Evening star., 1948-03-27
Virginia 'sEighth
District 6. 0. P.
To Hold Primary
Convention Decision
Likely to Affect
House Race Only
By Robert C.. RoIIinqs

gressional district today were max
ing plans for what they believe will
be the first primary for the selec-
ton of candidates ever to be held
by the COP in the Old Dominion.
The primary method of choosing
nominees was voted yesterday at
the annual District convention in
Culpeper, over the objection of dele
cations from five of the districts
II areas.
Actually, the race for House of
Representatives will be the only one
affected by yesterdays action, un-
less other districts in the State de-
eide to hold primaries decision
which is regarded by most observ-
ers as practically an impossibility.
The primary, under State law, will
be held simultaneously with the
Democratic Party primary.
Dominant 3 Work Together.
Yesterdays meeting was complete
ly dominated by the delegations
from Arlington, Alexandria and
Fairfax. Together, the three had
157 of the total of 259 votes in the
convention. And the three, all vot-
ing by the unit rule, worked in har-
mony throughout the day-long ses-
sion in Culpeper's municipal build
ing.
The meeting selected a district
chairman, delegates and alternates
to the national convention, three
members of the State Central Com
mittee and a presidential elector.
The convention elected Talmage
Wilcher, Arlington, temporary chair
man, and Otho Call, Madison, tenn
porary secretary. The meeting
scarcely was under way before sharp
differences between the northern
and southern portions of the district
were apparent. There are Is coun-
ties and two cities in the district.
First indication came when Cecil
c. Coppedge, Madison. moved that
each delegation designate one men,
ber to serve on each of four con-
vention committees-permanent Or
ganization, nominating, credentials
and resolutions. Edward w. Pumph-
rey, Arlington, asked that the chair
appoint membership of the COM
mittees and that the number on each
be limited to five.
Coppedge Victory Sidetracked.
After some discussion, Mr.. Pun
phrey withdrew his motion and the
method suggested by Mr.. Coppedge
was selected. Later, however, when
the Nominating Committee under
Craftsmanship of F. Roy Early, Char
lottesville brought in its report, a
motion to table by Mr.. Pr1nphrey
was carried, 157-92-with only the
Arlington Alexandria, Fairfax dele
cations favoring the move.
After the report was shelved, NOM
nations were made from the floor,
with the result that, with one ex-
ception, all Offices were filled with
members of the Arlington-Alex-
andria Fairfax delegations. The ex-
ception was one of two alternates to
the national convention. The Nom
mating Committee slate had con-
tanned four residents of other areas.
i Carl A. Marshall. Fairfax, who
also was the committees nominee,
was unanimously reelected district
chairman.
Others elected were as follows:
Two delegates to the national con-
vention: Mr.. Marshall, 249 votes,
and Mr.. Pumphrey, 1865 votes. w.
E. Trusler Prince William, who,
with Mr.. Marshall had been on the
committees slate, received "a votes.
Two alternates. Raymond Gaines,
Alexandria, and John Morris Green
both unanimously.
State Central Committee.
Three members of the State Gen.
trail Committee: Mr.. Wilcher, 206
votes; Nathan j. Paulson, Alex
andria, 176 votes, and Douglas
Hatch, Fairfax, ITS votes. Mr.. Cop
pedge received 81 votes, and Robert
r. Harmon, Albemarle, SO votes. Mr.
Paulson, Mr.. Coppedge and Mr.
Morris had been the nominees OF
the committee.
Mrs. Wilma Macpherson, Airing
ton, who had been unanimously
selected by the Nominating Com
!. mittee for presidential elector, was
! nominated from the floor, as was
: Robert Drumwright, Fluvanna. Mrs
Macpherson was elected, 1882 tc
1912 votes. She is believed to be the
first woman in the State to be