Evening star., 1962-05-02
Democrats
Soften Blows
AfMeetinu

used their gentlest words Of
rebuke last night as they
pleaded their cases before the
League Of Women Voters and
q group Of PARENT Teacher As
sociations.
In q primary campaign which
has produced some violent
charges, the insurgent Inde-
pendent Democrats calmly stat
ed what they thought was
wrong with the county's Board
Of Commissioners, and what
their candidates would dc
about 1t.
The Democratic Organization
candidates for the board-four
Of the five are incumbents-
used equal calm In stating why
they should be returned to
office. Although the meeting
was billed as bipartisan. only
one Republican candidate, for
mer Commissioner Edward J.
Waters, appeared.
The Independent Democrats,
pledged to oust the organiza-
ton led by former Representa-
tive Lansdale q. Sasscer, said: I:
1. They would create IAN en-
tirely new climate for educa-
ton" in the county. Commits
sioner Candidate MRS. Gladys
N. Spellman, their education
spokesman. said they would
remove the school board from
politics by taking board ap-
pointment out Of the hands of
party central committees and
leave board nominations to the
public.
Kindergartens Sought
Mrs. Spellman also said her
ticket would include kinder
gartens in the public school
program. and would improve
the quality of education. She
said additional special classes
for both gifted and retarded
students should be considered,
and that foreign languages
should be taught in elementary
schools. She also made a plea
for higher teacher salaries.
Teacher turnover is expen-
sive," she said" Acting as q
training ground for teachers
who go elsewhere for more
money is downright ridiculous. I"
2. Prince Georges was be-
hind Montgomery County in
the number Of county police
men and in progress on q re-
gional library program. Com
missioner candidate Robert p.
Sutphin said. 1t was more ex-
pensive, as far as taxes was
concerned, to live in Prince
Georges than in Montgomery,
because citizens had to pay for
kindergarten and other services
provided in Montgomery under
tax-supported programs.
Curb on Rezonings
3. The Independents were
J pledged to uphold master plans
: for the county, and that "zon-
|. . ing exceptions should be just
: that-the exception. not the
! rule"
> The Organization candidates
said:
l.. They have kept the county
tax rate down, and yet pro-
vided essential services and ex-
panded them as the county's
population increased.
2. They had established O
junior college and were looking
for land near Oxon Hill for q
permanent site. Commission
er Herbert w. Reichelt said the
commissioners were also plan
ming for . second junior college
in the Laurel area.
8. The strength Of the police
department has doubled dur
ing the Organizations last four
year administration. Commits
Sioner Bayne Brooke said the
county had established the first
canine corps in the State, and
was planning q new police SUBJ
station for the Oxon Hill area.
In q question period, Jesse
s. Baggett, chairman Of the
board Of commissioners, said
he knew Of no steps being
taken to establish q human
relations commission to handle
county racial matters. "If any
group wants to start one" he
said. "let them go right ahead
and start one"
Dispute Develops
Mrs. Spellman retorted that
such a commission should be
established by the county, and
! asked Mr.. Baggett. "What are
you waiting for the (racial)
! situation to get worse"
Commissioner Frank ]. Last
] ner and Mrs. Spellman pro-
duced the only major dispute
when they argued about an
insurgent claim that the COM
miSsioners had turned down q
$4,000 price on q library site
and later bought the same site
for $33. 900.
Mr.. LaStner claimed the
commissioners were never offered
4 laW