Evening star., 1947-06-19
Ball Repudiaies'
Plea 70 Delay
Arlington Candidate
Refuses to Stond
Behind Shield
By Robert c. RoIIinas

DSHIIIu S1l6IQ
/ By Robert c. RoIIines
| The Executive Committee Of the
/ Arlington Democratic Party has ad-
yised candidates in the August {
Democratic primary to refrain from
replying to questionnaires until they
have been submitted to Republican
and Independent candidates, 1t was
disclosed today.
The disclosure was made by At
torney Frank L. Ball. jr., who is
running for State Senate subject tc
the primary and who repudiated
1.-THE committee resolution containing
/ the advice.
/ ! am mol IN need OF any
resolution of the Democratic Execu-
j tive Committee as a shield to pro-
tect> me from the questions which
might have been asked me by voters
who will nominate Democratic NOM
nees on August S." Mr.. Ball as
serted in a letter to j. Maynard
Magruder, Executive Committee
chairman.
Magruder Is Thanked.
Mr.. Balls letter also thanked Mr..
Magruder for sending him a COPY
of the resolution which was adopted
by the Executive Committee on
June 9.
The committee resolution stated
that "tn the past certain organiza-
tions of Arlington County have
submitted questionnaires directed to
Democratic candidates requesting
an answer prior to the primary. !"
The resolution added that "it is
felt these organizations should not
require the Democratic candidates
to answer QUESTIONABLE before Re-
publicans and independents are
likewise requested"
II do not believe that any candi-
date should hide from the public
his position on any issue" Mr..
Balls letter declared. THE Demo-
cratic primary is a forum in which
the party will nominate the Demo-
crat candidate, and as such think
the voters should be fully informed
as to the position of each candidate,
otherwise cannot see how a mem
Der OF the electorate can determine
the candidates for whom he or she
should cast vote"
Platform Made Clear.
Il have made my platform clear
and I expect to make my position
clear on other issues as they arise
the senatorial candidate said, 'and
certainly I have no desire to use
this resolution as a shield from be-
hind which I can say that I am
unable to answer the question be-
cause it has not been asked of and
answered by Republican and inde-
pendent candidates first"
The resolution also recommend
ed that organizations that wish to|
present questionnaires to candi-
dates, wait until after the August
~ deadline for filing by candidates
In the general election, which win
be held November 4.
Meanwhile, the Progressive DEM
ocrats of Arlington, "a newly formed
organization of antimachine Demo-
crats," announced 20-point plat
form on which it will support Mr..
Ball and five other candidates inl
the primary, according to Harold l..
Schilz, chairman of the Steering
Committee.
Candidates Indorsed.
Other candidates indorsed by the
PDA are Albert A. Caretta, House
of Delegates: Clarence E. Hodges,
county judge; Malcolm D. Miller,
commemorative attorney; James E.
Rice, jr., commissioner of revenue
and Elwood Clements, sheriff. Mr..
Clements is unopposed in the pri-
mary.
The 20-point platform includes:
Abolition of the poll tax as a pre-
requisite to voting, a comprehensive
program for county capital and
school improvements, opposition to
a sales tax, support of legislation
for Federal aid to schools without
Federal control, a Statewide public
health and disqualification program,
completion "in the immediate fu-
ture" of the program to rid Virginia
waterways of pollution, establish
ment of initiative, referendum and
recall statutes for Arlington; a re-
view of the appointive and non
judicial powers of Virginia judges,
a convention to revise the 1902 State
constitution, establishment of al
merit system for county employees.
Also, codiflcation of county laws,
activation Of a county housing au-
thority, abolition of the power of
the Virginia Milk Commission to
fix minimum prices in Arlington,
an industrial policy in the State
which would include recognition by
the Commonwealth of the right of
collective bargaining, jury duty for
women, regional penal institutions,
tenure system for school teachers,
conducting of the County Court in
a manner "befitting the dignity of
a judicial tribunal and introduc-
ton of up-to-date procedures inf
the office of the commissioner of |
revenue.