Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-07-20
Virginia cop;
Adopts Platform
For Candidates
Record Is Reported
In Number Seeking
Office in Foil
Ax the Associated Pres,

BY the Associated Press
ROANOKE, Va, July ia COM
prehensive uniform party platform
for legislative and local candidates
in the fall elections was adopted
unanimously here today by the Re-
publican State Central Committee.
The platform was prepared by the
State Policy Committee headed by
Senator S. Floyd Landreth, of Galax.
State Chairman Robert H. Woods,
of Pearisburg, declared that since he
had assumed State leadership every
appointee had accepted his respon-
sibilities with enthusiasm.
He pointed out that I'VE now have
more candidates for State and local
Offices than ever before with a
number of nominating conventions
vet to be held in some sections OF
the State, notably in the 9th Con-
gressional District.
Preamble of Platform.
The preamble of the platform de-
clared, lin the interest of good Gov
eminent, sound business and pollt-
ica!>morality, the Republican legls-
lative candidates demand the calling
of an unrestricted convention whose
members will be elected by the
people and pledged to submit a
modernized and progressive con-
stitution for ratification or relec"
ton"
The general trend within Virginia
for several generations has been a
gradual loss to local government OF
responsibility and authority and a
commensurate increase wit h n
State agencies, the platform went
on
I'VE favor more authority and
responsibility being vested in the
Boards of Supervisors and that ade-
quate salaries be paid these officials.
We urge that the power to fix
salaries of officials elected by the
people be restored to the local gov
ernments and that the State Com
pensationi board be abolished.
More Action Pledged.
In the field of schools and educa-
ton. and kindred activities, the
platform declared that "the time
has come for the people of Virginia
to go beyond the stage of merely
saying that we need more advan-
tages for education, health. the
insane :" And charged that "the
party in power never has offered a
program for their adequate mainte-
nance"
The Republican Party takes the
position that conditions must be
corrected education must be put
above monetary and political con-
sideration if the future of Virginia
is to be safeguarded.'
1t further declared that the peo-
pie of Virginia frankly acknowledge
that the public educational system
has reached such low point that
it can no longer be trusted to pro-
vide proper school facilities for their
children.
The direct election of School
Board members by the people was
asked to abolish the present method
of their appointment by partisan
political authorities whose primary
interest seems to be the malnte-
nance of a vicious political system
rather than increased educational
opportunities for those who should
be our greatest concern"
Adequate teacher pay commensu-
rate with qualifications. experience
and length of service also was pro-
posed in the platform, with MIMI
mum salary of $2,400 annually. Fur
Their, it was recommended that the
State adopt curriculum based or a
12-year unit, that free text books
be provided, and appropriation tc
elementary schools of a greater per-
centage of the total school fund
than at present.
Government Economy Demanded.
Greater economy in State govern
ment was demanded, with a more
efficient and less expensive method
of collection of taxes, both of which
would provide additional revenues
for necessary expansion of certain
functions required of modern
State.
Pointing out that the Party con-
sistently has urged the removal o.
the poll tax as prerequisite tx
voting, the platform calls for con
tinuation of a capitation tax to b.
collected annually. 1t also was urgee
that a greater proportionate shar'
of revenue collected from resident
be returned to localities.
The judiciary must be divorced
from partisan and factional polite
by taking away undemocratic ap
pointive powers, and the judge
should devote their full time Il
providing speedy, impartial and in
expensive trials and to bringing
about a greater respect for Law
observance, it was set out, and wv
urge that the doors of our court
be open to all citizens whose in
terests or rights may be adversel,
affected by any State board, bureau
commission or administrative
agency.
1t called for election of tria
justices by direct vote of the people
Appointment of justices of tn
Supreme Court of Appeals by tn
Governor. subject to legislativ
confirmation, with no more thai
four of the justices being member
of any one political party, wa
proposed.
Winchester Peach Raisers