Evening star., 1953-07-18
Democrats Split
On Montgomery
Election Issues
Hot Debates Mark
Assembly Meeting;
Fees Draw Attuck

The Montgomery County
Democratic Assembly last night
urged the County Council to
adopt a Corrupt Practices Act
to bar State and county officials
from appearing before it on zon-
ing and other matters.
Despite the heat. several hun
dred Democrats turned up at
the Rockville meeting and de-
bated loud and long on 10 res
olutions before adjournment
well past midnight.
The assembly also urged the
council to require public dis
closure Of fees received by any
elected or appointed officials for
procuring enactment or amend
ment of any ordinance.
$4,000 in Fees Charged.
The action followed a charge
by State Central Committee
Chairman Warren Browning
that three Republican officials
repeatedly received $4,000 for
obtaining an amendment to the
zoning code.
The original resolution re-
ported to the assembly by the
advisory committee scorched Re-
publican officials for the mag
nitude" of such fees. It was
amended after Mrs. Stella B.
Werner termed it a Mccarthy
type" insinuation.
The assembly last night con-
sidered 10 of ii resolutions on
the agenda, passed eight, re-
committed one and failed to
reach agreement on another.
The big battle centered on a
resolution reafflrming the party
present system of electing pre-
cinct officials to four-year terms
and not requiring reSidency as a
qualification for holding a pre-
cinct post.
Considerable Bitterness.
The intra-party squabble over
the precinct organizations has
caused considerable bitterness in
the Advisory Committee. Yelled
warnings of an actual split in the
party and wreckage of the as
sembly were repeatedly made at
the session.
Opponents of the present par
ty leadership fought persistently
to amend the resolution. On
three occasions they failed to
get passage of amendments
which, in effect, would have re-
pudiated the organization.
The, amendments sought to
shorten the terms of Office to
two years, require a new election
of all precinct officials in the
fall, and require precinct ,esi-
dency by officials.
A move by the Central Com
mittee, calling for election of
officials in October for IL new
precincts, failed last night to
promote the harmony for which
it was aimed.
Insurgents Show Power.
In the first test of strength,
organization Democrats polled
280 votes to 143 for the opposi-
i ton. On the last vote taken
shortly after midnight, the
organizations strength had
dropped to 209 while the in
surgents increased their power
to 1876.
The shift in strength was
caused by the steady departure
of assembly members as the dis
cussion dragged on.
When a fourth amendment
was proposed. a vote was blocked
when Mrs. Lillian McNish moved
for adjournment.
The insurgent bloc strength
was shown first as it sought to
prohibit the State Central Com
mittee from indorsing candi-
dates in the primary. The
strength was confined chiefly to
the Western suburban area-Mr.
Werner's Stronghold-and the
Glenmont precinct.
The resolution as passed, per-
mits the central committee to
indorse candidates only after in
dorsement by the Assembly.
Recommitted to the advisory
committee was q resolution call
ing for election of members OF
the bicounty Washington Sub
urban Sanitary Commission and
! the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
Resolution Draws Attack.
The resolution came on the
floor with the blessing of E
Brooke Lee, party organization
leader. It was criticized not only
by Donald E. Gingery, a member
of the planning commission but
also by the insurgent group who
had sought a resolution calling
for appointment of commission
members by the county council.
After hearing argume ents
against election of planning Of
f1cials, Mr.. Lee urged that the
measure be recommitted for
further study.
Other resolutions passed in
cluded:
No. 2-Condemning book
burning. suppression of ideas and
character assassination.
No. 3-Urging preservation of
Federal legislation to protect the
consumer.
No. 11-Requiring precinct
leaders to begin organization and
to submit a written report OF
their activities November is
No. 20-Urging that Washing
ton area Federal workers be
exempted from the Hatch Act.
No. 21-Reaffirming the party's
policy that the county's charter
form of government is not an
issue in the upcoming campaign
No. C2-FavoriYo0 cohool