Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-07-30
Campaign Bus
Driver Cleared
In Alexandria
Judge Holds Arrest
On Sound Truck Law
Was Unconstitutionu
BULLETIN

BULLETIN
Judge James r. Duncan to-
day dismissed charges against
Daniel Cronin for operating a
political sound truck in Alex
andria without obtaining a
local $25 license. Judge Dun
can said the city ordinance was
unconstitutional, as ruled in a
recent United States Supreme
Court case.
The question of whether a po-
litical campaigner must obtain a
city permit before operating his
sound bus in Alexandria was sched-
uled to be taken up today in Alex
andria Civil and Police Court.
Judge James r. Duncan was to
pass on that question in the case OF
Dan Cronin, member of the Roanoke
City Council, who was arrested yes
terday for operating a mobile loud
speaker without obtaining a $25
local permit.
Mr.. Cronin was operating the
truck for James P. Hart OF Roanoke,
candidate in Tuesdays primary 1or
the Senate nomination from Viz
GINA. MIR. Hart is opposing Senator
Robertson. Both Mr.. Cronin and
Mr.. Hart said they believe laws such
as that under which the arrest was
made had been held unconstltu-
tional by the Supreme Court.
Mr.. Cronin, who won election as
an antiorganization candidate, SAID
he tried to tell police the SOUND
truck ordinance is unconstitutional
He said he was told it was still the
law in Alexandria to take out $50
permit for each day a sound truck
or bus-is operated.
Police Chief Denies Politics.
Mr.. Hart, who had been cam
imagining with Mr.. Cronin in Alex
andria and Arlington from the bus
without interruption all morning,
saw in the arrest an attempt TO
. ouash his only means of reaching
the people
Police Chief Edgar Sims said
there was nothing political about
the arrest. He declared it was strict
" routine for police to check up on
sound truck operators to see II they
have permits, and in cases where
they found no permits to enforce
the law.
The candidate said he could not
afford newspaper advertisements or
expensive radio breakfasts.
TT Just shows what one must
20 through to fight the Byrd-Tuck
machine in order to stimulate inter-
est in government" Mr.. Hart as
serted.
Protesting his arrest, Mr.. Cronin
said the Supreme Court had ruled
on June 7 that such laws were in
valid under the Constitution because
they affect free speech.
The Supreme Court ruling. how
ever. had to do with a ,Lockport
IN. " law which gave the city's
chief of police power to decide
whether sound trucks would be per-
mitted to operate in the city. The
high court held in that decision that
loud speakers are today indispensa-
BILE instruments of effective public
speech" and the Lockport law vio-
lated the first amendments guar
antee of free speech.
Mr.. Cronin said the sound bus
had been used throughout the State
without interference. He added that
the privilege of using it had never
been abused.
I'VE have used it everywhere
Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke, Bris-
fol. Danville-even in the sacred
stronghold, Winchester Mr.. Cronin
declared.
Senator Byrd lives in Winchester.
Bus Decorated with Slogans.
The idea of using bus for his
campaign headquarters came to Mr..
Hart shortly after he deci5ed to
oppose Senator Robertson for the
Democratic nomination. He bought
an old transit company bus and
decorated it with his campaign
slogans. A destination sign on the
front reads, Capitol HILL" and on
the sides a placard reads, Don't
miss the bus"
Mr.. Hart and friends who accom-
pany him on tours of the State, de-
clare the idea has paid off. Since
he began, the first week in June. Mr.
Hart has touched almost every
county in Virginia.
Mr. Harris supporters believe the
people are getting to know him and,
what's more, like him.
The bus stops anywhere. Along
the road it picks up any one who
happens to be going in the same
direction. One Saturday morning
en- route to Bristol, the free-riders
had standing room only
And when the campaign is over
whether the bus reaches the
destination as listed on the front
sign or not--the vehicle is going
to be donated to the Episcopal
Home for Boys near Covington, Va,
which has no transportation at