Evening star., 1949-10-03
Anti-ByrdG
Opens Fight on.
VoteLaw Repeal
Hart Says Campbell
PIun Would Restrict
\ BoIIoting in Virginia
BY the Associated Press

=" - Su'sS
BY the Assoeiotsd Press
Virginia's anti-organization
Democrats became active again
during the week end, setting as
their immediate objective the de-
feat of the Campbell voting law
amendments in a referendum No.
vember 8.
James P. Hart, jr., of Roanoke,
announced formation Of the Vir-
ginia Commonwealth League by a
group he described as repre-
sentative gathering of tested lib
eral leaders" and said the league
would fight the proposed Consti-
tutional changes.
5, Mr.. Hart asserted that the
Campbell proposals are presented
under the guise Of repeating the
poll tax" but that actually they
would restrict voting in Virginia.
Approved by Assembly.
Members of the league belong
to the anti-Byrd faction of the
Democratic Party. Mr.. Hart. who
Is chairman, ran against Senator
Robertson last year, but was
beaten by the organization incum-
bent. The anti-Byrd group is sue
cessor to the Virginia Electoral
Reform League.
The proposed constitutional
amendments were recommended
by a commission of which former
Delegate Stuart B. Campbell was
chairman. Twice they have been
approved by the General Assem-
bly,. and now they must be sub
mitted to the voters for final &C
ton.
They will come up at the same
time Virginia elects her next Gov
ernor, the Lieutenant Governor
and attorney general. Because the
State is overwhelmingly Demo-
cratic, that party's nominees, cho-
sen at a primary in August, are
expected to win easily. They are
John S. Battle, for Governor: L.
Preston Collins, Lieutenant Gov
ernor, and j. Lindsay Almond, jr.,
attorney general. The latter two
are incumbents.
To Seek Liberals Support.
"We will seek to rally the liberal
forces to vote "No" against these
dangerously conceived amend
ments," Mr.. Hart said. Much as
we are opposed to the voter poll
tax. the proposed cure appears
even worse than the disease"
Eleven amendments are pro-
posed. One would remove the
payment of the present $3.50 an
nual poll tax as a voting require
ment and permit the General AS
sembly to impose a substitute head
tax of So, to be used entirely for
schools.
The amendments would require
new registration for all voters ex-
cept those registered before 1904,
and an annual renewal of regis
tration hereafter.
One provision would substitute
a bipartisan board to handle reg
istrations now taken care of by
county registrars. The General AS
sembly would be authorized to es-
tablish the qualifications for reg
istering. Another provision would
leave to the Assembly the method
of naming local elections boards,
who would answer to the State
Board of Elections.
Campbell Defends Amendments.
In a weekend statement, Mr..
Campbell defended the amend
ments. He conceded that they give
the Legislature broad authority.
but held they are the means best
calculated to insure honest elec-
tions and free voting. He said:
1.-THE proposed amendments were
formulated after careful study by
q group of citizens whose only in
terest was to present to the people
of Virginia a comprehensive plan
Of essential Constitutional provis-
ions and statutory proposals which,
in their considered judgment, were
calculated to insure honest elec-
tions, free voting by all qualified
citizens, fair returns of results and,
lastly, to prevent frauds and rem
der abuses as difficult as possible.
David G. George of Richmond,
who headed the anti-Byrd league
until Mr.. Hart took over, said the
groups long-range goal will be
the overthrow of the Byrd ma
chine" through precinct organiza-
ton of the State.