Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-11-06

Spotlight in Virginia
Referendum tuesday
By Alex R. Preston
Faced with a threat of congress
sional action next. year, Virginia
voters will decide Tuesday whether
or not they will repeal the poll
tax as voting prerequisite.
Between 6 am. and 6 pm. they
also will vote for a governor, lieu
tenant-governor. attorney general
and determine the makeup of the
House Of Delegates. A number Of
county and municipal offices also
will be filled.
Because the election is virtually
certain to result in victory for
John s. Battle, Democratic can
didate for Governor, and his run
ming mates, the heat of the cam
paign since the August primaries
has centered on the proposed SUI
frage amendments to the State
constitution.
Virginia members of Congress
have warned that the House-ap-
proved Norton bill, banning a poll
tax for elections to Federal offices.
is certain to be approved by the
Senate when Congress reconvenes
next year. And there is no doubt,
they warn. that President Tru-
man would sign the act with
pleasure" because 1t is a part Of
his civil rights program.
G. O. p. Fights Amendments.
But Mr.. Battles opponent, Wal
ter johnson. Republican. OF
Heathsville. as we'll as the rank
and file Of the G. o. p, are hight
ing the amendments. They are
Joined by Mr.. Battles opponent
in the primary. Francis Pickens
Miller. and Fair Deal and States
Rights Democrats.
The issue has. in fact, developed
into q paradox: Republicans, Ne
groes, labor and even some church
groups which have long sought to
repeal the poll tax in seven States,
now find the plan offered Old Do
minion voters entirely unaccept-
able.
Their objection generally cen
tiers on the fact that the poll tax
amendments are package
proposition-one which must be
accepted along with other sweep
ing changes in the suffrage laws,
Norton Bill Approval Seen.
Democratic leaders have car
ried the issue to the people and
have urged approval Of the amend
ments, although they insist that
the question is not a partisan
matter. Opposing factions fear,
however. that the other amend
ments that must be accepted al
the same time would reduce the
electorate and tighten. the hold
Of the Byrd organization over
State affairs.
Mr.. Battle is certain Congress
will pass the Norton bill in Feb
ruary or March and although he
believes it would be unconstitu-
tional, he feels twill he sustained
by the Supreme Court.
] On. the other hand, the threat
Of legal action within Virginia
If the amendments are approved
has come from Robert Whitehead
q member OF Mr.. Miller's Demo-
cratic faction.
Almond Predicts Chaos
Attorney General j. Lindsay
Almond. jr., the Democrat who is
opposed to Sidney Moore. a Social
democrat, says this will happen
II the amendments are defeated :
A Federal law will BAN the POLL
tax while the Virginia Constitu-
ton will require such a levy. Thus,
in next years congressional cleo
lions. for instance, one set of
qualifications would exist for
voters naming members of Con-
gress while another list Of re-
quirements would determine those
qualified" to vote for other State
and local offices. This would re-
suit In chaos" Mr.. Almond pre-
diets.
Outcome Of the referendum
will depend to some extent on the
size Of the vote-a larger vote
generally regarded as being detri-
mental to adoption of the amend
ments. The Weather Bureaus
flve-day outlook indicates there
may be scattered light showers
Tuesday.
Light Vote Expected.
Absence of strong State wide
and local contests, except in a
few instances, is expected to keep
the vote down far below the more
than 100000 ballots cast in last
years Presidential election.
The third Statewide contest
for lieutenant-governor-also has
been marked by an absence OF
campaigning. L. Preston Collins
OF Marion, seeks to return for his
second four-year term. He is
opposed by Clarke T. Robb. win.
ner of the Republicans first
Statewide primary.
Mr.. Collins apparently lost the
Democratic nomination four
years ago to Charles r. Fenwick
State Senator from Arlington, I'm.
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