Evening star., 1948-04-01
Politics Charqe
Stirs Interest in
Alexandra Race
Opposing Factions
Roise Issue of
Machine Control
By Mary Lou Werner

''Nty &Se VvStuSI
Charges that both opposing fac.
tions seeking election to the Alex.
andria City Council are under con.
troll of political machines brought
new life today to a heretofore dull
prediction campaign.
Leroy S. Bendheim, one of five
candidates indorsed by the Veterans
Committee for Veterans, told {
public meeting sponsored by tn.
Alexandria League of Womer
Voters last night he thought Arm.
istead Boothe or Maurice Rosenberg
was the walking man" behind tht
four candidates who are running
as a slate. Mr.. Boothe is Alexan.
drias representative to the House
of Delegates and Mr.. Rosenberg Is 9
former member.
The four candidates are Albert A
Smoot, Randall j. Hicks. Arthur r
Campbell and David D. Squires
These four issued statement yes
terday charging that the five can
didates Endorsed by the veterans
were being backed by "a certain well
entrenched political force which
have now assumed new name
Duncan Is Named.
Mr.. Smoot told reporters last
night the chief of the 'political
forces" referred to in the statement
he and his colleagues released
yesterday was Judge James r. Dun
can of Alexandria Civil and Police
Court.
I'VE welcome the admission at
last that certain other candidates
are running as slate" Messrs.
Smoot, Hicks, Squires and Campbell
declared.
These four, who are known as the
st-large slate, added:
I'VE acknowledge the sincerity OF
many of the new members OF the
committee with the new name. But
we challenge any one who knows to
deny that certain politician who
has for years sought to dominate
City Council was a chief sponsor Of
the Veterans Committee meeting
held on Monday night, that the an
nouncement of the meeting to the
press came from his Office, that he
attended the meeting and assigned
workers to various wards at the end
Of the meeting"
Attack Is Recalled.
"The machine is now admitting
that it is doing exactly what it at
tackled us for doing openly two weeks
ago." the statement said. Politicians
do not like to be forced to. lay bare
to the public view their plans, their
organization and their candidates.
If our announcement has at last
smoked out the core of our oppose
tion, we are glad to have. rendered
this public service, come what may,
cost what it will" s;4,%
Mr.. Smoot charged that Al. B.
Clohosey, who is chairman, of the
Veterans for Veterans Committee,
probably was a new Edgar Bergen
of the old machine" Seas
Mr.. Clohosey promptly replied that
the veterans committee which had
its first organization meeting Mon
day night, is an independent, non
partisan organization comprising
members of all of the veterans or
ganization in the city and formed for
the aims and purposes announced
at the meeting"
He said the committee indorsed
the candidacy of five men seeking
election to the four council vcancieS
without their requesting the indorse-
ment. He explained a sixth veteran
who is in the council race, Randall
]. Hicks, was not Endorsed because it
was felt that he had joined in a
Clique" to seize control of the city
government" In doing this, Mr..
Clohosey declared, Mr.. Hicks "de-
MED all the ideals for which the vet
Grams fought in two wars"
"Slate" Is Denied.
Mr.. Clohosey said, II don't see
how Endorsement of more candidates
than there are vacancies can. be
construed as slate"
In addition to Mr.. Bendheim, the
four other candidates lndorsed with
him by the Veterans Committee
were Marshall j. Beverley, Roy
Bragg, John Worthington and C. B.
Harris.
The candidates spoke at the Alex
andria League of Women Voters To-
rum in the George Mason School.
A 10th candidate, Ernest Mankin,
also spoke. The only candidate who
was not present was John j. Ewald,
incumbent, who sent word that he
had previous engagement.
Four of the II candidates will be
chosen in the Democratic primary
next Tuesday. To date, no Repub-
licans or Independents seek election
in the general council election in
June. If no Republicans or inde-
pendents enter the race, the four
Demoerast chosen in Tuesdays elec-
ton automatically will fill the va