Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-06
EXPECT LESS THAN 10000 VOTE
John Garland Pollard Apparent Fa-
vorite In GubernatOrial Contest.

vorite In GubernatOrial Contest.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
RICHMOND. Va, August 6.-Cul-
minating a quiet campaign. in which
the candidates for governor kept a wary
eye upon Republican plans for the
Autumn raid against intrenched De-
mocracy. the State Democratic primary
was in progress throughout Virginia to-
day. A total vote of less than 100000
was indicated.
The primary will decide whether
John Garland Pollard of Williamsburg.
G. Walter Mapp of Accomac or Rose
we'll Page of Hanover will meet the Re-
publican -Cannonite candidate, William
Mosely Brown of Lexington, in the bat
tie for the political control Of the State.
The relative qualifications OF the
three men to defeat the common foe OF
the Democratic cause provided the main
issues Of the primary campaign. nearly
all Of the intraparty fighting being In
the nature OF a tryout for the greater
fight to come.
John Garland Pollard remained the
apparent favorite as the polls opened at
sunrise today. His supporters claim
lead in excess of 100000.
Cannon Statement.
The big re-primary event in Wiz
Einia politics was the statement from
Washington yesterday of Bishop James
Cannon. jr, active head of the anti
smith party in Virginia and ally Of the
Republicans in the State contest this
Fail. Bishop Cannon's statement, in
terpreted by Democrats as last-min-
ute effort to reduce the number OF
Democrats participating in the primary,
caused little alarm in the ranks OF the
incumbent party, since they believed 1t
- h.
The statement also showed Bishop
Cannon, for one of the few times in
his long and successful career in Viz
Sfria politics. on the defensive.
As the primary campaign closed. the
three factions of the Democratic guber-
material contest peacefully merged into
the established State Democratic or
ganiEation and prepared to move along
already prepared lines In defense OF me
leaders are expecting a tremendous
fight and are watching the primary re-
turns anXiously for indications OF DEM
ocratic weakness.
Among the expected indices of new
Republican strength will be the differ
ence between the primary vote Tor gov
ernor In certain localities and the vote
for local tickets in those localities. me
Cannorite faction has sought to per-
susde the Democratic voters to remain
independent by not voting the guper-
Material ticket In the primary.
win Test Byrd Program.
The primary vote also Is expected to
be Q test of the popularity OF the Demo-
cratic State program Of progress begun
during the administration OF Gov
Harry r. Byrd. Mr.. Pollard has been
the administration candidate" in the
I1ic ctr aYnpnfan
show the popularity or unpopularity OF
the Byrd program.
The most unpopular move in this
program, largely legislative In It's origin,
vas the adoption Of amendments 10 the
constitution. providing for shorter
ballot IN Virginia. These changes were
approved by referendum In June, !s1S,
by q very small majority. The Mapp |
forces in the primary contest took an
auti-short ballot stand on the theory |
that a majority of Democratic voters |
disapproved of the short ballot amend |
mentS and still diSapprove OF them. |
This 10 another question that may be
settled-at least so far as the Demo-
Gratis are concerned-by the primary
vote.
Electioneering groups opposed to the !
tional efforts to throw monkey wrenches
into the machinery Of the Democratic |
primary, and even have gone so far as
claim that participation in the Demo- |
cratic party carries with it no obliga- |
taon to support the ticket named in the |
primary. Under the law persons may
vote In the primary provided they voted
Democratic in the State elections OF
1925. Some Of the voters who were |
Democratic In 1925 since have become
independents or Republicans.
Candidates Hopeful.
All three Democratic candidates for
Rpvernor expressed high hopes for the
result as the campaign ended.
The governorship Is the only contest
ed ONCE on the State ticket. James H.
Price of Richmond, candidate for lieu
tenant governor, was unopposed In the
primary, as was John r. Saunders, IN
cumbent attorney general.
The Republican-Cannonit coalition
is backing c. @. Berkeley Of Newport
News for attorney general, but there Is
no coalition candidate for lieutenant
governor. The Republican convention
nominated r. Walter Dickinson of Rus
sell County for this post, but their allies
did not tndorse him, nor did they name
q candidate.
In the last gubernatorial primary, in
AuGalst, 1925, the Democrats polled
ifl,6o6 votes. The Democratic vote In
the presidential election last year was
140,i46. In the Democratic primary OF
1921 the total vote was ISL ,098 and In
1ei7 the total vote was 1866.