Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-15
Party Leaders
Split in County
Over Planners
ReprisoI Threats
Hurled After Three
Are Nominated
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN

Are Nominated
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN
Montgomery Democratic lead
ers were split bitterly today over
three nominations for the Mary
land National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
Nominations for appointment
by the Governor under a bill
passed by the General Assembly
and still unsigned by Gov. Nc
Keldin went last night to DON
aid E. Gingery. Donald r. Lam
borne and Charles B. Buscher.
Threats of political reprisal
were tossed at several council
men supporting the nominations.
It appeared to be the end of the
harmony honeymoon" that
brought Democrats together be-
hind a slate in last years pri-
mary election.
Sharpest Cleavage Yet
The split in the council was
the sharpest yet with Robert T.
Snure, Rover K. Walker, Charles
Jamison, Jerry T. Williams and
Wilbur N. Baughman supporting
the nominees.
Mrs. Stella B. Werner and
President j. Graham Walker Bit
terly fought the nominations and
sought to substitute Ray Murphy.
Henry M. Balm, jr., and Ulysses
Griffith ".
The party leadership cleavage
was mainly along geographical
lines with the western suburban
and Kensington- Wheaton pre-
cincts lined up against the east
ern and upper-county precincts.
Twenty-one of % leaders from
the western area earlier had
voted to support John Cullen or
Mr.. Balm.
The western groups council
representatives. Mrs. Werner and
President Walker, supported Mr..
Balm last night, but it was re-
ported that in closed sessions of
council discussions they had
backed F. Moran McConihe, a
real estate man of Potomac, Md.
The two were so bitter over the
appointments they voted against
submitting them and also against
the council sending letter to
the Governor urging him to sign
the planning commission bills in
the interest of home rule.
Opponents Burned Up"
The appointments obviously
had support from some party
leaders at last nights heated
session. but the opponents we're
the most vociferous as the meet
ing broke up. :.
I'VE are burned UP about it, >"
James Mann, spokesman for the
group and executive vice chair
man of the State Central Com
mittee, told the press, He added
the western group had not even
considered Mr.. Gingery for ap-
pointment.
Were outraged by the ap-
pointments." said Mrs. Edith
Kirkland, one of nine precinct
leaders in the Kensington-
Wheaton area who were sup
porting Mr.. Murphy over Mr..
Buscher.
THE appointments are ghast-
w." Richard P. Abel echoed.
The Kensington Wheaton
group in the primary refused to
support the harmony ticket and
threw its weight behind Law
renee M. Fisher and William
Slayton for the party's nomina-
tons for the council. Mr.. Muir
ply was campaign manager for
them.
Expediency Charge
Jerome j. Harris, vice presi-
dent Of the Montgomery Civic
Federation. charged political
expediency" in the appointments.
He said the federation had sup
ported appointments of those
whose private interests would not
be in conflict with commission
work.
Mrs. Werner, through ques-
tons thrown at other council
men. indicated she felt that Mr..
Gingery and Mr.. Lamborne
should be disqualified because
they were in the real estate de-
velopment business.
They'll know where the har-
ness rubs the mule" Mr.. Jami-
son retorted.
Il don't build in the regional
district, have bought no develop
ment land there and have never
taken any advantage Of my posi-
ton on the commission" MIR.
Gingery said after the meeting.
Mr.. Lamborne is the developer
OF Williamsburg Village, an area
of Colonial homes at Olney. He
also wrote a proposed zoning
ordinance for the upper-county
now being considered by the
council