Evening star., 1944-10-22
DoveII Attacks
Virginia Chiefs
PartyCooIness
Former Speaker
Calls Organization
Hostile to Roosevelt
Hy the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
RICHMOND. Va, Oct. 21.-Ash'
ton Doven of Williamsburg, former
Speaker of the House of Delegates
tonight assailed Virginia's Demo
cratic leadership for what he termed
hostile opposition" to President
Roosevelt for IL years, and fail
ure" in the fields of education ano
public health.
Mr.. Dovell, long identified with
the State Democratic organization
as floor leader and later Speaker
of the Houes, spoke in the interest
of President Roosevelt in radio
talk over station WRVA here under
auspices of "the Committee of 100
for the reelection of President
Roosevelt and the Advancement of
Progressive Democratic Principles. -
He devoted about five-sixths of his
prepared talk, however to sharp
criticism of Virginia Democratic
leaders. not identified by name, and
to their conduct of State affairs.
May Seek Governorship
The sharply -worded spec h
aroused speculation here as to
whether Mr.. Dovell might enter the
race for Governor in 1945 with the
backing of the Committee of 100
He entered the race four years ago,
but withdrew after Gov. Darden
announced, with what was conceded
to be the backing of the State
Democratic organization headed by
Senator Byrd.
]. Louis Reynolds, director of
State activities for the Committee
of 100, in letter sent to newspapers
with the text of the Dovell address
said it was 80 far as we know, the
first all-out address in favor of the
reelection of President Roosevelt
by any one who is considered among
the leadership in the Democratic
party in Virginia
Mr.. Dovell advocated abolition of
the poll tax and improvement in
public education and asserted if
these things were not done the
Federal Government would step in.
Must we always have reforms
crammed down our throats, like
votes for women, unemployment
compensation and social security?".
he asked.
Attacks State Leaders.
He asserted there was no Jewel
of consistency in arguments of
Virginia Democratic leaders as he
assailed the conduct of the State
government.
He declared, 1--WE find ourselves
now in the position where it is
necessary to hold special session
of the legislature before candi-
dates can declare themselves for
the governorship in 1945. Our
limited franchise, with its dictator
ship. must get the all-important|
questions of support to public free
schools and the poll tax out of the
way so that the candidates of the
organization will not be embar-
rassed on the stump"
He said it might be asserted with
some truth that Virginia has suf-
fered from domination, perhaps
political and economical, since the
War Between the States" and that
the time has come to demand our
rights as free men and women in
our affairs at home"
Virginians need nothing more, he
continued, than a "reawakening of
their responsibilities as citizens in a
representative government"
Citizens Back Roosevelt.
Asserting that Mr.. Roosevelt had
three times received an overwhelm-
ing vote in Virginia in the face of
hostile opposition" from the State
Democratic leadership, Mr.. Dovell
charged that the States delegation
to the 1882 Democratic national con-
vention had voted for Cordell Hull
and had been "apathetic" to the
Presidents candidacy for renomina-
ton at the 1886 convention.
At the 1910 convention Mr.. Dovell
said the opposition by State Demo-
cratic leaders to President Roosevelt
was SO fierce that Gov. Price had
to go outside the convention hall
and buy a Virginia banner to carry
in the parade when the nomination
was sure
He also charged that the State
Democratic convention last June in
Roanoke did not even mention
President Roosevelt's name, yet not
quite daring to slap the President
in the face, they did it in a back
handed fashion by passing a reso-
luton binding delegates to refuse
to vote for Vice President WAL
lace =.
The time has come for all party
leaders to stand up and be counted
the time has come to ask in what
way they are supporting the Demo-
orot;o