Evening star., 1945-07-01
Virginia COP Names Londreth
As Candidate for Governor
Ry the Associated press.

|AsCondidute +,
BY the Associated Press.
ROANOKE, Va, June 30-Big,
genial, Washington and Lee-edu-
Gated State Senator S. Floyd Lam
dreth of Galax, banker, lawyer
and farmer, was nominated today
by Virginia Republicans as their
candidate for Governor.
Escorted to the platform in a
tumultuous demonstration, he prom
ised them vigorous campaign and
said Virginia needs two strong par
ties to put forth progressive pro-
grams for the advancement of the
commonwealth. He expressed the
view that the platform adopted to-
day offers such program.
Named as his running mates were
Carl Marshall, Mclean, for Lieu
tenant Governor, and Lester S. Par
sons, Norfolk, for attorney general.
Both men are attorneys.
Marshall Ran 20 Years Ago.
Mr.. Marshall, recalling that he
was nominated 20 years ago for
lieutenant governor, said he con-
sidered 1t his job to help MIR. Lam
dreth get elected and he promised
to make fight.
Mr. Parsons said he hoped he
could make the race with Mr.. Lam
dreth, whom he described as cour-
ageous, straightforward and hon.
est, but said there would be can
didate for attorney general. The
State Executive Committee was
empowered to name a candidate If
either of the men found 1t impos-
sible to run. Mr.. Parsons accepted
the nomination after Sidney Ker-
|sey, Norfolk. had informed the
nominating committee it would be
impossible for him to make the
race.
The nominee for governor is so
years of age and was born in Car
roll County, near his present home.
He was educated in the public
schools and at Washington and Lee
University. He is a member of the
Christian Church, the Masons, Ro-
tary and Virginia Bar Association
and has been active in behalf of the
Boy Scouts. He is president of the
First National Bank of Galax and
is a former commemorative attor-
ney of his county.
Escaped in Richmond Fire.
Senator Landreth had a narrow
escape from death in the jefferson
Hotel fire at Richmond in March.
1914, when six persons, including
Senator Aubrey Weaver and Mrs.
James II. Price, widow of the i'm
mediate past Governor, persisted.
His booming voice from bathroom
window helped direct Richmond
firemen seeking to mount to the
upper floors on ladders.
Mr.. Marshall, who is 64, also is
a Carol County native, is a World
War veteran, is member of the
Virginia and District bar and is
member of the Fairfax County
Republican Committee.
The convention voted down, s424
to rs, a resolution offered by John
Locke Green, Arlington, asking the
Senate to declare vacant the seat
of Senator Carter Glass, Democrat,
OF Virginia, who, the resolution de-
clared, has not attended the Senate
for three years.
To Name Committee on Reforms.
The chairman of the convention,
Ralph Lincoln, Marion, was in
structed to name a committee of
nine, one chosen from each congress
sional district, to draft specific pro-
posals for constitutional amend
ments and laws which the Repub-
licans consider necessary and de-
sirable in a reform of the election
and franchise provisions in Vir-
ginia. These will be presented to
the special legislative commission
named at the last legislative session
to report to the General Assembly
of 1946.
The convention adopted a plat
form dealing with State issues
which have occupied the attention
of Republican party leaders for
the last month. 1t calls for an un-
restricted constitutional convention
at the earliest possible date to
revise completely the qualifications
ana elective franchise clauses of
the constitution.
1t proposes many other changes
in the election laws, including BIZ
partisan and recurrent registration,
removal of the electoral machinery
from the hands of the judiciary"
abolition of the poll tax as a pre-
requisite to voting, repeal of the
absentee voting law for all persons
except those in the armed forces
In time Of war and sets forth a.
form for registration to be filled out
by the voter which shall be the
maximum educational requirement.
This form would merely require
the voter to fill in his name, adj
dress, date and place of birth, resi-
dence, occupation, where he had
voted before and signature.
Favor Stated Voting Hours.
It also would establish votingt
hours from z am. to 7 pm. and
calls for State and county elections
to be held at the same time as |
Federal elections.
The platform advocates that the
State Board of Education consist Of |
one member from each congress
sionaI district and be elected byl
popular vote for four-year terms.