The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-07-02
FRACTIONAL
SPLIT IS
BIT TER

The "short ballot" looms as
the paramount issue of the
political campaign now being
waged in Virginia. There is
division of all factions of
both predominant parties as
to their positions.
There are mainly three amend
ments to the Virginia constitution
comprising the short ballot, and
they concern the appointment Of the
commissioner OF agriculture and
immigration. the superintendent of
public instruction, and the State
\ treasurer.
Heretofore they have been elected
BY popular vote, but under the
terms Of the oshort ballot. they are
appointed by the governor, subject
to the confirmation Of the general
assembly. These amendments were
ratified June 1898.
Fight is Bitter
The fight last year was bitter.
and some Democratic leaders oppos-
ing the amendments declare the
Republicans were responsible for
their enactment.
Robert Angel, State Republican
chairman. OF Roanoke. was APP
pointed by Gov. Harry Byrd on the
Reed commission, to make a survey
OF economic conditions Of the State
and recommend changes In the
State constitution.
Angel not only recommended the
"short ballot" but "stumped" the
State in its behalf, centering ms
campaign particularly on the Re-
publican -strongholds which turned
in. large ma jorities in favor Of the
amendments.
There were approximately 13b, 0OV
votes cast in the amendment nghI,
and the short ballot carried aE
follows: Commissioners of agri2ui-
ture and immigration, 1858; super.
intendent of public instruction, . e6l;
state treasurer, 2,449. giving an
average majority OF 1856.
Opposed BY Mapp
This majority clearly shows, the
Democratic opponents declare, that
they were ratified by Republican
ana not Democratic voters.
Mapp. the Democratic guberno'
torial aspirant, who is opposing tile
"short ballot" says the Democratic
party as such has never declared
itself in favor of the amendments.
and that not half Of the electorate
of the State voted at all. He said
il was a cruel joke the Republican
perpetrated on their Democratic
allies in putting the amendments
over. They are not Democratic.
Mapp declared.
Pollard, the other leading Demo-
cratic candidate for governor, is m
hearty accord with the short bal
lot" as his platform carries out the
present administration policies, but
he and his supporters deny that it
a. an issue and they have attempted
to evade it from all angles, and
whenever presented.
Henry W. Anderson, Republican
leader of Richmond. member of
President Hoover's commission for
law observance and enforcement,
stated that it is clearly definite
issue.
Anderson Emphatic
ANY invasion of the rights of the
people Is always an issue, he hotly
declared.
1T deprives the people of their
rights to choose their servants,
Anderson asserted. 1T is a definite
step in the conversion of the now
existing oligarehy into an autocracy
which will deeply entrench the
Democratic organization in control
OF the. State regardless OF. the will
Of the poole. .
with Anderson and his supporters
against the amendments, and Angel
and his supporters for. Democratic
leaders feel that it win help their
cause, provided the Democrats can
effect harmony.
The anti-Smith Democrats at
tackled the short ballot" very bit
terly at their convention in Roa.
noke, and pledged their whole
hearted support in. an attempt to
have the amendments repealed,
g. o. P. Pledges Repeal
The Republican convention in
Richmond last week clearly showed
its position by the following plank
In the Republican platform:
I'VE especially condemn the so:
called Short ballot amendment
adopted in 1928 as definite effort
to establish a political autocracy in
Virginia and to maintain control
Of the State by the Democratic or
ganization.' We pledge ourselves
to an effort to secure the repeal
Of the amendment and to restore
to the people as soon as possible
the right thus taken from them to
elect their own executive officers to
CONDUCT their hlsinessH