Evening star., 1952-02-22
District Republicans
Determined 10 Elect
Delegates in Own Way

Republican leaders here were
determined today to elect their
own convention delegates in their
own way. after walking out on a
bipartisan meeting. which pro-
posed joint election in the Dis
trict for both parties.
Meanwhile. a difference of opin-
ion over the issue still exists
within the ranks of local Republi-
cans, with the Eisenhower hackers
willing to. go along with commit
tee officers only so long as they
feel their candidate will get a
square deal.
Charges that the controversial
meeting in the Offices Of the Dis
trict Commissioners yesterday was
packed" with persons not con-
lnected with either party were
made today by George L. Hart,
ljr.. secretary of the Republican
State Committee for the District.
I'VE were invited to a meeting
in the Office Of Commissioner John
Russell Young with the under
standing it was to be attended by
Democratic and Republican lead
ers," Mr.. Hart said. but we
learned that others were there
with no connection with either
party"
McGarraghy Protests.
Led by Chairman Joseph c..
McGarraghy. the officers of the
Republican Committee walked out
Of the meeting, after Mr.. McGar-
raghy heatedly protested a reso-
luton by Attorney William A.
Roberts to provide a joint pri-
mary, arranged by a nonpartiSan
committee.
Bill Roberts, as q Democrat,
is not going to tell the Republi-
can Party how to conduct their
elections" the G. o. P. chairman
protested.
| Those speaking in favor of the
open primary, however, included
Robert E. Mclaughlin, president
of the District Eisenhower for
President Club. Mr.. Mclaughlin
said today:
"At this time, we have no in
tention of holding a primary sep
arate from the one to be ar
ranged by the Republican State
Committee. However. the resolu-
tiont for an open primary, as
passed at the meeting in the Dis
Itrict Building, is interesting be-
cause it presents a working
mechanism we might call upon
If we feel the committees sys-
tenn is not being managed fairly.
We would only break with this
system if We were forced to do
So"
/ Mr.. Mclaughlin said he doubt
ed If the meeting was packed.
The more probable explanation,
he said, was that some news
papers announced the session
would be open. and others than
those invited came for this rea-
son.
BarbS for Donohue.
Before walking out, Mr.. Nc
lGarraghy told Commissioner F.
Joseph Donohue, with respect to
the proposed bipartisan election,
Il think it is perfectly ridiculous,
as you have made yourself on
tseveral occasions already this
morning" He apparently re-
Iferred to jocular remarks by Mr..
Donohue in the early stage Of the
meeting.
| Mr.. Roberts proposal, as in
dorsed by the meeting. requests
permission for use of public
buildings in the District to hold
the joint primary under super
vision OF a nonpartisan commit
tee.
1.-THE whole matter Is completely
out of the power of the Commis-
sioners," Mr.. McGarraghy de-
clared.
/ Mr.. Hart pointed out today that
1.-The Republicans have been holding
their own elections here since
World War I.
The District was divided into 43l
voting precincts. Sometimes the
polling places were schools and
churches, and other means were
hound when these facilities we're
unavailable.