Evening star., 1948-10-20
ApathyAff|icts
Both Parties in
Fredericksburg
Neither Side
Excited Enough for
Committee. TuIks
This Is one of a series on ths
political outlook IN Northern Vir-
ginta.J
By Alex R. Preston

-NelGner Ine DSIlOCTdtS IlOT tllS
Republicans are sufficiently excited
about the election to call meetings
OF their committees.
In addition to pronounced apathy
within the core of each major party
the local picture is highlighted by
Public Endorsement of Gov. Thur
mond of South Carolina, States
Rights candidate for President, by
one of the most influential politica
figures here.
A political rally-the only one
held. or planned-for Representa-
tive Scott, chairman of the Republi-
can National Committee, was at.
tended by leading Democrats as vel
as Republicans. Mr.. Scott is a ma
tive of Fredericksburg.
The only conclusion reached after
making the rounds among persons
who usually know about such
things is that Representative Bland
Democrat, has little to worry about
fredericksburg vote. Mr.. Blanc
is opposed by Stanley G. Adams, Re-
publican, and J. Luther Kibler, In
dependent, in the First Congress
sional District which extends from
here all the way to Newport News
and across Chesapeake Bay to the
Eastern Shore.
COP Win Seen Likely.
From what leaders have to say
however. it is indicated that Fred
ericksburg probably will vote Re-
publican this year for the second
time in history. The city followed
most of the rest of the State in 1925
when Virginia voted for Herbert
Hoover over Al Smith.
The last time Gov. Dewey ran fol
President in 1914, however. Freder.
icksburg gave him only 698 vote!
against 1902 for President Roose'
welt. Mr.. Bland. incidentally, go
l,166 to 371 for Walter johnson, hi!
Republican opponent, that same
year.
Milton B. Graves, insurance deal.
er. who is chairman of the Demo
cratic Committee, said members "dt
not think they need to be called intt
q meeting"
The Democratic party is split
right to the committee itself, HI
said. "As matter of fact. the split
goes further. 1t goes right into
some families"
Elliott E. Brooks, real estate dealer
who is Republican Committee chair
man, said no G. o. P. rallies have
been held since the one for Repre-
sentative Scott and that none Is
planned" by his committee.
We've got things rolling pretty
much our way now." he explained
There's no use of stirring up things
and getting the Democrats mad at
us with a lot of talk
Attitude Is Common.
This attitude has been noted
among many Northern Virginia Re-
publican leaders.
Mr.. Brooks conceded that Mr.
Bland will be elected by the tota!
1st District vote but promised some
setback for him in the Fredericks-
burg area. He said Senator Rob-
ertson, Democrat, will have a more
difficult time getting the district
vote from Robert H. Woods, Pearls
burg. State G. o. P. chairman who
also is running for the Senate.
Neither Mr.. Bland nor Senator
Robertson have been here" Mr
Brooks said. Bob Woods has been
working hard with radio talks and
public appearances here and in the
Northern Neck counties
Former State Senator c. O'Conor
Goolrick. a leader of the Demoratlc
organization, is the avowed sup
porter of Gov. Thurmond. Mr.. Cool
rick, incidentally, is to speak to-
night at the Municipal Building in
Culpeper while Representative Scott
addresses a University of Virginia
Young Republican Club rally at the
same time in Charlottesville.
Mr.. Goolrick said he did not in
dorse Gov. Thurmond with the idea
of actively entering the campaign.
"A lot of my friends feel that
rather than vote for President Tru-
man they will vote for Gov. Dewey,
he said.
Disagrees With Poll.
He disagreed with a recent ma
tional political poll which indicated
Gov. Thurmond would receive only
per cent of Virginias vote. Mr..
Goolrick estimated Gov. Thurmond
will get about Is per cent of the
State and local vote.
Mr.. Goolrick said he felt all pub
lie officials "of importance" should
make their position known in the
presidential race. He would not
mention which public officials he
had in mind but Gov. Tuck and
Senator Byrd are among the last to
refrain from committing themselves
Mr.. Goolrick agreed that some
significance could be attached tt
Gov. Tuck's introduction of Gov
Thurmond at a recent Richmond
rally and also to the presence O.
Mrs. Byrd, wife of the Senator, a
q Thurmond banquet in Richmond
Effort to Reorganize Party.
The Thurmond movement" III
said, "is not an attempt to create
a new party. 1t is an effort to re
organize the Democratic Party. Th'
Democrats of the South have go
to show they they can not be treatet
with the utmost contempt. The.
deserve to have their place in tn
sun"
The Negro vote is not considered ,
decisive factor In the 1st District b.
either major party. Glouceste
County in the district is one of tw,
whic recently figured in Negro's at
tempt to obtain equal school facili
ties through court action. The other
King George County-which
closer-is in the 9th District.
The daily newspaper here, pub
lished by Mayor Josiah Rowe, ha.
not afirimatively indorsed any can
didate although it often has beer
critical of the Truman administra
tion. The municipal elections ar
conducted on a nonpartisan basi
and about 1900 voters participated
in the last one in June. This set
record although about $500 ar,