Evening star., 1949-03-20
Virginia 6. 0. P.
Leaders |ndorse
State Primary
= AuuH0U NJ
Convention Called
In Richmond April q
To Consider Proposal
BY the Asseeiofsd Press

~~'Ss0Ss sOFOS0s
BY the Asseeiotsd Press
LYNCHBURG, Va, Mar. ls.-
Virginia Republicans moved Q
step closer here today to . State.
wide primary to select their can.
didate for the approaching sub-
ernatiorial elections.
The party's State Central Com
mittee ordered a convention called
for Richmond on Saturday, April
% to consider amending the party
plan to provide a Statewide pri-
mary. The committee further rec
commended in a resolution that the
primary system be approved by the
convention. -
The resolution calling the con-
vention. however, provided that
the Richmond meeting would
nominate candidates for Cover
nor, Lieutenant-G Governor and At.
torney- General should the pri-.
mary proposal be disapproved.
Personnel Discussed.
In an off -the-record session, the
committee members discussed per-
sonnet in the State organization.
All were reelected but the COM
mittee provided that all major
press releases should be approved
by a Public Relations Committee.
Secretary Earle Lutz, who placed
this subject on the agenda, left
the meeting during the session.
Another resolution provided
representation to the convention
will be on the basis of one for
every 200 votes cast for the presi.
dental nominee, Thomas E. Dewey,
in last November's election. No
county or city however will be
without a single delegate regard
less of its vote.
Fight for the Statewide pri-
mary was led by Tyrell Krum, last
years unsuccessful candidate for
Congress from Fairfax County.
and Edgar w. Pumphrey, CHAIR
man of the Arlington County Re-
publican committee. The pair
agreed during the luncheon re.
cess. however, for the commit-
tee simply to call the convention
to consider the proposal rather
than to put itself on record as IA.
voring the primary.
Demands Primary Approval.
Lester Parsons Norfolk, how
lever, was not satisfied. He offered
the resolutions which placed the
committee squarely behind the
primary proposal. ,-.
The principal dissenter was
Fred w. McWane, Lynchburg.
committee treasurer and delegate
at large to the National conven-
ton. Mr.. McWane told the mem
bers he favored the primary and
would vote for it in the conven-
ton. He said he did not think
the committee should seek to In.
fluence the conventions deliber-
Iations with a resolution.
Robert Bayliss, Richmond, .
member of the State Elections
Board, said he would prefer that
the convention provide for q
preferential primary" before the
1852 general elections.
Supports Primary Plan.
Walter B. Hoffman, Norfolk,
said this would be impossible be-
cause Virginia primaries are held
in August and National conven-
tions take place earlier In the
year.
Mr.. Hoffman. who opposed Rep
resentative Hardy, Democrat, In
the November general elections,
supported the primary proposal
strongly.
What have we got to lose?"
he asked.
Tom Wiley. Charlottesville,
chairman of the Federation Of
Young Republicans. explained to
the committee action his organ
ization expects to take. The CONF
mittee voted to give the Young
Republicans three seats on the
State Central Committee and in
structed Mr.. McWane to provide
funds for the Young Republicans.