Evening star., 1947-02-15
Virginia G0hR
WeighsRevision
0f0rganization
Several Considered
For Choirmun if
Dovel Resigns
BY the Associofed Press

BY the Assoeiofed Press
ROANOKE, Va, Feb. 15.-Virginis
Republicans met today in an un.
usual State convention called in 6
year without Statewide elections te
consider a revision of the party
plan of organization and to seek
ways. to promote party harmony.
Foremost in the minds of many
party leaders was the selection oi
a party chairman to succeed I. r
Dovel of Luray, in the event he
carries through an announced in
tention to resign in order to make
way for new blood" in the TOP
party positions.
Mr.. Dovel, State chairman for
the past three years, has many
friends who are seeking to persuade
him not to offer his resignation
There also were supporters for
Robert H. Woods, Pearisburg, who
made the race against Senator A.
Willis Robertson last fall; S. Floyd
Landreth of Galax, gubernatorial
candidate two years ago; State
Senator Ted Dalton, Radford, and
Joe w. Parsons, clerk og the Circuit
Court of Grayson County.
Thomson Due to Preside.
Roby Thomson of Abingdon was
expected to be made temporary
chairman shortly after convening
at II am. in accordance with a rec
Oy,oroardafioy, IF fIoo EyopI1tj1yo Coy,o
mittee. The committees plan called
for Mr.. Thomson to recognize S.
H. Sutherland of Clintwood, Re-
publican nominee for the House in
the 9th district last year, who would
present Mrs. Hazel Goodpasture of
Bristol as the keynote speaker. She
will be the first woman to be &C
corded this honor.
The Executive Committee met in
closed session last night. News
papermen and many Republicans
present for the committee session
left the room after the committee
on motion of Fred McWane, Lynch
burg, seconded by Roy Wolfe of
Gate City voted to hold a closed
session.
Mr.. McWane's motion was op-
posed by Sidney Kelsey, House
nominee in the I'd district last year,
and several other members of the
Executive Committee. During the
discussion, Mr.. Dovel said some
members apparently wanted the
closed session SO that they would
have better opportunity to shoot
at me-" This statement was pro-
tested by both Mr. McWane and
Mr.. Wolfe, who said the committee
needed an opportunity to work on
the agenda for today.
Comprehensive Plan Drawn Up.
The Resolutions Committee, which
met this morning had before it
comprehensive party plan, providing
for a State Executive Committee of
80 members with its duties we'll de-
fined.
This plan was presented to the
committee by S. H. Sutherland,
Clintwood, who last night drafted
the proposed plan as a recommend
alton of strengthening the party's
organization in the State.
He has proposed, among other
things, that the COPS State Com
mfttee be composed of a chairman
and four committeeman -at-large Sc
lected by the State convention. In
addition there would be three COM
mitteemen from each of nine con-
gressional districts, one of whom
would be selected as district chair
man. His proposal also provides for
district, city and county committees
in conventions of their own.
Also recommended in the Suther-
land proposal is the selection of the
State chairman, four committee
men at large, national committee
men and delegates and alternates
at large to national conventions by
State conventions. Likewise, the
plan provides for the nomination of
Republican candidates for Governor
and United States Senators by State
convention. District candidates will
be selected by district conventions,
city and county candidates by city
and county conventions.
Party leaders are sincerely de-
sirous of bringing about party har-
mony because of the Importance of
the 1948 campaign. They point to
the fact that the COP has marked
a gain of 38 per cent in Republican
votes in Virginia in the last presi-
dental election.
Mr.. Dovel has strongly urged the
adoption of the primary method of
selecting Republican candidates to
replace the present nominating con-
vention system. The primaries
would coincide with those of the
Democratic Party.