Evening star., 1946-06-10
Drive on Mayor
MarksEIection
In Alexandra
Hondbi|Is Appear;
Porty Committee
Action Attacked

Alexandria's heated city election
campaign has entered the mud
singing stage with the appearance
on telephone poles throughout the
city of handbills attacking Mayor
William T. Wilkins, one of five cam
didates for the three councilmen-
at-large posts.
At the same time, the Alexandria
Yellow Cab Co., in newspaper ad-
vertisement, has offered it's services
free to the voters of the Democratic
party" on election day tomorrow.
No further information could be
obtained from the cab company.
There are no announced Republi-
can candidates in the election.
The handbills, signed by "a
number of honorably discharged
veterans" make various charges
against Mayor wilkins and ask that
he and City Manager Carl Bud
wesky be ousted.
Meanwhile, supporters of R. Sam
uel Luckett, ST., write-in candidate
for councilman-at-large, today
urged Alexandria voters to insert
Mr.. Luckett's name on the ballot
in tomorrow's election after charg-
ing that insufficient space was pro-
vided for write-in candidates "as
political trick to defeat justice
Mr.. Luckett and Samuel B. De
Vaughan announced their write-in
candidates. for councilmen-at-large
several days after the ballots were
printed. The three Democratic
party nominees whose names are on
the ballot for councilmen-at-large
are John w. Tulloch, Mayor wilkins
and DR.. Truman E. Carneale.
James N. Colasanto, secretary of
the city electoral board, contended,
however, that the forms have suffi-
cient space to write in candi-
dates name. He added that they
have the same amount of space as
in previous elections, when there
also were write-fn candidates"
Mr.. Colasanto said the ballots had
been ordered printed May %, the
day after DR.. Carneale was chosen
by the Democratic Committee as
its nominee to replace the late John
A. Logan, councilman-at-large, who
died May 9.
I'VE didn't even know there would
be write-in candidates until after
the ballots were printed" Mr.. Col
asanto asserted.
Mrs. Jameson E. Holway, chair
man of the Citizens Committe sup
porting Mr.. Luckett, charged that
only one-eighth of an inch of space
appears between the names of the
three Democratic candidates for the
councilmen-at-large posts.
In addition, she said the names
are. "blocked in" at the top and
bottom by the designation for
councilmen- at-large and instruc-
tions to vote for three. She added
that the voters have been asked to
insert Mr.. Luckett's name on the
ballot just below the designation,
''for city ceuncilman-at-large," and
Just above MIR. Tulloch's name.
This is not singing cam
paign," Mrs. Holway declared. "We
are not attacking DR.. Carneale
whose candidacy has been ques-
toned because Of his selection by
the Democratic Committee over
three others who applied for the
nomination.
I'VE recognize that under the
Virginia Code the Democratic Com
mittee is empowered to select can
didate in any way it sees fit. I
think the committee is within its
rights, but I think it is a wrong
thing to do. The' selection was un-
democratic, but it was not illegal"
"This is a bigger issue than Mr..
Luckett versus Mr.. Carneale. 1t is a
question of democracy in Alexan-
dria, and it would appear that every
possible legal techiicality is being
used to frustrate the will of those
who would like to see change in
Alexandria's government, Mrs. Hol-
way added.
Mrs. Holway said her group hopes
the judges In the polls at the six
wards will be lenienr in their exam
ination of the write-in ballots be-
cause of the technicalities involved.
They have the full power to decide
whether or not a ballot is void, and
if the supporters of Mr.. Luckett are
careful to write in his name with an
indented box and cross mark just
above Mr.. Tulloch's name, it is
hoped that the obvious wish of the
voters will be honored, she stated.
Mr.. De Vaughan explained today
that. although he is running as