Evening star., 1946-08-23
Fairfax Pledges
16Convention
Votes 10 Smith
Delegates Instructed
As Unit to Support
Senatorial Candidacy
By Alex R. Preston


Representative Smith, Democrat,
Of Virginia today could add Fair
fax County's is votes to those all
ready pledged to him next month
when the State Democratic Con-
vention convenes to nominate a
candidate for the unexpired term Of
the late Senator Carter Glass.
At the county's democratic con-
vention last night, 80 delegates were
elected to attend the State parley
in Richmond. September S. They
were instructed to vote under a unit
rule and support Representative
Smith for the senatorial nominal
tion as long as his name remains
before the State convention.
fractional loyalty of delegates
elected to the county convention
and who-with three exceptions
were reelected to the State gather
ing has been interpreted by some
observers as an indication of how
the county would vote if an 9Th
district contest should develop in
naming successor to Represents
tive Smith.
No Action on House Seat.
Last nights meeting in Fairfax
Courthouse had no direct bearing
on House contest, however. The
81 delegates at that session were
elected at six magisterial district
mass meetings Tuesday. All but
two of the delegates to last nights
meeting have been associated with
the predominant faction-the So
called courthouse crowd" which
owes its allegiance to Mr.. Smith.
Presumably the same faction can
be equally as successful in the
event another county convention Is
called in the near future to name
delegates to district convention.
Mr.. Smith, who said he would be
receptive" to the senatorial nomi-
nation if it is offered him at Rich
mond, would be expected to resign
his House seat to make the Senate
race.
CommonWealth's Attorney Albert
v. Bryan, Alexandria, who. with
State Senator William D. Medley,
Arlington, is prospective candi-
date for the House, has received the
Endorsement of the leaders of the
Fairfax courthouse crowd"
Senator Medley's staunchest sup
porters will concede this in addition
to the certain support of Alexandria
with its % votes.
Both Active in District.
Offsetting this, however, Senator
Medley undoubtedly would obtain
the 9th districts largest single sup
port in Arlington's IS votes and his
workers report encouraging in
dorsements from party leaders
throughout the rest Of the district.
Both prospective House aspirants
have been active throughout the
district in recent weeks. They will
not issue open appeals for public
support, however, until House va
cancy exists and their campaigns
have been conducted to date on the
assumption Mr.. Smith will be nomi-
mated to the Senate.
Wilson Farr was elected perma-
nent convention chairman after
George Robey, chairman of the
County Democratic Committee,
called the convention to order. Com
monwealth's Attorney Hugh B.
Marsh was elected secretary.
Louis Coyner, county treasurer,
introduced the resolution authoriz-
ing election of 80 delegates to Rich
mond, each with a half vote. James
M. Kincheloe, commissioner of reve-
nue., introduced resolution author
izing State delegates to give their
proxy vote to others and Mr.. Robey
introduced the measure instructing
the delegation to vote for Mr.. Smith.
Delegates Replied.
Robert j. McCandlish, jr., for
mer House of Delegates member,
sponsored the measure binding all
delegates to unit rule and another
resolution electing the delegates to
last nights session as delegates to
the State gathering. Three replace
ments were approved, however, when
those involved indicated they would
be unable to 60 to Richmond.
John G. Mackall was elected to re-
place Russell Lynn, Charles Pickett
replaced James Keith and James
Byrne replaced John E. Taylor.
Prior to approving the substitute
State delegates, Mrs. Anne Anderson
Wilkins, Falls Church, sought to
nominate Edwin w. Lynch, incum-
bent House of Delegates member
as a State delegate, but before a
second could be heard Mr.. Lynch
asked that his name be withdrawn.
Otherwise, all resolutions intro
duced were passed with clockwork
precision.
After the meeting, Mr.. Lynch
criticized the method of electing
delegates in last Tuesdays mass
meetings. He said the ballots In
Falls Church precinct had been
printed with the candidates favored
by the predominant faction placed
at the head of the ticket, without
regard to alphabetical listing. He
said these candidates and their
friends had packed" the polls.
Other Complaints Reported.
Prior to the meeting Mr.. Robey
said he had heard some criticism OF
the voting in the Falls Church
precinct similar to the complaint
made by Mr.. Lynch.
He denied there was any intention
of influencing the voting by ar
rangement of names.
Informed of charges that the sue
cessful slate in the Providence dis.
trict had been hand picked" Mr..
Robey said there were two factions
in the district, each of which put
forward complete slate, and that
the faction composed chiefly Of
county officeholders won.
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