Evening star., 1944-04-23
Two Alexandria
f actions Push
Vote on Council
Tuesdays BoIIoting
To Decide on Ward,
At-lorqe Issue

With the referendum on chang
ing the method of electing Alex
City Council set for Tues
day. both factions were busy this
week end making last-minute drives
for votes.
The election, authorized by the
State Legislature, will decide
whether the city Is to retain its
present council form of six ward
and three at-large members, or
change to a seven-man at-large
council.
A committee headed by Robert G.
Alexandria Hospital ad-
ministrator, is sponsoring the at
large plan, while j. Randolph Davis
Is chairman Of the ward plan
committee.
-Four of the present ward council
men, Paul Delaney, second ward;
John Ewald, third; George X. Ben
der, fourth, and Charles Burgess.
sixth, have aligned themselves with
the ward group.
Matter, Helmuth Undecided.
John Matter, first ward, and Col.
Everett A. Hellmuth, fifth, have not
stated their positions, while Thomas
A. Hulfish, Democratic nominee to
succeed Mr.. Matter, also favors the
ward plan. .-.-.
OF the three at-large councilmen,
Vice Mayor Eugene Simpson is q
member Of the At-Large Committee,
while Councilman Charles Stump is
noncommittal and Mayor William
T. Wilkins has made statements to
the effect that he does not feel at
liberty to advise the people who
have elected him on what form of
government they should choose.
1t has been announced that Judge
James r. Duncan of the Civil and
Police Court, as well as substitute
Judge, Harry F.'Kennedy, are work.
ing for retention Of the war plan, as
are j. Fred Kirchner, State labor
Inspector for the Northern Virginia
area; r. E. Knight, T. Reginald Dy-
son, Thomas Wicker and Arthur r.
Campbell.
An attempt is being made to ar
range debate for tomorrow night
between Newman H. Raymond, ad-
vocate Of the at-large plan. and
Oscar E. Barnes Of the ward plan
group.
Mr.. Raymond challenged Mr.,
Davis to debate the issue and sug-
gested the Virginia Public Service
20. auditorium as a possible loca.
ton. Mr.. Davis and all other mem
bers of The ward group contacted by
MIR. Raymond refused the challenge
on the grounds that they were too
busy, the at-large advocate said,
SO he assumed that there would be
no debate and made no arrange
ments for a meeting place.
Yesterday Mr.. Davis announced
that Mr.. Barnes would represent
the ward committee, naming the
VPS auditorium as the location
which had been obtained by Mr..
Raymond.
Refuse Use of Hall.
VPS ofncials said no application
had been received for the hall. and
that If one were received it would
be refused since the company does
not permit use of the. hall for Do
ltical purposes. Mr.. Raymond said
he had not been notified he would
have an opponent and had made no
arrangements for the debate. He
added, however, that his challenge
still stood and that if a member
OF the ward plan committee would
cooperate with him he would make
every effort to secure a hall.
Meanwhile, Mr.. .Whitton released
three letters advocating the at-large
plan
One, from Ernest S. Bradford.
professor in the School of Business
and Civic Administration, College
of the City OF New York, and mem
Der Of the National Municipal
League, states that in general, such
elections have resulted in obtaining
higher caliber men.
Henry O'Bannon Cooper, former
NTH ward councilman, and Leo P.
Washington attorney living
In Alexandria, termed the at-large
plan more democratic since it per-
mits the voters to elect all of their
councilmen instead of four out of
nine, as is done under the present
system.
AT the same time, Mr.. Davis said
the whole issue to be determined
on Tuesday is whether we are to
retain our democratic and repre-
sentative government, or whether
we shall have centralized form
controlled by an organized minority
sponsored chiefly by special groups,
once seekers and public utilities.
The issue now is no different from
that decided in 1882 when it was
a question of the people against
almost the same small group. The
people at that time prevailed by an
overwhelming vote of two to one,
and In my opinion, the ward plan
Will prevail by the same majority
Tuesday"
Election Officials Announced.
The election officials have been
announced by James N. Colasanto.
secretary Of the Electoral Board.
The list includes 7 Of the 10
names suggested by the at-large
group.
The polls will open at GIT am.
and will close at 7::55 pm. with
the following polling places and
officials designated:
First Ward-Armory Hall, 200
block South Royal street; Scott
Grimm, chief judge; John P. Strauss
and Nichols A. Colasanto, Judges:
T. j. Scott, w, and Douglas Lunce-
ford, clerks.
Second ward-City Hall, 100 block
North Fairfax street; Richard
Wright. chief Judge; Edward Pat
terson and William Padgett, judges;
George Hayden and r. F. Downham
clerks.
Third ward-No. S Fire House, 100
block of North Patrick street; j.
Norman IIeQp chief iudoe. Nlivar