Evening star., 1945-07-08
PIunkett Attacks
State Political Setup
In Opening Speech
BY the Associated Press.


RICHMOND, Va, July 7.-Vir-
ginia's political campaign with Dem
ocratic candidates entering the last
month before the primary. looks
more like the first lap of two-mile
race when runners are watching
each others stride and letting just
about anybody set the pace.
Moss A. Plunkett, Roanoke law
yer and veteran advocate of poll
tax repeal, today endeavored to put
some pep in the race for the Demo
cratic gubernatorial nomination by
attacking, in his opening campaign
speech, what he termed "the invisi-
BILE government which has long
made a mockery of democracy in
Virginia" Mr.. Plunkett announced
his planks on education, health, well
fare, crime prevention and roads
and said he would make public an
nouncement of 10 additional planks
within week.
While Mr.. Plunkett was opening
his campaign at Orange, his oppon-
ent, 1t Gov. william M. Tuck, South
Boston, was touring Eastern viz
ginia, but without any public ad-
dresses. He said he would be in the
western part of the State next week.
Tuck Denies Report.
Mr.. Tuck said reports that he
would conduct front porch" CAM
paign were erroneous and that he
would be active until primary elec-
ton day. Anyone who gets the idea
that he is taking is easily or indif-
ferently. the Lieutenant Governor
said, lis dreaming" Mr. Tuck has
the backing of the dominant Demo-
cratic organization headed by Sena-
tor Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia.
The race for the nomination for
Lieutenant Governor continued to
attract most attention as it reached
the claimed" stage. Willis Cohoon,
Suffolk, campaign manager for
Charles r. Fenwick, Arlington,
started the claiming" when he as
serted his candidate is leading in
three of the congressional districts
and that five of the nine members
of Congress are "for him.
To this William Mel. Ferguson,
Newport News, campaign manager
for L. Preston Collins, Marion, re-
piled that ''it is the easiest thing in
the world for a candidate or his
manager to make vague, general
claims of support" Mr.. Ferguson
followed with a few claims of his
own, declaring that Mr.. Collins is
assured of the active support of a
substantial majority of the Demo-
cratic members of the State Senate.
He said none of the Senators is up
for reelection this year and they
are free to work for their candidate.
Muse Cancels Speech.
State Senator Leonard G. Muse,
Roanoke, also candidate for Lieu
tenant Governor, Cancelled a speech
in Lynchburg before a CIO function
this week, asserting that the speech
was not intended as political ad-
dress but that newspapers had un-
dertaken to create that impression.
He said he Cancelled it rather than
to be misunderstood as making a
political speech to the group.
Mr.. Fenwick and Mr.. Collins con-
centrated their activities in Eastern
Virginia during the past week.
All three candidates were reported
heading for the 9th district in
the far southwest for the coming
| week.
Peery Indorses Collins.
Former Gov. George c. Peery is
sued a statement during the week
indorsing the Collins candidacy.
Mr.. Peery is from the Fighting
9th" district which promises to
be a battle-ground in the campaign.
The Republican candidates-State
Senator S. Floyd Landreth, for
Governor, Carl Marshall for Lieu
tenant Governor, and Lester Par
sons for Attorney General. were in
terested bystanders at the Demo-
cratic fight and already making
plans for their general election
campaign against the Democratic
nominees.
Attorney General A. P. Staples is
unopposed for denomination in the
Democratic primary.