Evening star., 1949-07-24
Ex.Gov. Peery
Supports Battle
AsBestQua|ified
Other ; Candidates
Talk Throughout State
On Campaign Issues

On Campaign issues
With only nine days remaining
before the August 2 Democratic
primary in Virginia. the campaign
of State Senator John S. Battle
for that party's gubernatorial
nomination received further i'm
petus yesterday with the indorse-
ment of former Gov. George c.
Peery.
This development came as the
three other Democratic candi-
dates elaborated on their plat
forms and continued their attacks
on each other in talks throughout
the State.
Mr.. Peery, who served as the
States chief executive from 1884
to 1898, said in a statement issued
at his law Office in Tazewell that
"I know of no one better qualified
to discharge the duties of Cover
nor of Virginia than John S.
Battle"
Byrd Supports Battle.
He thus became the second ex-
Governor to indorse publicly a
candidate in the four -cornered
race for the Democratic nomina-
ton. The first was Senator Byrd,
who was Governor from 1926 to
1890. The incumbent, Gov. Tuck,
also has come out for Senator
Battle.
Mr.. Peery's statement said,
John S. Battle. by reason of his
20 years of public service in the
House of Delegates and Senate OF
Virginia. has comprehensive
knowledge of State affairs.
AS an open-m minded Christian, he
is genuinely concerned for the
people of the Commonwealth,
educationally. physically and So
Meanwhile, Senator Battles
proposal for $44 100000 in loans
to localities by June l. 1850 for
school construction came under
fire from Horace H. Edwards. self
styled middle of the road can
didate.
Repayment Stressed.
Speaking at a rally. at Tazewell
County Courthouse, Mr.. Edwards
contended counties would be "un-
wise and foolish" to raise school
funds by borrowing "50-cent dol
lars during these inf1ationary
times" the Associated Press re-
ported.
He cautioned his listeners that
such loans might have to be paid
back with l00-cent dollars" He
added it's repayment by Tazewell
County, for example. would mean
an increase of $4.12 in the real
estate tax rate.
Mr.. Edwards reiterated his stand
in favor of per cent sales tax
for schools, claiming such a tax
for four years would bring 81
$4,000 to Tazewell County for
school purposes without the ne
cessity for any local tax increases.
Flannagan Backs Edwards.
Former Representative John w.
Flanagan, jr. who spoke in sup
port of Mr.. Edwards at the rally,
charged that Senator Battle is
controlled by IAN oligarchy that
hands down orders from Wash
.ington or Richmond"
OF Mr.. Edwards two other op-
ponents, Mr.. Flanagan said:
How Francis Pickens Miller got
into this thing I don't know. He's
spent such small part of his
adult life in Virginia wonder how
he can even qualify as citizen u
Remmie Arnold is lust having
the time of his life" Mr.. Flanna-
gan declared, adding, Hes re-
signed to his fate"
Mr.. Miller describes himself as
the "anti-organization candidate,
while Mr.. Arnold enlivened the
primary campaign recently by his
charge that highly placed men,
bers of the State organization "of-
fered" him either the lieutenant
governorship or Senator Byrd's
seat in the Senate-in 1952-if he
would withdraw from the race.
Whitehead Scores Byrd.
One of Mr.. Miller's principal
supporters, Delegate Robert
Whitehead. charged in a speech
at Norwood that the public school
system "has never had the whole
hearted support of Senator Byrd
who has been Virginia's policy di-
rector for years." That is the
cause. he said, of the present
inadequacy of the public free
school system in Virginia, especi-
ally in the rural areas"
Mr.. Miller, in the meantime
continued his bid for rural votes
by promising in a statement issued
at Front Royal that if he is
elected Governor, he will oust
L, M. Walker. jr., as State COM
missioner of agriculture.
1T is obvious" he asserted,
shat the farmers of Virginia
want a new commissioner of agri-
culture"
At the same time, however, he
assured division heads under Mr.,
Walker that their jobs were safe
Motorbike Rider Killed