Evening star., 1945-03-18
Special Session
Faces Fight on
Virginia Poll Ia,
Boil to Be Delegate
For Convention
As Foe Of Levy

VI SViiVCiIttVit
As Foe Of Levy
Although the Virginia General
Assembly will convene in special
session tomorrow to arrange for a
constitutional convention restricted
to providing a valid war voters act,
the fight to abolish the poll cax
for the public as well as for service
men will flare up.
Former State Senator Frank L.
Ball, Arlington attorney, announced
last night he will be a candidate
for delegate to the convention on q
platform favoring abolition of the
poll tax, and two members of the
Assembly announced they will in
troduce measures in the special ses-
sion calling for repeal of the levy
as a prerequisite to voting.
The two members are Senator
Ted Dalton, Radford, and Delegate
E. Becher Stallard, Richmond. In
addition, Mr.. Dalton said that Sem
ator Leonard G.. Muse, Roanoke,
had agreed to join with him as CO.
patron Of the measure.
Favor Tax for Schools.
Senators Dalton and Muse said
they favored continued collection
of the tax, but for school purposes.
The State Republican Committee,
meeting in Roanoke, meanwhile,
called for election of convention
delegates who would vote to wipe
out the poll tax voting require
ment.
In q referendum March 6, the
electorate voted for a convention
limited to enable servicemen to vote
without paying the poll tax or
meeting registration qualifications.
The State Supreme Court of Ap-
peals upheld the validity of a re-
stricted convention.
Mr.. Ball, in announcing his can
didacy, said:
Il will not consider myself bound
by any restrictions attempted to be
placed on the convention by the
legislature.
He asserted q constitutional con-
vention is the voice of the people
and, rs such superior to any trib-
unaI.
Ball Seeks "Free Franchise"
II am moved to seek member
ship in the Convention" he con-
tinued, mot by any personal or
political ambition, but solely as a
means of furnishing those who be-
lieye in abolishing this restriction
on free franchise to express them
selves in a manner to be effective. 4"
Mr.. Ball said he agreed with the
dissenting opinion of Chief Justice
Campbell of the State Supreme
Court which said, "The fundamen-
tai question involved is which shall
prevail, expediency or legality? If
expediency is to prevail then our
boys, who have died In order that
liberty and democracy, as estab-
lished by our forefathers, should
continue. have died in vain.
my second reason for offering
is that believe the poll tax should
go as a voting prerequisite in this
State. The attempt to raise it's re-
strictions as to men now in the
service falls too far short of the
mark.
'We have veterans of the Spanish
American War, the Philippine In
surrection, the Boxer Uprising, the
World War No. and the Nicara-
guam and Haitian occupations, all
OF whom put their lives on the line
for our common country. They de-
serve the same concessions that any
other yete"an of foreign war re-
ceives.
Opposes Distinctions.
"And beyond that, I do not be-
lieve in making any distinction be-
tween different classes of citizens
when it comes to the free and un-
trammeled right to vote, which is
the requisite Of every true democ-
racy."
Mr.. Ball concluded by stating that
the removal of the poll tax restric-
ton is question that should not
be left to the Office holders or
settled by any political party, but
rather question for the people
as q whole without regard to polit-
ical or party affilation.
Earlier Representative Woodrum,
Democrat, of Virginia, asserting that
the tax Is "outmoded, outdated, in
disrepute and blot on the fair
name Of Virginia" urged that the
special session "take the initial step
to eliminate it."
Gov. Darden said that he was
preparing message to the Assembly
and would treat the poll tax mat
ter.
Mr.. Stallard asserted there was
no reason for delaying poll tax re-
peal. He pointed out that if the
extraordinary session adopts a re-
pealer 1t will be ready for final ac-
tion at the regular January session,
after the election of new House of
Delegates in November. Thus, he
added, it can be submitted to the
people for ratification at the sena-
torial election next year.
Other Matters Pending.
Meanwhile, State political leaders
remained silent last night on Mr.
Woodrum's statement. Senator
Byrd said he had no comment, while
Representative Robertson said that
in due course" he would prepare
a, statement on the tax issue.
The extraordinary session - the
third during the administration of
Gov. Darden will have number of
other matters to consider.
These include school improve
nnent program and a report by two
Assembly subcommittees which
conducted hearings at Portsmouth,
q, recommendation that Judge A. B.
Carney Of the Norfolk County Cir
cult Court be retired.
Lewis P. Collins Announces
For Lieutenant Governor
BY the Associated Press.
MARION, Va, Mar. II. - Lewis