Evening star., 1944-11-26
Northern Virginia
AssembIymen Fear
Service Vote Tie-up

from Northern Virginia last night
said they favored action by the
State to enable servicemen to vote
but expressed fear that a consti-
tutional convention might become
so clouded with other issues that it
could not accomplish its prime pur-
pose before the August primary.
State Senator William D. Medley
Arlington, said he had not had time
to study a letter from Gov. Darden
asking advice on calling a special
session of the Assembly to set in
motion the machinery necessary to
give servicemen the ballot.
Senator Medley said he supported
the legislation at the last session
Of the General Assembly that was
invalidated recently by the State
Supreme Court of Appeals, and still
was 'in sympathy with anything
that can be done to allow soldiers
to vote.
Poll Tax an Issue.
Pointing out that efforts to elm
mate the State poll tax would un-
doubtedly become the crux of a
constitutional convention, Senator
Medley said that this and other
matters which might come before
the body could easily block realiza-
ton of the principal purpose-to
provide a war voters law by August
Senator Medley explained that
the proposed amendment would ne
cessitate two, and perhaps three
special sessions of the legislature,
and perhaps two special elections,
one of which might be necessary to
elect delegates to constitutional
convention.
w. Selden Washington, member
Of the House of Delegates from
Alexandria, and J. Maynard Ma
.gruder, delegate from Arlington
said they were willing to attend a
special session of the legislature If
it is necessary.
Mr.. Washington said he had not
studied "all the reasons" for spe-
cial session, but planned to con-
slider the matter over the weekend
and to answer the Governor to-
morrow.
He added that he would not, at
this time, favor repeating the poll
tax on the grounds that it contrib
utes to the public schools and is the
only tax a lot of people pay" He
said that while this is a free coun-
try and everybody ought to have the
right to vote. they also should help
pay the bill"
Favors Meeting This Week.
Mr.. Magruder said he would pro-
pose meeting of legislators from
Arlington and Fairfax Counties and
Alexandria early this week to dis
cuss the question of a special ses-
sion.
Both Democratic and Republican
leaders throughout the State have
stated their approval of prompt ac-
ton to enact war voters law, with
both Republican factions and spokes-
men for the anti-organization fac
ton of the Democratic party also
favoring repeal Of the poll tax. Rep
resentative Flanagan, Democrat, of
Virginia, said here yesterday that
IF 1t takes a constitutional conven-
ton to follow the flag, then we
should amend the constitution, and
do 1t without quibbling or delay"
Taking stand in favor OF
abolishing the poll tax, I. r. Dovel
State Republican chairman, said he
and his followers would actively
resist current efforts by some lead
ers of the Byrd Democratic or
ganization to reach gentlemen's S
agreement with Republicans to con-
fine the proposed convention to the
single issue of giving servicemen a
way to vote in the 1945 State elec-
tiOnS."
He said that among other things
convention should take up poll
tax revision and popular election
of State officials and judges.
Other leaders, who favor poll tax
repeal are Ashton Dovell, former
speaker of the House of Delegates,
and Curtis M. Dozier, Republican
State committeeman, while Ameri-
can Legion leaders, who sponsored a
war voters law, held that the con-
vention should lconf1ne itself to one