Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-07
Arlington AIM
Move Hailed
ByLedders
GosneII Stutes
Fuction Has
Been Dissolved
BY SAM EASTMAN
star stan Writer

The disbandment of Arling-
toms conservative coalition or
ganization was hailed today by
Democratic and Republican
party leaders as a step toward
return Of q two-party county
board election.
However, ofiicials Of the
county's liberal splinter group
said they had no intention
of voting their organization
out Of existence.
The conservative group, Ar
Iington Independent Move
ment, announced yesterday
that it was suspending activi-
ties
AIMS general chairman.
Fred Gosnell. jr., said the ac-
ton was taken because of
strong feeling that the county
board should be returned to
the Republican and Democratic
parties.
AIM was formed in 1852
when three county board
members representing the lib
eral nonpartisan group were
ousted by court order because
they were Federal employees.
The new conservative organ
ization. which announced it
was forming as an emergency
measure to restore good gov
eminent. went on to win all
three seats.
Abe Formed in IS
In 1855 the liberals formed
O new coalition group under
the name Arlingtonians for a
Better County.
The Democrats won their last
board seat in 1858 and have
not run a candidate since the
following year. The last Re-
publican county board victory
was in 1852. A G. o. P. candi-
date entered the race last year
but later withdrew.
In the current campaign.
Mrs. Leone Buchholz, who has
won twice as the AIM candi-
date, announced her candidacy
for reelection without specify
ing whether she would seek an
organizations support or run
as an independent. ABC has
nominated Leo Urbanske, jr.
Also in the race are two indie
pendents, Russell L. Runyon
and Stan Stanton.
Today, Ernest L. Lyons,
Arlington Democratic Executive
Committeeman, said AIMS dis
bandment has FASTENED the
day" when the two national
parties will be back in the
county board races.
The next move in that direc-
ton, he said, would be a revi-
sion of the Hatch Act so that
Federal workers can take an
active role in Democratic and
Republican Party campaigning.
This limitation has not applied
to either coalition group be-
cause they do not carry a
national party label.
Mr.. Lyons explained that a
study of possible Hatch Act
changes is now being made by
a Housing Elections Subcom-
mittee. Hearings are planned
in both nearby Virginia and
Maryland in the near future,
he said.
David Gordon, the G. o. P.
chairman, also said the deci-
sion by AIM leaders is "a step
in the right direction" for the
two-party system.
If the Democrats put up q
candidate, the Republicans will
follow suit, he said.
The chairmen of the Demo-
cratic and Republican Execu-
tive Committees said today that
Mr.. Gosnell was in error on a
statement that both parties in
dorsed AIM at the time of its
formation.
In the past, Mr.. Gordon has
urged elimination of the two
coalition groups which, he said,
are responsible for generating
bitter factionalism within the
county.
Death Discounted
However, an ABC spokesman,
County Board Vice Chairman
David L. Krupsaw, said the
liberal coalition has no inten-
ton of fading out.
"As long as forward-l looking,
progressive people yearn for
responsible government in Ar
lington and as long as respon-
sible people want to afford
Federal employees a maximum
opportunity to take part in
their community government,
ABC will live"
Mr.. Krupsaw added that he
agrees with the Hatch Acts
basic principle-that Federal
employees should not be "en-
couraged or compelled" to cam
paign for "perpetuation of the
particular incumbent political
naYfv -