Evening star., 1941-08-05
Virginia Votes
For Democratic
Nominees Today
Less Than l75,000
Ballots Forecast;
Few Local Contests


the polls today a primary campaign
notable chiefly for its lack of local
contests.
A light vote of less than $4,000
Is expected to be cast in the selec-
tion of a Governor, Lieutenant Gov
ernor, 81 candidates for the House
Of Delegates and a few local candi-
dates. The polls opened at sunrise,
5:12 am, and the balloting will
continue until sunset at tbs pm.
Republican candidates will be Sc
lected at convention in Roanoke
August % to oppose the Democratic
nominees in the fall general elec-
ton.
In the race for Governor the
choice will lie among State Senator
Hunsdon Cary of Henrico County,
former Representative Colgate w.
Darden, jr., of Norfolk and State
Senator Vivian L. Page, also of Nor
folk. The principal issues have
been Democratic organization sup
port and the poll tax.
Two Contests Nearby.
State Senator William M. Tuck of
South Boston and Moss A. Plunkett,
prominent in Roanoke County pub
lie education activities for many
years, are the opposing candidates
for Lieutenant Governor. All five
of the candidates for Governor and
Lieutenant Governor are attorneys.
In the nearby area only two con-
tests are offered. Delegate Francis
Pickens Miller in his campaign for
denomination in Fairfax County is
opposed by Charles Pickett. In
Alexandria, Police Court Judge
James R. Duncan is opposed for re-
nomination by Attorney Stanley
King.
Attorney General A. P. Staples
has no opposition in the Demo-
cratic primary.
The three candidates for Governor
all took to the microphones last
night for final reStatement of their
platforms and last minute debate
over the part the States Democratic
organization which United States
Senator Byrd heads has had in the
campaign.
Denies Byrd's Charge.
Mr.. Darden strongly denied a
charge that Senator Byrd had vetoed
at a meeting in Washington inclu-
sion in his platform of proposals to
eliminate the poll tax as prerequi-
site to voting and to indorse Presi-
dent Roosevelt's policies. There is
not the slightest truth'in the report ~
he said.
Mr.. Page and Mr.. Cary reiterated
In Statewide broadcast from
Richmond their assertions that Mr..
Darden represented State political
dictatorship" which should be over
thrown.
Our government is in danger" ="
said Mr.. Cary, and it can be re-
stored only by wrestling it from the
hand of political machine and re-
storing it to the people"
The States liquor stores were
closed today, but State Offices and
business establishments were open.
Both Mr.. Darden and Mr.. Tuck,
each of whom, incidentally. is A
years old, have been identified with
the Democratic organization, and
Mr.. Page and Mr.. Cary have
charged repeatedly that Mr.. Dar-
den, who resigned from Congress to
make the race, was the hand-picked
candidate of the Senator Byrd wing
Of the party.
Page Works Independently.
Mr.. Plunkett has campaigned ex-
tensively with Mr.. Cary, stressing an
expanded school program and abo-
lition of the poll tax as a pre-
requisite to voting. Mr.. Tuck has
appeared number of times with
Mr.. Darden at campaign rallies.
Mr.. Page has worked independent
ly and has spent the past week
touring large part of the State
in red, white and blue sound
truck.
Some of the fireworks of the final
campaign days was prompted by an
account in the Portsmouth Star,
quoted by Mr.. Cary, which said Mr..
Darden and others attended meet
ing in Senator Byrds office to dis
cuss Darden platform. Mr.. Dar-
den, in an interview last week at
Bristol, said the whole story is
without foundation in fact and is
wholly untrue" E. r. Combs, Dem
ocratic National Committeeman,
and Mr.. Staples, named by the pa
per as others attending the meet
ing, also declared no such meet
ing took place.
All three candidates for Governor
have appeared in substantial agree
ment on some of the major planks,
such as the school program, penal
reforms, consolidation of the high
way system and consideration of a
State employees retirement system.
Defense First, Says Darden.
Mr.. Darden, who has maintained
that national defense should take
precedence over a State program,
said if he is elected he planned no
recommendations in regard to the
present requirement for prepayment
of three years poll taxes as a pre-
requisite to voting. Both Mr.. Cary
and Mr.. Page have urged abolition
of the tax as prerequisite. and Mr..
Plunkett has advocated the same
change.
Mr.. Darden has recommended en-
1argement of the Highway Commits
sion from five to nine members and
the addition of 200 men to the State
police force.
A midmorning survey indicated
that the forecasts of a light vote
would be confirmed. At Alexan-
dria, where supporters of the op-
posing candidates for the Police
Court judgeship brought umbrellas
to protect them from the sun during
their vigil near the polls, about
935 ballots had been cast, the high
est recorded in the nearby area.
Little activity could be noted at
u,