Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-07
Arlington S Voters
Flock 10 Polls in
Heavy BaNoting
Hot Campaign Whets
Interest; Fairfax County
Voting Normal
BY JACK ALLEN.

The Virginia electorate swung
into action today to fill State legis-
lative seats and important local
governmental posts.
While voteless Washingtonians
once more sat by idly and watched
proceedings, their suburban neigh
bors beat march to the polls,
which began promptly at sunup and
promised to continue uninterrupted
until shutdown.
Unusually heavy balloting this
morning forecast record turnout
in Arlington County, where sharp
interest has been kindled by scorch-
ing fights between score of rival
of11ceseekers and referendum on
the establishment of municipal
power system.
Veteran judges and clerks, point
Ing to throngs streaming in and
out of their booths, declared that in
all probability 5000 or more tax
payers would vote before doors of
the polling places are snapped shut
at Sol pm.
The District Commissioners an
nounced today that municipal en-
ployes have two hours leave of alb
sence to vote in Virginia.
Interest Famed by Campaign.
Seldom has the community across
the Potomac gone through a cam
paign eoualing the intensity of that
closed by today's election-a cam
palgn which virtually obliterated
party lines-and its effect upon the
electorate was attested by the early
morning crowds.
Contrasting wildly to the situa-
ton in Arlington, where Democrats
Republicans and Independents alike
flgure as potential winners in close
battles, the election is proceeding
at only a normal pace in Fairfax
County, while balloting is light in
Alexandria city
Strength demonstrated by the
Democratic ticket, indicating can
didates of that party may success
fully sweep all Offices, together with
the fact there is only one contest
over places on the siX-man Board
Of Supervisors, tended to keep down
voting in Fairfax.
Perfunctory in Alexandria.
In Alexandria the election is pure
ly a perfunctory affair, with two
unopposed Democrats, William D.
Medley of Arlington County and
Maurice D. Rosenberg of Alexan-
drla, running for the State Senate
and the House of Delegates, re-
spectively. the only candidates on
the ballot.
Many of those who voted this
morning remained outside the pre-
cincts to look on and some appeared
intent to stay on until the vote is
tabulated. Complete returns are
expected to be in by midnight in
Arlington and slightly earlier in
Fairfax.
Representative Seats at Stake.
Both counties are to elect their
representatives in the State As
sembly for the next four years and
in addition will name full stats of
local officials with the exception of
Circuit Court clerks. Both clerks
will hold over.
Only two of Northern Virginia's
four seats in the State Assembly are
involved in contests, due to the lack
OF opposition to Mr. Medley, who
will represent Arlington, Fairfax
and Prince William Counties and
Alexandria city in the Senate, and
Mr. Rosenberg. whom Alexandria is
sending back to the House.
Opponents for Arlington Countys
place in the House are Charles Fen
wick, Democratic candidate for the
seat previously held by Mr.. Medley,
and Bryan Gordon, jr., Republican,
while Francis Pickens Miller, Demo-
cratic incumbent, and Col. R. R.
Farr, Republican, are rivals for
Fairfax's place in the House.
Unquestionably SURPRISING other
Northern Virginia contests in in
terest is the rivalry between Charles
T. Jesse, Democratic incumbent, and
John Locke Green, Republican NOM
inee, over the formers position as
Arlington County treasurer.
High Light Among Issues.
Their fight has held the center
OF the stage during the greater part
OF the fall, even in the face of
vigorous races for the five seats on
the County Board and other county
jobs, and the war between opponents
and proponents of the projected
bond issue for financing a county,
owned electric distribution system.
Another race receiving a great
deal of attention is the one between
Ben M. Hedrick, Republican in
cumbent and Homer R. Thomas,
Democratic nominee, who are run
ming for judge of the Arlington
Police Court.
Until a short while ago it ap-
peared both Mr.. Jesse and Judge
Hedrick would be returned easy
winners over their rivals, but sur
prising gains Mr. Green and Mr..
Thomas appear to have made re-
Gently place the results of both con-
tests In extreme doubt.
In many quarters of Virginia the
Democratic machines headed by
United States Senator Harry F.
Byrd and Gov. James H. Price have
made the poll tax primary issue in
their quest for legislative seats, the
Byrd organization hoping to gain
control of the new State Assembly
80 as to preserve the levy, and the
Price group aspiring to control so
1t may effect repeal
Claim G. o. p. Vote Courted.
1t has been openly charged that
both sides are counting the Repub-
lican vote where no Republicans are
IN the race to bring about defeat