Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-07-31
Medley Bryan
Quietly Seeking
Smith sSeat
Hope for Nomination
If House Member Is
Named for Senate
By Alex R. Preston

By Alex R. Preston
A contest between two of Northern
Virginia's outstanding public off,
cials-both Democrats-is being
waged quietly for the seat now held
by Representative Smith on the
assumption that the 9Th district
member of the House will receive
the party nomination to succeed the
late Senator Glass.
State Senator William D. Medley
Arlington, and Commonwealth At
torney Albert v. Bryan, Alexandria,
today emerge as the two who head
the "most-likely-to-succeed" list out
Of half dozen or so names men
toned as a possible successor to Mr.
Smith.
Publicly, both refrain from dis
cussing the matter now as it would
be regarded as premature and con-
trary to organization harmony to
openly vie for post for which Mr.
Smith is the announced candidate
andria member of the House is the
favorite out of field of four Demo-
Gratis, to win the nomination in
Tuesdays Democratic primary.
Depends on Burch Decision.
The course he will follow there
after largely depends on decision
of Senator Burch, former House
member who was appointed by Gov
Tuck to fill the late senior Senator S
seat until after the November cleo
ticns.
Most observers feel at this time
that Senator Burch probably will
not seek reelection for the two
years remaining in Senator Glass
term.
Debt Repayment Hinted.
Responsible party sources in the
nearby area attribute Gov. Tuck'S
temporary appointment of former
Representative Burch, instead Of
Representative Smith, to the Glass
seat to repayment of politica
debt. Senator Burch had aided the
State Chief Executive in the latter!
rise to the executive chair.
However, for a long time during
Senator Glass lingering illness il
was felt by many that it was lin the
cards" that the AleXandrian would
be the organizations choice. --latest
evidence that the plan is being car.
ried out with the least possible intra-
organization friction came yesterday
when Senator Medley refused, with
thanks. a suggestion that he be 6
candidate as the Glass successor.
Senator Byrd now is engaged II
campaign for denomination Tues.
day.
Died-in-t he-Wool Byrd organiza
ton people say that the Senator i.
tending to his own knitting and il
not taking a part in the Glass con-
test"
Veteran Assembly Member.
Senator Medley has long been
regarded by many as the probable
successor to Mr.. Smith. He has
a record of long service in both the
House of Delegates and State Sen
ate and has attained high seniority
in the General Assembly.
Mr.. Bryan was connected with the
campaign more recently. He has
been commemorative attorney of
Alexandria since 1923.
Senator Medley would appear to
have slight edge at the outset in
asmuch as Arlington casts IS con-
vention votes and Alexandria, %.
Also, assuming Mr.. Smith goes to
the upper house, the voters would
tend to select the second member of
Congress from outside Alexandria.
Political dopesters who follow the
latter reasoning say that the factor
of geographical distribution of rep
resentation favors State Senator
John S. Battle of Charlottesville
another whose name has been con-
nected with the possible House race
Some circles say that Circuit
Judge Paul E. Brown of Fairfax
figured as a contestant until fairly
recently and the possibility of State
Senator Andrew Clarke, Alexandria
entering the affray, has not been
discounted yet.
denomination Expected.
After Tuesdays primary when Mr.
Smith is expected to be renomi.
mated, the State Democratic Con.
vention will be held at Richmond
September 5, to name a successor
to Senator Glass. Senator Burch.
intentions to seek denomination OF
withdraw must be made known
then, if not announced prior to tina
time.
If Senator Burch withdraws, Mr.
Smith is expected to receive thu
nomination to the Senate and re.
sign from the House. Following
that, 9th district delegates woulc
caucus to name the party choice
to fill the vacated House seat.
Arlington Democratic delegates
as well as those from other 9th
district communities, will 60 ready
to meet the contingency. Arlington
would place Senator Medley'S name
in nomination before the hastily
called district convention.
The Arlington Democratic Com.
mittee last month adopted a reso.
luton which states the delegate.
to the County Democratic Conven.
ton elected in the Democratic pri
mary, to be held August 6, 1916
shall continue to serve as delegat tie.
to any county convention that MAJ
be required in electfng delegates
to any other Democratic Convention
Estate, congressional or county
called in connection with the gen,
eral election to be held on Novem.
Der S, 1896"
A hastily called district conven.
ton may have to be assembled al
Richmond because candidates mus
have officially entered race go day.
prior to the general election.