Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 15, 1992                   TAG: 9203130236
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

COMPLAINTS OVER FEE AN UNNECESSARY FUSS

Despite the efforts of previous party chairmen, the Montgomery County Republican Party has been for a considerable time rather lackadaisical in its efforts, coming to life only when there was an exciting presidential or gubernatorial election.

Intraparty contests for local offices were virtually unheard of, and attendance at mass meetings was small. When financial disaster threatened, a handful of the party faithful would come to the rescue.

In the last year or so, this has changed. We now see intense competition for nomination even to local offices. This is a healthy sign that Montgomery County Republicans are no longer willing to let Democrats have everything unchallenged. But it also means a much more effective party organization will be needed to elect winners of the nominations. And a primary requisite for an effective organization is money!

Unlike the Democrats, local Republicans have few wealthy members to whom we may turn for large contributions. Under these circumstances we must rely on numerous small contributions to cover costs, including the expenses of mass meetings. A $5 fee for participating in a mass meeting is certainly not an excessive burden on those who take their politics - or their favorite candidates - seriously.

Nor is prefiling an excessive burden. It should greatly reduce the time involved in registering participants at the meeting.

Mr. Bell's campaign managers have been busily beating the bushes to get his probable supporters to prefile and pay their filing fees. Surely Mr. Weddle's supporters and Mr. Sheckler's are no less capable!

I, for one, can see no good reason for the objections that have been raised.\ Thomas Ozro MacAdoo\ Blacksburg