Evening star., 1952-10-12
PrinceGeorges
Manager Plan
Left 10 Voters
Charter Bourd Bloc
Defines Position on
County Setup

Our primary goal Is charter
home rule the county manager
system is not an issue in this
campaign" Walter F. Mulligan,
Reuben j. Gordon. Charles F.
Parker, jr., DR.. Joseph M. Ray and
Nicholas Orem. jr., declared in a
signed answer asking their exact
viewpoint.
The five contenderS fixed their
objective while women supporters
dug deeply into bureau drawers
and removed ribbons from aging
opposition documents.
AS carefully kept as old love Lett
ters. the 1850 Republican cam
paign misSives have the now anti
charter-manager COP squirming.
Position Clearly Defined.
The Citizens Committee charter
board statement, cleary defining
its position for the first time, said:
"As individuals, we may, or may
not feel that county manager is
desirable, if we are elected, we
shall approach the writing Of a
charter with an open mind. We
will not write provision for a
county manager unless the people
demand it,"
In equally sharp focus is the
stand taken at an opposing slate
named by the All-Republican
Board of County Commissioners.
They are H. Winship Wheatley,
jr., George T. Burroughs, Edward
c. Bell. jr.. Edwin A. Glenn and
Mrs. Dorothy B. Groth.
This group advocates retention
and improvement of the present
form Of commissioner government
but would write a home-rule
charter If citizens so direct.
But the commissioners slate, If
elected, would vigorously object
to. and probably would not in
any case include q provision for
Q county manager.
Coalition Aids Fight.
Aiding their fight against a
change is a coalition Of Repub-
lican and Democratic influentialS,
Fundamentally aided and abetted
by the county commissioners.
Neither party's central committee
has taken an official stand. The
G. o. p. committee is split on
the issue. The Democratic group
is solidly aligned against a char
ter. Followers of both parties
are to be found in either camp.
Driving for a home-rule char
ter are the Citizens Committee,
the county Civic Federation and
League of Women Voters and the
local unit Of University Women.
The women today returned to-
the record this excerpt from the
1850 Republican campaign plat
form:
"The Republican Party has can
vassed the entire county to de-
termine the will Of the people.
It is convinced that the vast ma
jority of our voters are COM
pletely dissatisfied with their gov
ernment and its outmoded pro-
cedures therefore, the Repub-
lican Party recommends:
Repeal Of the Sothoron bill
and the appointment Of a county
manager, not to be named from
the personnel Of the county COM
missioners. as provided in that
bill, but to be chosen for his
capabilities alone"
1850 Debate Recalled.
The Sothoron Act was repealed
andSa new law under which the
county now functions was
authored by Republican Delegate
j. Frnk Lillard, jr. In q debate
July 26, 1850, at the University of
Maryland, Mr.. Lillard said:
"And I know of no better way to
present it to you than in a manner
that is definite. concise. concrete
and categorical.
"First, we stand for a system
Of county manager government
for Prince Georges County, where
by the administration of it's af-
fairs will be completely divorced
from the county commissioners
by permitting the commissioners
to retain their policy-making
function"
At the same time and place,
John RAYMOND Fletcher. the
county's Republican State Sena-
tor who planted his winning feet
on the same plank, repeatedly
made these observations:
1.-THE manager form of govern
ment, according to my way of
thinking, is the most Democratic
form because the qualified man
ager, under the usual setup in
county manager form of govern
ment, is based on requirements
laid down either by legislation or
by the board Of county commits
sioners or county council, and the
manager. being qualified and far
above the average. is accountable
solely to an elected group. :"
Elephant Caught on Base"
"Um-mmm," said Mr.. Lillard
when his remarks were recalled.
''It looks like that fast toss has
the old elephant caught squarely
OF base"
Mr.. Lillard good-naturedly ad-
mitted that he made the remarks
and added, that there is no doubt
that plank was in the party plat
form" He explained the situation
this way:
1T is impossible for me to de-
termine my position until I have
learned whether a charter will be
drawn and If so who win write
1t and what type it will be-"
Mr.. Lillard added that "if q
county manager is chosen, en-
phatically believe he should not
be q member of the elected board. !"
Senator Fletcher could, not be
reached, but all Of the four COM
Xnissioners who were 1850 candi-
dates were asked three questions.
The 6rst was, did you subscribe