Evening star., 1940-06-24
Wi||kie Will Get Votes
OF Maryland Virginia,
Delegates Predict /.
Free State Unit Pledged
To Dewey on First Ballot,
May Swing Away Later
BY WILL P. KENNEDY,
Star Stan Correspondent,

PHILADELPHIA, June 2i.--Mem-
bers OF the Maryland and Virginia
delegations to the Republican Ma
tional Convention predicted today
that their votes will eventually be
cast for Wendell Willkie. The Mary
land delegation, with Is votes, and
under the unit rule, is instructed to
vote for Thomas Dewey on the first
ballot.
Former Gov. Nice said that If Mr..
Dewey gains on the second ballot
the Maryland delegation will con-
tinue to support him. Among the
Maryland delegates the question
seemed to be when they would swing
to Mr.. Willkie. Mr.. Nice said no poll
of the delegates has been taken and
that it is only guess how they
will divide or when, and that If Mr..
Dewey continues to gain strength
he can count on Maryland
An independent poll made by
some members of the delegation,
however, showed a preference of II
for Mr.. Willkie and an anti-Nice
group of four sticking with Mr..
Dewey. Those four were said to
be Paul Robertson, Mrs. Karl F.
Steinmann, James c. Jenkins and
DR.. J. Leslie Jones-all of Baltimore
w. David Tilghman, jr., also Of
Baltimore, was said to be unpre-
dictable.
Free After First Ballot.
There is nothing in the resolution
which instructed the Maryland dele
cation to vote for Mr.. Dewey on the
first ballot to hold them after that
trial OF strength. In effect, it re-
leased them to vote for such candi-
date as the majority Of the delega-
ton might determine. The present
plan is to wait and see what hap
pens, as Maryland is well down on
the list OF States, and thus in a
position to take advantage of the
shifts made by other States.
The Virginia delegation caucaused
until after midnight. National
Committeeman Henry A. Wise OF
Kiptopeke said no poll had been
taken and none will be taken before
tomorrow at the earliest. It was
decided to caucus every morning
before the convention meets, start
ing tomorrow. Virginia does not
vote under the unit rule and the 18
votes are expected to be scattered
among several candidates-espe-
cially on the first ballot. Members
of the delegation said that Senator
Taft would probably get eight or 10
votes on the first ballot, Mr.. Willkie
five or more, Mr.. Dewey two to four,
and Senator Bridges one.
Green to Second Bridges.
That vote will be cast by John
Locke Green of Arlington, who will
second the nomination of Senator
Bridges. Some members of the dele
cation claimed that on the third or
fourth ballot the votes would shift
to Mr.. Willkie. Virginia, further
down than Maryland on the roll
call, is in position to be guided by
trends. 1t is evident that majority
OF the Virginia delegates have not
yet made up their minds how they
will vote.
Clarence r. Ahalt of Arlington
last night was elected chairman of
the delegation and former State
Senator Ryland G. Craft of Gate
City secretary. The caucus deferred
action on election of a national COM
mitteenan and committeewoman
to succeed Mr.. Wise and Mrs. Muir
ray Boocock, Keswick.
Mr. Wise was elected a member OF
the Convention Resolutions Com
mittee, on which he has been serv-
ing informally.
Others elected to committees were
Lester Parsons, Norfolk, credentials:
T. x. Parsons, Roanoke, permanent
organization; Joseph c. Shaffer,
Wytheville, rules; Sam L. Bur-
roughs, Portsmouth. honorary vice
president of the National Com
mittee.