Evening star., 1939-07-31
JusticeContest
High Light Of
Arlington Vote
II Democrats Seeking
Five County Board
Nominations

NOmln0tIOnS
With the principal contest be-
tween two candidates for trial lus-
tice, Arlington County (Va) voters
will go to the polls from sunrise to
sunset tomorrow to cast their palots
in the August Democratic primary.
Polling places will open at 5 am.
and will close at 7:20 pm.
Political observers predict that
not many more than 5000 votes
will be cast in the county.
Five nominees for the County
Board and one for trial justice are
the only Offices that voters are asked
to name The names of Sheriff
Howard B. Fields, Commonwealth
Attorney Lawrence w. Douglas,
Commissioner of Revenue Harry K.
Green and Treasurer C. T. Jesse
will not appear on the ballots be-
cause they were unopposed and have
already been declared their party's
nominees for the November 7 cleo
ton.
In addition, the names of William
D. Medley, who is running for the
seat to be vacated by State Senator
John Rust, and Charles R. FenWick,
who is running for seat to be vacated
by Delegate Medley in the Virginia
General Assembly, will not appear
because they, also, are unopposed in
the Democratic race.
Trial Justice Contest.
While the five places on the Coun-
ty Board are considered to be the
most important Offices to be filled
because the body controls the county
government, the principal contest
has been waged by the two candi-
dates for trial justice.
The magisterial candidates are
George P. Grove and Homer Ran
dolph Thomas.
There are IL candidates for the
County Board. They are F. Free
land Chew, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Ma
gruder, William A. E. McShea,
George Yeatman, all incumbents.
and Lorenzo D. Donaldson, Edmund
D. Campbell, Minor J. Kavanaugn,
Leo Lloyd, Basil DeLashmutt,
Thomas R. Mechem and Henry c.
Saffell.
In a weekend statement, Mr..
Campbell advocated a reduction in
gas and electric rates in Arlington
County that will bring them into
conformity with those in other
metropolitan areas of Washington.
A former chairman of the Airing
ton County Public Utilities Com
mission, Mr.. Campbell led a sue
cessful fight for lower gas and elec-
trio rates. He declared there is no
reason why these rates should not
be reduced still further and prom
! lsed, If elected, to renew his efforts
for another cut
Stresses County's Needs.
Mr.. Campbell also pointed out the
county needs curbing and side
walks, better lighting, more and
better streets. and increased school
facilities to take care of its ever
growing population. Unsightly poles
likewise must be removed and the
wires of the public utility corpora
tions placed underground, he said,
if the county "is to attain it's full
stature as beautiful place in
which to live
A master plan for future devel-
opment of Arlington already has
been prepared, Mr.. Campbell said,
and this should be carried out in
orderly fashion and on a "pay-as-
you-go basis"
Mr.. Fenwick, who is chairman of
the County Democratic Central
Committee, said today: Arlington
County for the first time finds itself
going into primary without the
major Office holders having opposi-
ton. This unusual situation should
react to the benefit of the county as
whole. Heretofore the campaign
made by major Office holders has
overshadoWed the selecting of the
County Board, with the result that
the board candidates have been
showed into the background. Under
the present situation, there is no
excuse for the electorate not having
every opportunity to consider not
only the record of the incumbent
members, but those seeking places
on the board.
With all due difference to the
major Offices, the County Board is
the most important because it Sc
lects the county manager. formu-
lates the policies and adopts the
budget which fixes the tax rate.
With more than $4,000 persons hav-
ing paid their poll taxes there is no
reason why major portion of the
people should not enter the primary
and select five persons for the most
important Office in Arlington
County"
Election officials today delivered
last-minute warning to voters
that the ballot system is by affirma-
tive and not negative voting. Sew
eral years ago the names of candi-
dates to be rejected were scratched
through with lines. This method
has been discontinued.
On the ballots to be distributed
tomorrow there will appear the
names of the II board candidates
and the two justice office seekers.
Squares are placed at the left of
each name and the voter should
mark an "X'' in this square by the
name of the candidate he wishes
to vote for. Only one of the judge
candidates may be thus marked and
not more than five of the County
Board candidates may be so desig-
mated. 1t is legal to vote for less
than five board candidates, if de-
sired.
In Fairfax County, where heavy
voting is anticipated. large num-
Der OF absentee ballots has been
sent out to voters. Persons who
have not yet registered may do so
tomorrow and be eligible to vote
provided their capitation taxes were