Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-08-22
Democrats Plan
Majority Rule
For Convention
Advisory Committee
Outlines Procedure
For Virginia Meeting
BY fhe Assoeioied Press

ny me tssoctoted Ffess
RICHMOND, Va, Aug. 22.-A
simple majority of the lips dele
gates to the State Democratic Con-
vention here September S will be
required to nominate the Democrats
candidate for the unexpired term of
the late Senator Glass If a recomen-
dalton agreed on yesterday by the
pre-convention Rules Advisory Com
mittee is adopted.
The majority rule-a majority of
the 1,l28 possible votes, not just
OF those present and voting-was
one of several decisions reached by
the rules group at its first meeting
IN the Hotel Richmond.
. In general, the committee de-
cided to recommend rules based on
procedure in the Virginia House of
Delegates and in the National Demo-
cratic conventions, insofar as the
rules from these two sources are
applicable to the Virginia conven-
ton
The task of putting together
set of rules from the two sources
was assigned by the committee to
q two-man subcommittee composed
Of Watkins M. Abbitt, Common
wealth's attorney of Appomattox
County, and State Senator Edward
L. Breeder, jr., of Norfolk. Mr..
Abbitt earlier had been chosen
chairman and Senator Breeder sec
Rotary Of the committee, both by
unanimous vote.
Goes to Full Committee.
Most of the meeting, which lasted
more than an hour and a half, was
in executive session, and the results
were disclosed afterward by Chair
man Abbitt.
The subcommittee will present its
draft to the full committee at a
meeting to be called by the chair
man, he said.
Mr.. Abbitt said the committees
aim was to fix the rules so that all
would get fair deal at the con-
yention
He said there was some discussion
Of putting limit on the length of
nominating speeches and that some
time limit probably would be estab-
lished-possibly 10 minutes.
With 10 of the II members present
the committee was called to order
by State Democratic Chairman Hor-
ace H. Edwards. Members quickly
and without contest elected the
chairman and secretary. Mr.. Ed
wards suggested that the committee
keep two things in mind-that rules
OF convention procedure should be
designed to give all candidates and
potential candidates full oppor-
tunity to present their case to the
convention" and that the rules
should also expedite convention
business as much as possible.
Goolrick Offers to Withdraw.
C. O'Conor Goolrick, former State
Senator from Fredericksburg, sug-
ststed to the committee that in
asmuch as he had been named
campaign manager for one of the
senatorial candidates-State Con-
servation Commissioner William A.
Wright-it might be well for him
to withdraw from the Rules Com
naittee. On motion of E. Sclater
Montague of Hampton the commit
tee voted unanimously to keep Mr..
Goodrich as member "eminently
qualified" to serve.
The committee was appointed by
Chairman Edwards to serve in an
advisory capacity for the approach
ing convention. Its findings will
not necessarily be binding on the
convention, which will name Its
own rules committee and pass judg-
ment on the recommendations
Members of the group, in addi-
ton to Messrs. Abbitt, Breeder
Goolrick and Montague, are w. w
Beverley of Richmond; Ernest C
Lacy of Halifax, Morton Padgett
jr., Of Bedford; G. Fred Switzer OF
Harrisonburg, Dan NJ Chichester
of Stafford, Thomas B. Fugate Of
Lee and j. Frank Wysor of Pulaski
Doval Quits Contest.
Meanwhile, on the Republican
side, withdrawal of I. r. Dovel Of
Liza dys ObdtC C1td1
as the party's candidate for thu
House in the 7th district, was dis.
closed in a letter from Mr.. Dovel Il
the State Board of Elections.
Mr.. Dovel asked that the board
disregard the credentials as a can.
didate which he had filed with the
board earlier. He said another can
didate would be named by the Re
publicans for the district race with
IN the next few days" and would be
certified to the elections board.
1t was the second time the Re.
publican State chairman hac
changed his mind as to making The
race. When first nominated some
weeks ago, he said that he woulc
be unable to run. Then, a weel
ago he announced that he would
accept the nomination and make {
VIGOROUS 70 n, y,o joy, for eIonfiox,