Evening star., 1938-08-02
SMITH AND. D0DD
BACKERS THR0NC
TO CAST BALLOTS
Spirited New Deal Test
Expected to Bring
Record Vote.
NATIONAL INTEREST
CENTERED UPON RACE
Many in Arlington Disqualified
for Failure to Pay Poll
Tax on Time.
Story OF other States hold
ing primaries today on Page
AS.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.


Aroused by the first spirited Demo-
cratic primary contest in 10 years.
thousands of voters in the nearby
eighth Virginia Congressional Dis
.trict crowded the polls today-either
to return Representative Howard w.
Smith to the House for fifth term,
or to give his seat to the youthful
William E. Dodd, jr.. son the the
former Ambassador to Germany.
Voting was reported unusually
heavy throughout the widespread
district, despite overcast skies in some
sections and threats of thunderstorms
in others. Every indication points to
record vote.
No reports Of disorder came from
any Of the polling places, many of
which were surrounded with both
Smith and Dodd supporters.
. AS the voterss went to the polls,
the political eyes Of the Nation
centered temporarily on the contest
because of the significance of its
outcome politically
Issues in Race.
Mr.. Dodd. an avowed New Dealer,
has campaigned under the slogan
that vote for him will be a vote
for President Roosevelt Representa-
tive Smith, who has been criticized
for failure to support several major
features Of the administration pro-
gram, has insisted he will continue,
if reelected. to follow the dictates Of
his best judgment. and not be a
mere 'automaton" for the New Deal.
Just across the Potomac in Arling-
ton County. a reputed Dodd strong
hold because of its large population
of New Deal Government workers,
the early vote was said to have been
unprecedently large in nearly all II
precincts. Many of the ballots were
those Of absentee voters-a fact which
is indicative Of the interest shown
in the contest elsewhere in the district.
The vote in Arlington, however, will
not be as large as possible due to
disqualification of a number of reg
istered voters for failure to pay their
poll tax in time. More than 1000
voters in two of the largest precincts
in the county-Clarendon precincts
No. and No. 2-Were disqualified
for this reason.
Nevertheless, the qualified voters in
Arlington turned out in large numbers
In the first Clarendon precinct l78 of
the $50 qualified had cast their ballots
by 1890 am. There are / 200 quail
if1ed voters in the second Clarendon
precinct. and at the same hour 269
had cast their ballots The Arlington
precinct reported 279 had voted before
10 O'Clock.
Heavy Ballot Expected.
In the Virginia Highlands precinct,
however, the early vote by comparison
was light. Only 146 had voted there at
10 O'Clock. but heavy ballot is ex-
pected late in the afternoon. when
persons employed in Washington re-
turn home.
Early voting in Alexandria. largest
municipality in the district, was not
as heavy as anticipated, but was run
ming ahead of other congressional
primaries in the last decade: Poll Of
f1cialS, however, expect the heaviest
balloting during the midday lunch
hour and between and pm, when
Government workers return home.
In the fifth Alexandria ward, where
Mr.. Smith lives. 268 had voted at 8
am. This particular ward has 600
qualified voters, of whom Smith sup
porters claim IS per cent.
In the second ward, which has 500
voters. only Sc had appeared before 8
o'clock. The sixth ward reported 210
had voted at o'clock This figure
includes 80 absentee ballots.
Precincts in Fairfax County also re-
ported the vote was running heavier
than in past congressional primaries.
Start at Sunrise.
The parade to the polls started a.
sunrise, shortly after S am. and will
continue until sunset. Although Vir-
ginia does not use voting machines. a
short ballot in the eighth district will
permit hasty tabulation of the re-
turns, and the outcome of the contest
(see VIRGINIA, Page A-5.)