Evening star., 1949-07-16
Edwards Insists
CandidacyH Has
Good Chance
Aspiront to Virginia
Governorship Speaks
In His Home County
By John V. Homer

RICHMOND, July 16.-Horace
H. Edwards campaigned vigorous
ly today to convince Virginia
voters that he has as much chance
as any one else to win the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor.
His strategy for the final days
of the scrambled primary race
was made clear yesterday in an
address to old friends and neigh
bors of Isle of Wight County,
where he was born As years ago.
In the friendly atmosphere pro-
vided by this Homecoming crowd.
Mr.. Edwards confidently declared
he is in the thick of a three-cor-
pered contest with State Senator
John S. Battle and Francis Pick
ems Miller. He did not regard
Remmie L. Arnold as a serious
contender.
Says Thousands Want Him.
He undertook to dispel the i'm
preston that the primary issue
will be settled between Battle and
Miller, lest some supporters shift
at the last minute to Senator
Battle.
Thousands of voters want him
nominated. Mr.. Edwards said. be-
cause they prefer his middle-of-
the-road position to radical ele-
ments behind Francis Pickens
Miller" and the State organiza-
ton conservatives backing Sena-
tor Battle.
While few observers are willing
to predict the outcome of this in
volved campaign, there has been
considerable recent speculation
whether the issue eventually would
be settled between Senator Battle
and Mr.. Miller.
Such an impression was one Of
Senator Byrd's objectives last Sat-
urday when he publicly indorsed
Senator Battle. Another purpose
of that speech was to Tag Mr..
Miller with the CIO-PAC label.
which is repugnant to many Vir-
ginians. BY emphasizing the
threat of left-wing government.
Senator Byrd appealed for more
conservative voters to join the
Battle movement.
Says Byrd Was Desperate.
Mr.. Edwards, who would be
hardest hit by any such shift,
labeled the Byrd proposal "a move
of desperation
He renewed his appeal to farm
ers by saying that emergency
school construction should be
financed by a 2 per cent sales tax.
He pointed out that this revenue
would be collected on "over-the-
counter" purchases, the bulk of
which would come from urban
areas.
Elsewhere in the State, the
campaign continued turbulent.
And there was no indication of
letup in the crossf1re of accu-
sations until the balloting takes
pldCS august q.
A new high was reported in
discussion of Mr.. Arnold's claim
that influential members of the
organization offered to make
him successor to Senator Byrd if
he would withdraw as a candi-
date for Governor Mr.. Arnold
made it plain he will not with
draw. although he is rated a sure
loser.
Tuck Brought Into Dispute.
Senator Byrd called the charge
fantastic" and urged Mr.. Arnold
to list the names of the persons
who made overtures. The Peters,
burg manufacturer stuck by the
claim and brought Gov. Tuck into
the controversy.
Mr.. Arnold asserted that the
Governor called him on the phone
before he announced and asked
him not to make the race.
Il have been pressured all day
to name names of people who
tried to keep me out of the race, -
Mr.. Arnold said, so tonight I
decided to start at the top"
Gov. Tuck said:
Some months ago Mr.. Arnold
wrote and asked me to support
him for Governor. I promptly
replied in writing I could not
support him. have never sought
to influence him to run or not to
run for any public office"
Mr.. Miller said in Richmond
that he welcomes support from
labor groups, but that he rejects
Outside interference" in State
affairs. He called this his answer
to the charge he is the CIO-PAC
candidate.
One of Mr.. Miller's strong
est supporters. Delegate Robert
Whitehead of Nelson County, de-
scribed Henry A. Wise's plea for
Republicans to support Senator
Battle as "the most braZen politi-
cal proposal ever made in our
time"
Battle must be. desperate" said
Mr.. Whitehead. He must indeed
realize that he is defeated within
his party and can be saved only
by permitting the walls of the
Democratic Party in Virginia to be
preached and the citadel of our
democracy overrun by Republican
invaders, tacitly approved"
BerryviIIe Church Plans