Evening star., 1949-11-07

| tNVuI-t OttNIS0s Vino
Among Opponents Of
Suffrage Changes
BY the Assoeiofed Press
The collective voting strength
of several organNations-some Of
them non-political-will be tested
at the polls In Virginia tomorrow.
/ For these groups - which in
clude the Virginia Council Of
Churches. the National Associa-
tion for the Advancement Of Col
ored People. and organized labor
have gone on record In oppo-
sition to the proposed Campbell
suffrage amendments.
And If the amendments are de-
tfeated. these groups and the anti
organization Democrats and Re-
publicans. who also oppose the
amendments, will claim a victory
against the dominant. conserva-
tive faction of the Democratic
Party in the State.
100000 Expected to Vote.
Top State leaders headed by
Senator Byrd. Gov. Tuck and
John S. Battle, the probable next
Governor, have backed and de-
Tended the proposals which would
repeal the poll tax as a prerequi-
site to voting and make other ba-
sic changes in Virginia's election
laws.
Several of the Is Protestant de-
nominations represented on the
council have indicated that they
were not consulted by the council
before it announced its position
on. the amendments.
Interest in the proposed elec-
tion law changes is expected to
bring more than 100000 Virgin
ians to the polls between 6 am.
and 6 pm. About 10000 votes
were cast in the 1945 guberna-
torial election.
While the vote on the amend
ments seems to be a tossup-even
Mr.. Battle has conceded that they
may be defeated-there seems to
be little doubt about the outcome
of the votes for governor, lieu
tenant governor and attorney
general. This traditionally Dem
ocratic State is expected to stay
that way.
IS Contests for Delegate.
All 100 House of Delegates
members are elected this year but
only IS seats are contested. There
is also a contest for one State
Senate seat.
MIR. Battle is opposed by Repub-
lican Walter johnson, common
wealth's attorney Of Northumber-
land County, and Social Democrat
Clarke 7. Robb, of Herndon. @-.
Leut.-Gov. L. Preston Collins.
incumbent Democrat. is opposed
by E. Thomas Mcclure, Peters
burg Republican. There is no Re-
publican opposition for Attorney
General j. Lindsay Almond, Jr.,
but the Social-Democrats have
named Sidney Moore, of Ports
mouth, to run against him.
The State Senate contest is be-
tween Copeland Adams and
George w. Palmer, in five coun-
ties-Amelia, -Lunenberg, Motto
way, Powhatan, and Prince Ed
ward.
Weekend developments saw the
amendments debated by a four
man radio forum in Richmond
and subjected to attack by the
Virginia Commonwealth League
and two Republican leaders.
Clarke, Boothe Speak.
Taking part In yesterdays for
um were State Senator Andrew
w. Clarke and Delegate Armistead
Boothe, both of Alexandria, who
spoke in favor of the amend
ments, and Delegate Robert
Whitehead of Nelson County, and
Attorney Martin Hutchinson of
Richmond, who opposed them.
Mr.. Boothe said he favored
voting the previous year as con-
stituting renewal of registra-
tion," If the amendments pass,
and Senator Clarke said he be-
lieved annual registration will be
necessary to keep current voting
lists If the poll tax is repealed.
On the other side Delegate
Whitehead said the constitution
should spell out the right of a
citizen to vote, that 1t should not
be subject to shifting political
tides" Mr.. Hutchinson termed
the amendments as "undemo-
cratic. incorrectly stated and con-
fusing."
Leading the attacks on the
Commonwealth League forum was
the groups chairman, Col. James
! P. Hart, jr., of Roanoke. Five
other persons spoke BRIEFLY on
the radio broadcast.
Amendments Called Ubiquitous.
The amendments proposal is
enough to discourage any one
] but a lawyer from trying to
understand It," Mr.. Hart said.
Saturday nights attack was
contributed by Mr.. johnson in
what he described as his last ad-
dress of the campaign and by
Robert H. Woods Of Pearisburg
State Republican chairman.
Mr.. johnson called the amend
ments "a good idea Of the ma
chine philosophy . no more
and no less than a bold effort to
deprive you Of your inherent right
to vote" Mr.. johnson asserted
that he did not trust it (the
General Assembly, with power
-