Evening star., 1947-08-07
League Selects
Candidates for
Arlington Board
Four 'Non-Purtisuns'
In November Race
For Two Posts

The four-way "nonpartisan" racel
Tor two Arlington County Board
posts was under way in earnest today
after the nomination of two candi-
dates by the Better Government
League.
Named last night at mass meet
ing to oppose the two incumbents
who will seek reelection in Novem-
Der, were two Federal Government
employees, T. Oscar Smith and Mrs.
Florence Cannon.
Mr.. Smith and Mrs Cannon will
oppose F. Freeland Chew and Harry
w. Cuppett.
Party Labels Barred.
County groups decided this year
to hold a nonpartisan contest for
the County Board with no candi-
dates bearing. party labels. Al
though Mr.. Chew and Mr.. Cuppett
are Democrats, they are running
without party Endorsement. The
Republicans, who were the first to
take a stand for a nonpartisan
contest now have indicated there is
possibility they will place candi-
dates in the field. The COP will
hold its mass meeting tomorrow
night.
Mr.. Chew has been a member of
the County Board since 1896. Al
resident of Arlington for AZ years,
Mr.. Chew a Senate reporter, is a |
veteran of World War I. He has
been chairman of the County Board
on three occasions in his three terms
as a member. Mr.. Cuppett, hard
ware merchant, was named to the
board last spring to fill a vacancy
caused by the resignation of Mrs.
Elizabeth B. Magruder. Appointed
by Circuit Judge Walter T. Nc
Carthy, this is Mr.. Cuppett's first
public Office.
Picked on Third Ballot.
MIR. Smith was nominated last
night on the third ballot under an
arrangement whereby league men,
bers picked one nominee from a
field of five and then balloted again
to choose the second candidate.
Mrs. Cannon also was named on
the third ballot of the second series.
Three other, candidates for the
leagues Endorsement, Mrs Carolyn
H. Planck, William E. Day and H. H.
Howe were automatically eliminated
from further participation in the
race under the rules of the league
Mr.. Smith was nominated by
Daniel A. Dugan, a member of the
County Board, who said ito win
the campaign will be long, hard,
brutal job"
Mrs. Cannon was nominated by
Mrs. Ruby G. Simpson, president of
the Arlington Civic Federation, who
said she had known Mrs. Cannon
for Is years and "she is the type
OF woman who makes up her own
mind" Mrs. Simpson said that Mrs.
Cannon, delegate of the Organized
Women Voters to the Civic Fedora
tion for 20 years, understands gov
ernmental affairs"
Carretta Attends.
In addition to Mr.. Dugan, vice
chairman of the Better Govern
ment League, and Mrs Simpson,
members attending last nights
meeting included Albert A. Carretta,
who was defeated Tuesday for the
House of Delegates; Malcolm D.
Miller, who lost the race for COM
monwealth attorney, and Harold r.
Schilz, chairman of the Progress
sive Democrats of Arlington, anti
organization group, on whose ticket
Mr.. Carretta and Mr.. Miller were
candidates.
Harley M. Williams, league chair
man, was manager of Mr.. Dugan's
campaign for election last year.
Mr.. Smith, 36, has been a resi-
dent of Arlington for nine years.
He gained prominence last year
when he waged a successful cam
paign with the County Board, Fed
eral authorities and bus companies
to have buses rerouted off South
Orme street, near the Navy Annex
Building. He is employed by the
Justice Department.
Active Civic Worker.
Mrs. Cannon has lived in Arling-
ton for "a years and has been active
In civic and welfare work. She was
president of the Civic Federation
in 1912 and 1943 and received the
organizations Gold Medal in 1914
for distinguished and meritorious
civic endeavor." She is an employe
of the quatermaster general.
The league also voted to send an
uninstructed delegation to the
School Board Nominating Conven-
ton, which will hold its first ses-
sion tonight, and defeated motion
to have the 18 delegates governed
by the unit rule.
Stray Weather Balloon
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