted "as though it were a one
sided issue with only one way to
VOTE"
/ A similar attitude. he charged.
has been taken by "the independ-
ent League of Women Voters. the
Independence Of which Is question:
able"
Then he pictured his own or
ganization as so dominated by the
committee and the league that 1t
Is lending itself as a propaganda
machine bent on corralling votes
for charter government"
|. Terming the issue a controver-
sial subject Of paramount impor.
tance, Mr.. Hines accused the fed
Grafton of extreme partiality and
demanded that "the fullest pub
licity be given both sides of the
subject"
1.-THE federation he declared.
"is supporting the Citizens Com
mittee charter board nominees
who are going all-out for a charter
council and a county manager. It
is even going so far as to furnish
speakers to appear before member
associations to explain how to vote
on the issue in the November elec-
ton"
Lauds Commissioners Work.
Mr.. Hines, who is q citizen Of
Friendly, in the southern section
of the county, had some good
words for the county commission
ers. He praised them for increas-
ing the numbers and efficiency Of
the county police force, for hold
ing down the tax rate and for
providing reasonable necessities
without impairing solvency."
Walter F. Mulligan, veteran
president Of the federation and q
member Of the Citizens Commit
tee slate of charter board aspir-
ants. made no attempt to escape
the fire and smoke.
But he turned on a parliament
tary extinguisher when Mr.. Hines
tried to put through a motion urg-
ing that civic groups backing home
rule have pro and con speakers at
public debates. MIR. Mulligan
ruled the motion out Of order and
was sustained by the delegates
when his order was appealed.
Secrecy Move Starts Fight.
Mr.. Hines attack was followed
lby approval of q motion designed
to throw a cloak Of secrecy around
the names of federation delegates.
It was offered by Richard G..
Davis Of the Eastpines Citizens
Association.
But a few minutes later, Mrs.
Irwin A. Lavine, wife Of the presi-
dent of the Riggs Manor Citizens
Association, demanded its recon-
sideration. Said Mrs. Lavine:
II am ashamed Of the Fedora
tion's opposition to public revela-
ton Of the names Of its delegates.
This is not a Communist organi-
cation and why a group of civic
minded people are afraid to have
their names known I cannot un-
derstand." .
"The action is utterly ridicu.
lows" said Mrs. Doris Ayman,
president of the West Hampshire
Citizens Association.
That was enough for Mr.. Davis,
who asked that his motion be re-
scinded. The Federation COM
piled and then tabled another
resolution by MIR. Davis which
have prohibited release of names
for commercial or political pur.
poses. .
Explains Intention.
"The whole thing is a teapot
tempest" Mrs. Irma Bogdanoff.
chairman Of the County Affairs
Committee declared. She ex.
planned that the motion was in
tended to protect delegates from
bombardments by purveyors of
this and that. Others pointed out
that lists Of names on which the
secrecy was sought are on file in
the county's public library.
The federation adopted two res.
'olutions. One. offered by Mr.. La
vine, whacked the county com.
missioners for frequently lower.
ing zoning classifications in sec.