Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-20
C1IdI IeIU lUup
Facing Test in
Montgomery
Movement Is Issue
In Republican
Primary June 70

Montgomery County charter
ties are facing a test in the June
% primary.
Only half of the candidates in
dorsed by the Charter Committee
1 nboth Republican and Demo-
cratic parties also have the bless
ing of the dominant United Re-
publican Organization or the co..
alition known as the Democratic
Harmony Ticket.
Charter has become an open
issue in the Republican primary.
where Maryland Secretary of
State, John r. Reeves is leading
a group attempting to wrest con-
troll of the county COP from the
present central committee.
In a letter being sent out to
Republican voters, L. w. Enrich,
one of Mr.. Reeves lieutenantS.
charges that the present central
committee and its chairman,
States Attorney Walter w.
Dawson, are "anti-charter in
sentiment"
"DawSon's group is so intent
on perpetuating its own men,
bers and their families IN Office
that they have failed completely
to recognize the fact that cit
liens associations, PTAs and
other civic groups supporting the
Charter Movement are response
BILE for the Republican victories
in the past" the letter adds.
"Anti-bOssism Campaign"
Charter is less of an issue in
the Democratic primary. OF
major interest is the success or
failure Of the harmony ticket, a
coalition Of Stella Werner and
E. Brooke Lee factions.
The harmony candidates are
not without opposition. An "anti-
bossism" campaign is being
waged by Earl j. Lombard for
the State senatorial nomination.
Mr.. Lombard, who charges
that the harmony ticket is moth
ing but a new front for Mr.. Lee,
is opposing harmony-backed Ed
ward S. Northrop.
The harmony slate for the
House of Delegates Warren
Browning, Blair Lee, Sd, Mrs.
Margaret Schweinhaut. Mrs.
Genevieve H. Wells, William B.
Wheeler and Charles w. Wood
ward, iris being opposed by
John B. Diamond. Sd. B. Hou-
ston McCeney, Joseph M. O'Con-
nell and James F. Tones.
The harmony people also have
spirited contests for States at
torney-wherel their man, Alger
Y. Barbee, is up against Joseph
| M. Mathias-and for sheriff.
Luke j. Bennett, ir., the harmony
candidate for the Sheriff'S noml-
nation, has three opponents =
Robert w. Cremins. Rupert Lee
Dunn and Ralph w. Oftutt.
Test for Charter Group.
The council contests provide
| the test for the charter commit
tee which made its Endorsements
/ only in this field. ss..
The committee turned its back
on Jerry T. Williams the har-
mony man and only candidate
for the Democratic nomination
for the 1st district council seat.
It blessed these other DEM
ocratic council aspirants:
Grover Walker, unoppoSed in
the End district; Lawrence M
Fisher, Bird district; Mrs. Werner,
unopposed in the 4th district;
william L. Slayton. 5th district
and Morgan L. Tenny and J,
Grahame Walker, councilmen-
at-large.
The two Walkers and Mrs
Werner are on the harmony
ticket, but in the other dis
tricts the thermometers are back
ing Charles H. Jamison in the
Sd, Robert T. Snure in the 5th,
and Wilbur N. Baughman, rather
than Mr.. Tenny, for the second
at-large seat.
Republicans Backed.
IN the Republican primary
the charterites are backing
Vestus j. Wilcox, 1st District;
J. William Purdum, I'd; Lathror
E. Smith, Sd; Louis A. Cravelle
4th; Raymond c. Williams. 5th
and James A. Buchanan, at
large. The committee did moi
make a recommendation for the
second at-large seat.
The United Republican Or
ganization also is backing Mr.
Gravelle, Mr.. Williams and Mr.
Buchanan, but supporting Jerry
IL. Cook in the 1st District, Cecil
E. Custer in the I'd, Hugh H
Hassell in the Sd and David
Scull as we'll as Mr.. Buchanan
for councilman-at-large.
Mr.. Reeves, who charges that
the present central committee
has been sitting on its hands
has on his ticket. besides him
self, Harold F. Hammond, Mrs
Helena M. Hates. H. Brooks
Perring and Harold r. Prangley
The organization ticket fol-
central committee is made up OF
Mr.. Dawson, Adolph E. GUIDE,
Claude v. Hyson, Mrs. Olive D.
Kinsman. Fermon j. Plummer
L. S. CTed) Ray and George c.
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