Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1962-07-26
Spectrum
The Observer

Don Claggett's resignation as
precinct chairman a harbingel
of things to come to the party
as a result of the State Contra
Committees by-passing influen
tial Democrats in other factions
when it made appointments to
the partys House OF Delegates
slate?
Claggett ran in the primary
on the MahOney-Lee ticket
and missed nomination by II
votes. As precinct chairman
and vice chairman for ten
years in the GlenmOnt-Whea-
ton area, he is a party wheel
horse of no small proportions.
When the State Central Com
mittee sideswiped him, he
made no bones about his feel
ing on the matter. In short,
he lost no time saying he
should have been given prime
consideration" that he doesn't
think he can work with the
present State Central Com.
mittee. UpshOt was - he
turned in his precinct chair
man resignation.
Claggett's action is first pub
lie testimony that the bitter
three-way primary split among
the Democrats is carrying over
into the general election. 1t is
seen by some as forerunner OF
Others to develop as the liberal
element in control of the State
Central Committee attempts to
turn its hold on party reins into
a showdown fight with middle.
of-the-roaders and conservatives
in the party.
Still others see committee &C
ton as manifestation of "pitre
female spite" a0hich would TGth.
er grind q personal dTe for per-
SonaL graldges than look to the
more objective matter of strong
Vote-getterS for the party.
These same strategists say
the female-dominated seven
member committee has fallen
into "the hands of the smart
girls and that peevishly-pet,
fish petticoat brigade lacks the
kind of political sagacity needed
to pull a party together for a
general election.
The political forecasters of a
big blow in the Democratic
party see the def and adroit
hand of State Sen. Margaret
Schweinhaut in State Central
Committee appointments and
say general Democratic indig-
nation will best be seen in No.
vember by the size of the vote
cast for COP State Senate can
didate Gilbert Guide.
One upper county business
man, long active in party af-..
fairs, currently is taking the
Schweinhaut influence i'm the
appointments so much to
heart, he is giving discreet
voice lat this time) to a pro-
posed Democrats for Guide or.
ganizatiOn.
Louis B. Buttell, Democratic
voter of Silver Spring, voices
other democratic opinion by
saying "The committee should
take notice that many Mont
gomery County Democrats. in
GLIDING myself and all those
am able to influence, will show
their opinion of the Commit
tees defiance of popular opin-
ion by refusing TO support its
selections in the November
election"
Blair Lee, by-pdSsed By the
committee, has sounded a lCdrn.
ing note in the direction Of Com
nlittee chairman Anne Brown
BIZ saying Of the November
election, "ItB Mrs. BrolUn's ball
game"
Republicans interested In
eiecting Republicans to office in
November are hoping no special
Significance will be attached to
the early return of Brent Bozell
to Montgomery County. Bozell,
red-headed right-winger with a
red-headed wife and several red.
headed youngsters. ran for
House Of Delegates four years
ago, chiefly beating the tom
toms for right-to-work legisla.
ton. The less conservative
members of the COP were none
too happy with his candidacy at
that time. Now Bozell is about
to return home from Spain,
hell bent for hartford, with
an explosive manuscript in hand
which will be published in book
form. The title is reported to be
"Why Earl Warren should be
Impeached."