Evening star., 1946-08-03

Now, in 1916, a candidate for re.
nomination in Tuesdays Democratic
primary in Virginia, he confines hi.
campaign pledges to that statement
again. 1t has had good results ir
the past l6 years during which time
he has successfully been renominateo
and reelected.
Probable Victor in 9Th.
Acknowledged most to be the prob
able 9Th district victor in Tuesdays
balloting, he nevertheless is expected
to run for the Senate in November S
general elections to fill the unex-
pired term of the late Senator Glass
for the next two years.
Mr.. Smith is so per cent of the
pair VINO are expected to make the
toughest fight for the Senate NOM
ination between now and the time
the State Democratic Convention
convenes at Richmond. September s.
to name Mr.. Glass successor. The
other major contender at this time
is Representative Robertson. Lexing-
ton. of the 7th district.
Other than Mr.. Smiths own am
bitions to increase his own political
stature, some sources not unfriendly
to him, feel that an added incentive
for a Senate seat would be the neces-
sity of campaigning only once every
six years instead of every other year
MIR. Smiths own district, which
includes the nearby areas, is be-
coming more labor conscious and
populated with more liberals" as
the years go by while the veteran
House member is generally regarded
as an "old guard" Democrat.
Labor "Shots" Intensified.
Labor's pot shots at him have
been intensified since 1889 when he
was named chairman of a special
committee to investigate the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board
The report of that committee re-
suited III, frs, enactment by the
House of a complete revision of the
Labor Act which failed of passage
in the Senate, and, second, drastic
reorganization of the personnel of
the National Labor Relations
Board he says.
He denies that his legislation was
"antilabor" per Sc, inasmuch as he
received a letter from President
William Green of the American
Federation of Labor, indorsing the
measure.
Again in 1941 he was the author of
the so-called Smith antistrike bill
which the House passed but which
the Senate killed. Later he was CO.
author of the Connally-Smith Act
retaining most of the salient points
of the antistrike measure but
these features were largely elimi-
mated In the Senate"
Mr. Smith publicly upholds the
rights of workers to organize ano
for orderly and lawful collective
bargaining, but he is an outspoker
critic of irresponsible" labor lead.
ers who he believes lead many work.
ers against their will.
Proud of Alien Act.
He says his opposition by radical!
is due to his authorship of the Alier
Registration Act of 1889 for which
he takes great pride.
Born at Broad Run, he has beer
a lifelong resident of his district
He was graduated from Bethel Mill.
tary Academy In 1901 and from ths
University of Virginia in 1908 witt
a law degree. A former president OF
the city council and Commonwealth.
attorney for Alexandria, he was ap-
pointed Corporation Court judge
there in 1922 and served until 1926
when he was appointed judge of the
18th circuit.
Now president of the Alexandra
National Bank and a trustee and
vice president of the National
Florence Crittenden Mission, Mr.
Smith lists farming and dairying as
his interests.
II have been in public life for 81
years in various capacities, he says
land my record, good or bad, is well
known to the greater number OF
people from my community. ! coulo
not conceal it nor change it If
wished. And / do not wish to do so.