Evening star., 1955-11-06
- STATE EDITION
Voters 10 Pick
Precinct Chiefs
Will Ballot Tuesduy
On Leaders in 81
Montgomery Units
By CHARLES Z. HOFFMAN

BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN
Real down-to-earth grassroots
politics is at its peak in Mont
gomery County with Democratic
voters preparing to "go to the
luolls" Tuesday night TO elect
lprecinct leaders.
A chairman and vice chairman
win be elected In each Of the
county's 81 precincts and com.
petition Is heated. Six Of the
precincts are new.
Montgomery is the only county
i'm Maryland in which Demo-
lcratic precinct officials are
lelected.
The elections - for four-year
terms originally were slated for
next summer between the pri-
mary and general elections. But
Ipresent precinct chairmsn fore
saw q bitter struggle for control
iof the grass roots organization
land decided to move the date up.
That way there viii be time for
healing the wounds before next
years presidential campaign,
party leaders believe.
All registered Democrats are
eligible to participate in the
balloting Tuesday.
Meet IN Every Precinct
Meetings are scheduled at
10 pm. in every precinct-in
nearly all cases at the regular
precinct polling place.
Nominations viii be made
from the door and balloting viii
be secret.
Nevertheless, there has been
much fllaneuvering during the
past two months as ambitious
party workers seek recognition
lin their hailiwicks and q possible
stepping stone to higher ONCE.
| Party leaders anticipate a good
turnout for the elections.
They are pleased with the In
lterest and enthusiasm en-
Egendered by the precinct cam
lpaigns.
"It's a good thing for the
party" Ward w. Caddington,
chairman Of the county Demo-
icfatic Central Committee, said.
"It also helps build up an organ
lization Of workers in every
ghborhood in the county
which the party can turn to In
general election years"
| Mr.. Caddington, although con-
tending that the precinct fights
lare individual battles. hopes that
lchairmen who viii work with the
central committee will be elected.
1 Some dissident precinct lead-
lers recently declined to support
the highly successful fund
raising dinner at Wheaton High
School.
Often Shape Policy
The Democratic precinct chair
men are an important link in
the party's organization and
often shape party policy.
1 For example, last June a ma
ltority Of the precinct chairmen
ljoined Ii q petition urging the
County Council to restore 9 81
million slash proposed In the
School Boards operating budget.
The County Council made the
restoration and there appeared
ito be little doubt that they were
influenced to an extent by the
precinct leaders action.
! The chairmen also met re-
Gently and went on record CALI
ing for the council and other
State and county officials to get
iPEPCO to drop its plans for q
new 500 million plant in Virginia
land to build it in Montgomery
County.
! At that same meeting they
approved q resolution calling for
their group to participate In any
study setup on the proposed
granting TO the School Board of
Its own taxing powers.
The precinct chairmen also
have q great deal to say In the
selection Of party candidates.
Especially was this true last year
when . harmony slate" was
drawn up and backed BY the
lchairmen and then went on 10
victory In both the primary and
general elections.