Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-03
Hearing Called
On Vd|idityof
Lamb Petition
Serious Questions
Roised by Hart.
Vote Board Says
BY JOHN v. HORNER

ny JOf1N v. HOhNER
The Board of Elections today
called a hearing to determine
the validity of the petition nomi-
mating George P. Lamb and Is
other persons for District Re-
publican Party offices.
The board said a challenge of
validity by G. o. P. Chairman
George L. Hart, jr,. had raised
"some very serious questions Of
fact and of the law and regula-
tons" which govern the voting
here May l.
Board Chairman Newell w.
Ellison said the hearing will be
public and he hopes it can be
scheduled either Friday or next
Monday.
AffidavitS Filed
Chairman Hart filed with the
board letter and the affidavits
OF two private investigators in
which he alleged that signatures
to the Lamb petition were
obtained improperly and that
the petition therefore is invalid.
Mr., Lamb, a Republican lib
eral, is trying to get control of
the party locally by electing a
block of candidates to the Dis
trict Central Committee. He
also is running against organiZa-
ton candidates for Republican
National Committeeman and for
delegate to the party's national
convention in San Francisco.
Edward Bennett Williams, at
torney for Mr.. Lamb, asked the
board for a hearing on the Hart
charges. Mr. Ellison said the
board wants to give each side
full opportunity to be heard.
but explained that the board
would not call witnesses. Thus
1t will be up to each side to
decide who appears and what
will be said.
Knockout Blow Possible
If the board invalidates the
Lamb petitions. the anti-organ-
ization slate will be dealt a
knockout blow. Chairman Ellison
said under the law for the Dis
trict elections a write-in vote
would mean nothing because the
board can certify as elected only
persons whose names are on the
official ballot.
Mr.. Hart charged that Mr..
Lamb improperly obtained sig
natures for the petition of his
candidates and he submitted the
aft1davits of two private inves-
tigators" to back up the charge.
Hits "Underhanded" Method
Mr.. Lamb issued a statement
in which he called Mr.. Harris
procedure "underhanded He
denounced the hiring of detec-
tives and declared it to be proof
that Chairman Hart is a "des-
picable boss politician, afraid to
let the people vote on the issues. =
The chairman had a quick re-
tort.
"All this invective,' he said,
"tends to indicate the violations
are true and that he Lamb
is trying to hide behind invec-
tive to excuse his violations"
The essence of the controversy
Is this: Chairman Hart charged
after prolonged conference with
other local G. o. P. leaders, that
Mr.. Lamb solicited signatures to
a petition which left blank spaces
for candidates names to be filled
IN later.
Questions sc Signatures
Through the affidavits of the
"private Investigators" Mr.. Hart
seeks to prove that at least sc
signatures on the petitions were
obtained illegally.
Mr.. Hart declared the viola
tions" of the voting laws he
complained of were substantive
and "of a most serious nature. "
1.-THE regulations were de-
signed by the Board of Elections
to protect the integrity of the
elections. to protect the voter
who signed a petition against
having names he had not in
dorsed inserted over his sigma
ture." the chairman said.
1T is particularly to be re-
GREETED that, in our first official
election in 81 years Cin the Dis
trict). the law and regulations
should be abused and fouted at
the very first step in the election
process"
Mr.. Lamb called this Boss
Harris dying-gasp attempt to
hang on to the fast-slipping
Sn;,ar &c