Evening star., 1949-10-10
2-Pafty League
Formed toFight
Virginia Poll Tax
Group Seeks Defeat
Of Proposed Campbell
Amendments Nov. 8
BY the Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va, Oct. To-
Elements of the democratic Party
and Republicans have joined
hands with labor forces in
loosely knit nonpartisan league
designed to defeat the proposed
Campbell constitutional amend
ments in the November 8 general
election.
After setting up a Statewide
group called the Virginia Right
To-Vote League, the organizing
group of about 40 persons asked
that constitutional convention
be held in 1850 to repeal the poll
tax provision and to set up a
"literacy law" as prerequisite
for voting.
At meeting here Saturday
called by Beecher E. Stallard.
Richmond attorney, the league
chose Virgil H. Goode of Rocky
Mount, commemorative attorney
of Franklin County, as its perma-
nent chairman. Kenneth Miller.
Richmond attorney, was elected
secretary-treasurer.
Leaders said the leagues organ
izing group included Republicans,
labor representatives and some
Democrats who supported Rem
mie L. Arnold, Francis Pickens
Miller and Horace H. Edwards in
the August 2 primary.
Miller Leads Attack.
The attack on the Campbell
amendments was led by Mr..
Miller, defeated gubernatorial
candidate in the primary, and by
Robert Whitehead, member of the
House of Delegates from Nelson
County.
Both denounced the suffrage
amendments, declaring that they
are unalterably opposed to their
passage.
Regardless of any other con-
siderations, I would vote against
the proposed constitutional
amendments on November 8 be-
cause of the incredible incom-
petence displayed by those re-
sponsible for preparing the ballot
on these amendments" Mr.. Miller
declared. THE language on the
ballot says exactly the opposite
of what it was supposed to say"
.'It is proper that we should
meet here today as a bipartisan
group to consider these amend
ments," Mr.. Miller continued.
Each person present has pri-
mary political loyalty to his own
party. am a Democrat and, as
is my custom, will Fundamentally
support the straight Democratic
ticket on November 8.
"Not a Party ISSUE"
THE question before us, how
ever. is not a party issue. It con-
Germs all citizens of both parties
SO now while supporting the
candidates of our respective par
ties, we can work together to as
sure that there is no tampering in
Virginia with our fundamental
right to vote"
Mr.. Whitehead told those pres
ent that he had voted against the
Campbell amendments as a mem
ber of the House of Delegates. He
said, II don't want any General
Assembly from session to session
laying down terms on which can
exercise my suffrage" =
Also speaking was Charles &c.
Webber, president of the Virginia
State Industrial Union, CIO, who
said his organization. is actively
opposed to the amendments.
The resolution calling for defeat
of the amendments and asking for
a constitutional convention in 1850
was prepared by DR.. Robert D.
Meade, professor of history at
Randolph-Macon Women's COL
lege. It condemned the proposed
Campbell changes as "inequitable
and badly worded."
Active and vigorous work in
opposition to the amendments
in each and every county
and city of the commonwealth"
was urged in another resolution.
prepared by Martin A. Hutchin-
son, Richmond attorney who ran
against Harry F. Byrd for the
Senate in 1916. Under this re-.
solution the league will operate q
State headquarters in Richmond
and will have Republican and
Democratic co-directors.
Battle Backed Proposal.
Only the successful guberna-
torial candidate, John S. Battle
of Charlottesville supported the
amendments in the primary. They
were opposed by Mr.. Miller, Mr..
Edwards and Mr.. Arnold. In ad-
dition Republican Nominee Walter
johnson of Heathsville came out
Saturday for rejection of the pro-
posed changes in the State con-
stitution.
The General Assembly would
have to meet twice next year if the
State heeds the leagues plea for
a constitutional convention in
1850.
Procedures for calling a Stats
convention on the constitution is
outlined in Section 1877 Of the
present constitution. In brief. the
section calls for:
Approval of calling the conven-
ton by a majority in both the
State Senate and the House Of
Delegates; submission of the
questions to the voters If approved
by the General Assembly; and q
second meeting of the General
Assembly for the election Of dele
gates to such a convention If it ID
approved by the veters.
If all the steps outlined In Sec
ton 1877 were approved by the
General Assembly and the voters,
this would mean that the States
chief legislative body would have
to meet in an extra session next
year to have a constitutional con-