Evening star., 1947-11-03
Heavy BaI|oting Seen
In Nearby Virginia
Counties Tomorrow
By Alex R. Preston

iNVU1ttISS iVll1VIIV"
By Alex R. Preston
Virginians will have IL hours to
vote in tomorrow's election, with
indications of a heavy ballot in
Arlington and Fairfax counties. In
Alexandria, where no local offices
are at stake, the turnout is expected
to be moderate.
Polls will be open from 6 am. to
pm under the States new uniform
voting hours law which replaced
the old sunrise-to-sunset system.
Generally speaking. Democrats,
who normally control most offices
in the nearby area. are expected
to fare better if the total number
of votes is kept down by inclement
weather or by unexpected apathy.
Party Better Organized.
| This is because the Democratic
Party has been better organized
and controls fixed number of votes,
or block, in every election. An ap-
Proclamation of the size of this block,
may be arrived at from figures in the
August Democratic primary when
more than $500 voted in Fairfax
and more than 7700 in Arlington.
The prospective turnout in Airing
ton tomorrow has been estimated
at more than 10000 by Democratic
leaders and as high as $4,000 in some
Republican and neutral quarters.
The Fairfax vote probably will be
more than half of that of Arlington,
observers believe.
Ladd Charges Broken Faith"
Kenneth Ladd, Democratic CAM
paign chairman, charged today that
Republicans have broken faith"
with citizens by failing to refrain
from participation in the nom
partisan County Board and School
Board contests. The Democrats
have held to their promise, he said.
He cited the guide ballots of both
parties. Democrats issued sample
containing names OF only the canoi-
dates seeking Office along partisan
lines whileSRepublican sample bal
lots also include County Board and
School Board names.
while their ballots are not
printed with checks opposite the
names of the partisan candi-
dates" Mr.. Ladd said, "a number Of
Republican information ballots have
already appeared marked for these
Offices"
Smith Speaks for G. o. p.
A Republican last-minute state
ment came from Stephen M. Smith,
campaign chairman.
He reminded Federal workers In
Washington to vote early to avoid
the usual late-hour rush by taking
their two hours. where allowed, in
the morning. Persons employed in
private industry will crowd the polls
after work, he warned.
The vote will be heavy" Mr..
Smith said, "and regardless of how
they vote, I would like to see every
person cast a ballot who has a right
to do So
Fenwick Answers Charges.
Charges of "willful misrepresenta-
ton" were made by Charles r. Fen
wick, Democratic nominee for State
Senator from Arlington, against
Talmadge Wilcher, his Republican
opponent.
Mr.. Fenwick said Mr.. Wilcher
published a political advertisement
which included photographs of pa
tients in State mental institution,
and which implied that Mr. Fen
wick was responsible for the condi-
tions pictured.
These pictures are q part OF a
before and after SERIES" Mr. Fen
wick said. "Wilcher printed the be
fore series in an attempt to deceive
people into believing these condi
tions now exist. Furthermore, the
date on these pictures was deleted
so that the public would not know
that they were part of series.
Boards Functions Cited.
"Wilcher knows full we'll that
mental institutions are under the
Department of Mental Hygiene and
Hospitals, a department entirely
separate and distinct from the We'll
fare Board of which I am a men,
ber."
Mr.. Fenwick said it is true that
the Welfare Board Is charged with
periodic inspections" of the institu-
tions but has nothing whatever to
do with their administration or
policies He added the record will
show that the Welfare Board re-
peatedly has recommended that
conditions in mental hospitals be
improved. Mr. Wilcher's statement
that I saw these conditions and
did nothing to improve them is
completely false" he said.
A contract, recently has been let
for new mental institution at
Eastern State Hospital, Williams
burg. where the pictures used in the
advertisement were taken, Mr.. Fen
wick declared.
Endorsements Disputed.
The Greater Arlington Association,
meanwhile, charged that 43 of the
81 organizations which the five
candidates of the School Board
Nominating Convention claimed had
indorsed them, actually had not
done so The remaining eight or
CARNATIONS were not checked, w. 8.
Hoge, jr., chairman of the GAA
Executive Committee, said.
Oscar r. LeBeau, co-chairman of
the nominating conference, which
sponsored the convention, declared
the conference never had claimed
Endorsement of the organizations.
He pointed out, however, that the 81
organizations had sent delegates to
the convention and that the con-
ference was created by the Arlington
Civic Federation, the Better Govern
ment League, the Citizens Commit
tee for School improvement, the
Organized Women Voters and the
League of Women Voters.
| Mr.. LeBeau also declared he Is
not, "nor have I ever been, af
aspirant for the job of school super
intendent." Mr.. LeBeau said he