Evening star., 1944-11-05
Heavy Vote Due
IN Virginia.
Eighth District
Presidential Race
Close; Smith Leeds
Contest for House
By LANES BIRCHFTELD

observers last night remained firm
In their predictions of an over
whelming. victory for Representa-
tive Smith, Democrat, in Tuesdays
balloting, with an anticipated record
vote Of $4,000.
Polls will open in all the nearby
Virginia area at 7:42 am, and will
close at 6:01 pm. In expectation
OF the heavy vote. residents have
been urged to cast their ballots as
early in the day as possible.
While observers generally con-
ceded that the 9th district would
follow the Virginia trend and give
President Roosevelt q majority
over Gov. Thomas e. Dewey, Re-
publican, they said, however, that
the President may be expected to
receive q smaller plurality than he
received in 1910. when he carried
Virginia by 231,739 to 106,888 for
Wendell L.. Willkie.
Both Democratic and Republican
party leaders predicted an easy vic
tory for Mr.. Smith over Mrs. Eliza
beth Chiffon Murray, ,swho has been
conducting an active campaign as
an independent Roosevelt" Demo-
crat, and Lawrence Michael, inde-
pendent Republican. Clark T. Robb,
Socialist candidate, would hardly be
noticed in the final count, 1t was
predicted.
Labor Favors Mrs. Murray.
In the nearby area. local contests
will be held in Arlington County
and Alexandria. In Arlington, Leo
Lloyd, Democratic incumbent seek
ing reelection to the county board,
is being opposed by L. c. .MacPher-
son, Republican. Tuesdays vote will
decide three-cornered contest for
councilman at large in Alexandria
between r. E. Knight, Frederick l..
Flynn and John A. Logan.
As the House contest in the 9th
district settled into the finish j.
Fred Kirchner, president of the
Alexandria Central Labor Union, an
organization which previously has
Endorsed the candidacy of Mrs.
Murray, said he would support
President Roosevelt and Repre-
sentative Smith. Mr.. Kirchner ex-
planned that while he disagreed with
certain policies of both candidates,
he is supporting the Democratic
party presidential nominee, and
therefore Mr.. Smith.
Observers said Mrs. Murray, who
has charged Mr.. Smith with being
a Republican disguised as a Demo-
crat, will receive most of her sup
port from labor and women voters
in Alexandria, Arlington and Fair
fax Counties, and from a small
bloc in the Charlottesville area.
They expect her to poll 10000 to
$4,000 votes.
1t was brought out last week
at House Campaign Expenditures
Committee investigation into 9Th
district campaigns that the Political
Action Committee of the C1O has
been at work in the district to
bring about the defeat Of Mr..
Smith.
Illegality Charge Denied.
Representative Gathings, Demo-
crat, of Arkansas, who conducted
the investigation, said yesterday
that in his opinion the PAC was
guilty of violating the law in en-
ploying two workers in the district.
He indicated that he will point this
out when the full committee studies
the investigation report.
Too r1o,,I NEre oox.
paign manager, however, said that
Mr. Smith revealed by his own
testimony during the investigation
that the Justice Department had
ruled that no laws had been vio-
lated.
Judge Smith, observers said, will
have no trouble carrying his home
town of Alexandria, and Arlington
County political leaders predicted
that he would receive a greater ma
jority there than in 1910 when he
polled 1,400 more votes In the
county than President Roosevelt.
Mr.. Michael, an Arlington resi-
dent, has been actively campaign
ing the last week, but observers
said he would not receive the entire
Republican vote, since he Is not the
official nominee Of the Republican
party.
Presidential Race Close.
Two straw votes being taken in
Arlington County indicate that the
Republican presidential nominee
has a slight edge over Mr.. Roose-
velt. Leaders said the outcome
would be tossup between the
President and Gov. Dewey.
Fairfax County political leaders
predicted a record vote despite the
fact that more than 5000 men and
women of voting age are now serv-
Ing in the armed forces. While no
figures on increased registration are
available, it was predicted that the
total county vote would be between
$500 and 1000, as compared to the
previous high of $3.50 cast for Mr..
Roosevelt In 1910.
Leaders, giving the edge to the
President, nevertheless predict that
the vote will be close in the county.
Little doubt was expressed, however,
that Mr.. Smith would poll a wide
majority.
Between 800 and 1000 service
mems ballots are expected to arrive
in Fairfax in time to be counted
with Tuesdays vote. Many of these
already have been received by the
county electoral board and have
been distributed to various precincts.
The board will hold its final session
Tuesday morning.
Two Amendments ut Stake.
In addition to voting for presiden-
tial and House candidates, Virgin
ians also will cast separate ballot
for or against two proposed con-
stitutional amendments. In areas
where local contests are being
waged, voters will receive three bal
lots when they enter the polls.
First Of thep proposed constitu-
tional amendments, giving the Gov
ernor authority to appoint a board
powered tO grant reDrieveS and nar-