Evening star., 1947-03-23
Repub|icansCall
Tuck Program
Central Committee
Calls for Revision of
State Constitution
BY the Assoeioied Press

by fhe ASSoeiofed PreSS
RICHMOND, Va, Mar. 22-fhe
new Republican State Central Com
mittee turned a skeptical eye today
on Gov. Tuck's government re-
organization plans, said his appoint
ment of study commission looked
like merely another gesture" and
called for revision of Virginia's "out-
moded and inefficient constitution"
by constitutional convention as the
prime need In any governmental
reforms.
Such was the burden of a resolu-
ton adopted by the group as it
squared off, in the Central Com
mittee's first meeting since it was
created by the, Republican State
convention in Roanoke last month,
to lead Virginia Republicans into a
reinvigorated bid for voters support.
The committee elected four vice
chairmen, a secretary and a treas
urer; set up a new committee on
public relations; resolved to make
an all-out effort in this years
General Assembly elections and
then tackled the government re-
organization question.
Call for Complete Study.
while we are in full accord with
Gov. Tuck on the belief that there
is the necessity for a complete study
of the fundamental law of the Com
monwealth." said resolution adop-
ted unanimously, "* = We look
upon the appointment of this COM
mission, to make another report to
another Legislature, there to repose
peacefully as another graveyard
monument. "*
'The time has arrived when the
people of this Commonwealth.
through their delegated represent
tatives, shall be given their sovereign
right to rewrite our constitution;
and to that end, we urge upon our
candidates for election to the Gen.
eral Assembly to pledge themselves,
If elected, to insist upon and vote
for State convention to be called
to rewrite our constitution. ."
Another resolution authorized
State COP Chairman Robert H.
Woods, of Pearisburg. to appoint a
committee of five to prepare recon-
mendations for changes in Virginia
election laws and submit them to
the State Board of Elections.
Permanent Office Approved.
The Central Committee also ap-
proved plans for permanent State
Republican headquarters office, to
be operated by full-time executive
director.
Named as public relations chair
man was James p. Selvage, of Madi-
son County. a former Richmond
rewspaperman who served two years
as assistant to the Republican ma
tional chairman. J
Earle Lutz of Richmond, Repub-
lican candidate for the House of
Representatives in the 3rd District
last year, was elected secretary Of
the Central Committee, and Fred
w. McWane, Of Lynchburg, was
named treasurer. They, along with
Chairman Woods and Curtis M.
Dozier, of Richmond, Republican
national committeeman for Virginia,
round out the membership of the
Public Relations Committee.
Miss Phyllis A. Otey, of Richmond.
was elected one Of the committees
four vice chairmen. Others are Mrs.
Charles L. Hough, of Roanoke: A.
B. Solenberger, of Winchester, and
Clarence r. Ahalt, Of Leesburg.
Conferences Planned.
The Public Relations Committee
was empowered to draft a set of
platform planks on Statewide mat
ters, on which Republican assembly
candidates will run this year.
Republican planners also decided
to hold six policy conferences each
year in strategic points over the
State.
The schedule calls for the FIRST
conference to be held at Winchester
In April. Others include:
Mountain Lake, in June; Virginia
Beach, August; Natural Bridge, Oc-
tober; Pennington Country Club,
near Charlottesville, December. and
Williamsburg, February.