Evening star., 1944-04-16
Virginia COP
Elects Dovel
As Chairman
Present Leaders
SoundIy Beaten
At Convention
By the Associated Press.

ROANOKE, Va, April Isl
Randolph Dovel, commonwealth
attorney of Page County. was
elected State chairman by Virginia
Republicans tonight in lively con-
vention which brought defeat to
the present party leadership in all
elections except that of temporary
chairman.
Not only did the Republican fac
ton headed by National Commit
teeman Henry A. Wise and State
Chairman Clarence r. Ahalt OF
Arlington lose the Craftsmanship to
Mr.. Dovel and fail to elect their
delegates and alternates to the ma
tional convention, but Mai. Wise's
position as national committeeman
is threatened. The delegation to
the national convention elects the
national committeeman and COM
mitteewoman
Mr.. Dovel, the present State sec
retary of the party, polled 998 votes
IN the convention-one more than
the majority necessary to elect-to
1856 for State Senator Ted Dalton.
Radford, and 10 for w. c. Demming,
Front Royal.
Vote Is Close.
The Wise-Ahalt faction, after
losing their slate of delegates at
large to the national convention, did
not nominate Mr.. Ahalt for re-elec-
tion, but threw their support behind
Mr.. Dalton, who was nominated bv
former Representative Joseph C.
Shaffer, Wytheville. The vote was
so close it was checked three times
by the tellers and then fourth
time with two additional tellers
chosen by the respective sides.
The convention did not take up
the question of indorsing any one
for the Republican nomination for
President, though the 9Th Dis
trict convention, meeting this
morning, instructed its two dele
gates for Gov. Thomas E. Dewey
OF New York. John Locke Greene,
Arlington, suggested to the conven-
tion that it indorse Gov. Dewey
and there was vigorous applause,
but the teller's report on the cleo
ton of the new State chairman
came in before any one offered
motion. The matter was not
brought up again before the con-
vention adjourned.
Militant Organization Urged.
Mr.. Dovel campaigned for the
State Craftsmanship on a platform
calling for militant organization of
Republicans for campaigns in
county and city and State leeis-
lative elections, and he promised the
convention he would make good on
his promises.
In order to elect Mr.. Dovel, the
convention voted to change the
party plan providing for election of
the chairman by the State Execu-
tive Committee.
The convention heard Senator
Revercomb, Republican, of West
Virginia assert that in war. even
more than In peace, the people must
have confidence in those who guide
the course of government, and that
confidence does not and cannot
exist SO long as the New Deal is in
power"
Revercomb Hits New Deal.
Senator Revercomb, the princi-
pal speaker at the convention, was
frequently interrupted with ap-
plause as he criticized the New Deal,
and the convention later wired the
arrangements committee of the Re-
publican National Convention rec
omending him as the keynote speak
er in Chicago in June.
The convention opened auspi-
ciously for the present party lead
ership when Fred w. McWane
Lynchburg, was elected temporary
chairman over Lester Parsons. Nor
folk, a vigorous supporter of Mr.
Dovel. Regarding the vote of 1,116
for Mr.. McWane to 1853 for Mr.
Parsons as something of test vote
there was some rejoicing among the
Ahalt-Wise supporters. Dovel lead
ers, however, denied that it was a
test vote and said many votes went
to Mr.. McWane because of personal
popularity.
Subsequent developments proved
the Doyel supporters were right.