Evening star., 1944-11-30
Darden Refuses
7oChangeStand
On Convention
Wants Constitutional
Change Limited to
Virginia Service Vote
By the Associated Press.

RICHMOND, Va, Nov. 30.-Gov
Darden stood firm today in his
Judgment that it would be unwise
to undertake general revision of the
State. constitution, with so many
Virginians away in the armed forces
without even providing for an ex-
preston of their views"
The Governors statement was in
reply to I. R. Dovel, Luray, Repub-
lican State chairman, who called for
a complete revision of the constitu-
ton if convention was called to
provide valid soldier voting law.
Gov, Darden said it appeared to
him that Mr.. Dovel and those who
have joined in his demands are not
on sound ground. He said he hoped
they do not represent the views of
a majority of their party in Virginia.
Would Delay Decision.
"In the first place." the Governor
said, "a prolonged convention-nec-
essary to provide general revision
of the conStitution-would delay the
decision past the time when it would
help the soldiers Ballots could not
be prepared and sent them in time
for the State elections next year.
"In addition, and by all odds the
most valid objection to the imme-
diate changes which are proposed
is that they are to be made in the
absence of our service people and
before any machinery is set up
whereby they can register their
wishes.
There are approximately 250,000
Virginians away from their homes
in the Federal service. Our first
task is to provide them with the
means whereby they can vote in the
approaching elections"
Meanwhile, three organizations
within the State were on record
today as favoring the convening of
constitutional convention for the
repeal of the poll tax as a prerequi-
site to voting.
Favor Poll Tax Repeal.
The Executive Committees of the
Southern and Virginia Electoral Re-
form Leagues, meeting here yeSter-
day, went on record favoring a con-
stitutional convention to eliminate
from the Constitution all provisions
requiring the payment of poll tax
and the committee of 100 requested
the calling of special session of the
General Assembly to consider the
whole matter of poll tax repeal"
In the first of a series of radio
addresses designed to build interest
in the State Republican party, Mr.
Doyel criticized the stand taken by
Gov. Darden that a constitutional
convention, if called, should be linn
tied to the one item of providing
service personnel with the vote.
He said the general elimination
OF the poll tax would precipitate no
fight at a constitutional convention
if the Byrd organization will sup
port it. because all other groups
favor it
Typical Machine Fish"
This tstand) is typical political
machine fish being pulled across the
path of progress in Virginia" Mr..
Dovel said. Less than 20 per cent
of Virginia's servicemen voted in
the recent election. If given the
same opportunity next fall, doubt
II more than 10 per cent would cast
a ballot. And this because they are
primarily interested in getting the
job over that they are doing and
returning home.
Mr.. Dovel declared that the Gov
ernors position now is different
from his position on constitutional
changes of November T. when he
favored and fought for two changes
in our Constitution, that were
passed, and passed without a single
vote from any of our $4,000 service
men from Virginia who voted fol
our national ticket.
The difference is, he added, "that
he and his machine favored those
changes. but opposed the abolition
of the poll tax. They were not con-
cerned about the servicemen not
having vote on those changes last
fall, but now they had to have some
excuse for their reactionary attitude
on the poll tax, so they all at once
became concerned about the service
men, and manifest a desire that this
be deferred that they may partic-
ipate.