Evening star., 1948-08-04
Byrd Candidates
Win Virginia
Primary Races
AIexundriu's Margin
For Smith Is Slender:
Frisbie Is Victor
By Alex R. Preston

BY Alex K. Preston
Virginia Republicans, hopeful
of scoring important victories at
the polls in November, today
found themselves confronted
once more with the formidable
task of beating candidates
backed by the Byrd organization.
AL candidates with support from
the dominant organization won
nominations yesterday in the State
Democratic primary.
Senator Robertson of Lexington
held better than a two-to-one lead
for denomination over James P.
Hart, jr., Roanoke, in incomplete
unofficial returns The count was
72,516 to 3l,415 with 1898 out of the
States 1,755 precincts reported.
Senator Robertson, who like other
Democratic victors in yesterdays
primary is closely identified with
the predominant organization head
ed by Senator Byrd, will face Rob-
ert H. Woods of Pearisburg, in No
vember. Mr. Woods was nominated
for the Senate by the COP State
convention in Roanoke last spring.
In the 9th district, where Demo-
Gratis and Republicans staged the
States first bi-party primary, Rep
resentative Smith of Alexandria
scored a tWo-to-one victory over
Arthur F. Souther of Arlington, who
attacked the predominant organiza-
tiOn.
With 179 of the districts 234 pre-
cincts reported, Mr.. Smith received
1858 votes to 4,213 for Mr.. Souther.
MI. Smith had relatively tough
shedding in his own home town,
however. Alexandria voters gave
him 994 votes to 970 for his oppo-
nent, according to complete unof-
fetal figures there.
Eighth district Republicans rlom-
mated Tyrrell Krum of Vienna, vet.
erans' editor of the Times Herald,
to oppose Mr. Smith in November.
Mr.. Krum's vote in the 179 pre-
cincts was 2,184 to 1,037 for his Re-
publican opponent, Charles o. Pratt
Of Alexandria.
With no national issues at stake,
except possible indication of anti
Truman versus pro-Truman strength
in the 9Th district, there was little
of interest to bring out large vote.
In the nearby areas, the only local
contest which might have spurred
voters-and only the Democrats-to
vote was three-way race for the
party nomination to the Arlington
County Board.
Frisbie RenOminated.
Alfred E. Frisbie, incumbent,
weathered his first political contest
to be renominated to the county
board with 2,349 ballots. Mr..
Frisbie was appointed last year to
serve out the unexpired term Of
the late Leo Lloyd. Although not
openly Endorsed by the predominant
faction of the party, organization
leaders we're observed handing out
sample ballots for him yesterday
along with slips marked for Senator
Robertson and Representative
Smith.
Mr.. Frisbie defeated Harold L.
Schiiz, who received 1882 votes and
William c. Nemeth, who polled 811.
He will face another three-cornered
campaign in November unless others
file. His opponents will be Lee Pot
ter, independent. and Francis j.
Clair, who sought to file for Re-
publican primary for the County
Board but the G. o. P. organiza-
ton declined to indorse him.
Some looked to the 9Th district
results of the House nomination for
an indication of anti-Truman SEN
timent which has played predom-
inant role in both the Presidential
campaign this year and the Guber-
material contest which is developing
for next year.
In the 9Th, Mayor Clarence G.
Burton of Lynchburg, who entered
the Democratic primary with organ
ization support, polled almost twice
as many votes as both of his rivals
combined. With 1862 of 191 precincts
reported, Mayor Burton had II, ,160
to 4,779 for Robert Menefee, Roanoke
radio man, and 1,750 for Ernest
Robertson, member Of the House Of
Delegates from Salem.
Sought Almonds Seat.
All three sought the nomination
for the seat left vacant by the
resignation of j. Lindsay Almond,
jr., from the House to become State
attorney general.
For some who believe the district
may reflect Truman sentiment in
the State, results indicated that the
anti Truman movement Is unpopu-
lar with Virginians. This is because
Delegate Robertson, who trailed the
ticket, was the only one of the three
who said he would not vote for Mr..
Truman in November. The other
said they expected to support the
national ticket.
In the States only other contested
House race among the Democrats,
Representative Gary appeared as
sured of denomination in the Sd
District. In 120 out Of 126 precincts
there he led State Senator James
E. Gardner, 1889 to 5,996. Both
are from Richmond.
Last night, Howard H. Carwile,
attorney, declared in radio address
in Richmond that he would be an
independent candidate opposing
Senator Robertson and Mr.. Woods.