Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-17
Best Legislative
Job Promised
By Rival Parties
Montgomery County
Candidates. Debate
For Women Voters
By Gene Goodwin

The issue between Democratic
and Republican candidates seek
ing to represent Montgomery
County in the Maryland Legis-
lature Is not so much one Of
platform pledges as it is one Of
who can do it better?"
That was brought out last
night. as opposing candidates for
the Maryland House of Delegates
and State Senate debated before
about 200 persons at a League
Of Women Voters forum in Be-
thesda- Chevy Chase High School.
The platform adopted by the
seven members of the so-called
Democratic harmony ticket for
the Legislature in the June %
primary is similar to that put
forth four years ago by the Re-
publicans.
But the Democrats, headed by
State Senatorial Candidate Ed
ward S. Northrop, argued last
night they can do it better.
Disparity Cited.
The Legislature is predomi-
nantly Democratic, Mr.. Northrop
and his colleagues emphasized.
There has been a breakdown
in relations and a lack of liasion
between the General Assembly
and the County Council" Mr..
Northrop charged. 1--WE will go
to Annapolis as a team"
That may be so, Delegate Rob-
ert A. Wallace replied. but the
Democrats would not dare put
in the reform bills that the Re-
publicans have fought for"
"They won't dare reform them
selves" said Mr.. Wallace, one Of
the five Republican delegates
unopposed for denomination.
Montgomery'S rising property
assessments and the consequent
loss Of State equalization funds
for school aid is the county'S
most important problem in the
view Of the Democratic harmony
slate, said Blair Lee III, candi.
date for delegate.
Blames Tax Policy.
Warren Browning. another
harmony candidate for the
House, charged that the "hor-
rible assessment mess" resulted
from "a concerted effort by the
Republican administration in
Annapolis and Rockville to raise
assessments so they wouldn't
have to raise taxes"
State Senator Anders r. LOT.
strand. jr., and Delegate ]. PAUL
Marshall, Republican incumbents
unoppoSed for denomination,
argued that Democratic coun-
ties and heavily Democratic Bal
timore City also are losing equal
ization money.
1.-THE smaller counties have
the whip hand in the Legis-
lature," Mr.. Lofstrand said, call
ing for reapportionment of the
seats in the Assembly.
Accusing his Democratic OPP
ponents of using "Hitler's big
lie technique Mr.. Marshall said
that Baltimore City has IS
Democrats and only one Repub-
lican in the House and all six
of its State Senators are Demo-
Gratis"
"Yet, for the last three years.
it hasn't received one red cent
in equalization funds" he said.
Lawlor Bills Recalled.
Delegate Kathryn j. Lawlor.
Republican, said that mot one
Democrat from Montgomery
County" had gone to Annapolis
during the 1854 legislative ses-
sion to appear in favor of two
assessment bills she had intro
duced.
! Delegate Julian King, Repub-
lican, said that, at a recent farm
ers' meeting he attended, one
farmer wanted to know why q
COW is assessed at 500 in Mont
4 gomery and at SIS in neighbor.
ing Frederick County.
Mr.. King said he had to agree
with the answer given by an
other farmer to the effect that
"a cow in Montgomery County
is an aristocrat-she's worth
more"
Also speaking on the Republic
can side were Delegate Gilbert
Guide and j. Fendall Coughlan.
who is the only candidate on
the unopposed ticket for the
House not now an incumbent.
Others Speak Briefly.
Margaret Schweinhaut. Cen
evieve H. Wells, William B.
Wheeler and Charles w. Wood
ward, jr., who round out the
Democratic harmony ticket for
the House, spoke briefly for their
side.
In addition. four independent
Democratic candidates for the
Legislature addressed the group.
Earl j. Lombard, Mr.. North
rop's opponent for the senatorial
nomination, charged that Mr..
Northrop has made a deal with
the party boss which has re-
suited in the so-called harmony
slate" He called on Democrats
to deal with the boss problem"
in the primary or I'VE will again
find ourselves with the a1batrosS
Of boss rule around our pecks
when we go into the November
elections"
The three independent Demo.
cratic candidates for the House
heard were John B. Diamond
III, B. Houston McCeney and
James F. Tones.
Candidates for Democratic
and Republican central COM
mittees also spoke and candi-
dates for State convention dele
gate in both parties were intro
duced.
Sphinx Club to Meet
William q Raleigh editor NJ