The Washington times., 1929-07-26
To STAI
BOLTNNG SAYS
HOOKER

j. Murray Hooker, chairman
Of the Virginia State Central
Democrats committee, has, Is
sued 4 reply to the recent state
ment Of the Rev. David Hep
burn, superintendent Of the
Virginia AntiSaIoOn League,
in which Hepburn advised all
Democrats to 90 in the pri-
mary Of August s and in the
general election and vote for
whoever they pleased if they
were not satisfied with the
choice Of the majority.
Hooker said that there was moth
ing save honor and good morals to
keep q voter from going into the
Democratic primary and then voting
against the nominees in the general
election. He added that he had great
pride in the high sense Of moral
obligations Of Virginia people.
Few Would Bolt
He said that it was his belief that
there would be few, Ii any. who
would enter the primary and then
not abide BY the result Of the
majority
Hooker, who Is prominent Xtr-
ginia lawyer. said In answer to Hep.
burns statement that Jude CrOner
had declared the Virginia primary
law unconstitutional, that the judse's
decision pertained only to one clause
in the law, and that was limiting the
right to vote in Democratic primaries
to white soters He said that the
constitutionality Of other provisions
In the act were not involved Ii, the
case at issue.
The Rev. Mr.. Hepburn issued i
statement yesterday in answer to
the reports that have been carried
throughout Virginia. and said that
his statement has been miscun.
stfued, and that he had been Ser.
roneously reported advocating ali
Democrats to enter the primary and
then vote q they pieae.
Paid by state
The Antf.SaIoon League head
stated that, due to- the fact that thin
primary was paid for out Of the
funds OF the State treasury, and
not from the treasury of the Demo
cratic party. It absolved q citizen
Of any moral obligation to vote fnr
the nominees of the primary.
His latest statement II al tel
lows:
Il have been erroneously r..
ported as advocating all Demo
Gratis TO enter the primary
never advised anyone to do Wlaak
am unwilling ID a. n1yseI9. and
have not made up my mind
whether to participates or not in
the primary next Tuesday week.
Ny letter was for the infornaa-
tion of great many citizens who
want to vote for candidate Tor
some local office like that DC
treasurer. Commonwealth alter
ney. or member of the senate or
legislature, who did not want 20
be under either legal or moral
Obligation 70 vote for the caYidi-
date OF the primary for governor.
Free TO Chose
MY contention Is that accord
ing to the law and the interpre-
tation thereof by the attorney
general, any Democrat who voted
against Governor Smith in No
ve;nber. 1928. can enter the pri.
mary and vote for any candfdake
for office, and scratch any other
| he does not wish to vote for. and
be perfectly free to vote for any
candidate OF his choice for goH.
ernor In the general election.
ANY citizen who participates In
the primary is under no legal or
moral obligation to vote for alI Of
the nominees of the primary but
only for those candidates Tor
which he voted in the primary and
not for the candidates for these
offices that he scratched In the
primary.
Can Vote for Either
In other words II citizen
scratches the candidates for gov
ernor In the Democratic primary.
he can vote for either the Demo
cratic nominee or the anti. Smith.
/ Republican nominee for governor
| In the general election
THE pronoun us In my former
/ statement WIS the writer's per-
sonaI pronounJ The entire state
ment gives my own personal views,
as was given on the same subject
in 1928, which was confirmed by
the attorney general and others