Evening star., 1949-04-24
Virginia 6. 0. P
Adopts Direct
Primary Plan
Richmond Session
Drops Selections
By Convention
BY John Y. Homer
sior SfcH Correspondenf

ny John Y. horneS
sfor sfoff censspeccsnf
RICHMOND. Va, April 23.-
Under prodding of eighth district
delegates and Young Republicans
from throughout the state, the Re-
publican Party of Virginia today
chose a direct primary as the
method for nominating candidates
for governor, 1ieutenant-governor
and attorney general.
In the only real issue of q dull
one day session, the party voted
376 to 270 to abandon an 60-year-
old practice Of nominating state
candidates by convention. To
reach that decision, the conven-
ton overrode its own resolutions
committee. which recommended 5
to 4 that action be deferred one
year.
Despite the possibilities sug-
gested by this policy change. there
remained even within the Virginia
organization doubt regarding its
immediate value. In order to as
sure a primary this year stimuli
taneous with the August 2 Demo-
cratic primary at least one party
contest must develop for one Of the
three state offices.
Must File by May 4.
Candidates have only until May
to file notices Of intention to
run. Some of the older party work.
ers privately expressed fears OF
what they might get in the way OF
nominees by defaMt-n, for
example, only one Republican
should seek the nomination for a
given Office.
Several Northern virginians
figured in the early speculation
and, in fact. the names Of at
least three were on petitions which
suddenly appeared on the con-
vention floor today.
Tyrrell Krum. Fairfax County
chairman who led the successful
fight for the primary election. was
being doomed for governor. The
development seemed to come as q,
surprise to Mr.. Krum and he said
bluntly that he wasn't interested.
Wilcher More Receptive.
Talmage Wilcher Of Arlington
was on a petition for lieutenant
governor. he appeared more re-
ceptive.
Its up to them" commented
the candidate who was defeated
for the Virginia Senate last year
by Charles r. Fenwick. Demo-
cratic stalwart.
Claire o. Ducker, ST., of Falls
Church, Fairfax and Washing
ton lawyer. said he had agreed to
permit the circulation Of petitions
in behalf of his candidacy for at
tory general.
A Petersburg insurance man. Z.
Thomas MCGUIRE. appeared to be
the most determined candidate"
Of all. He circulated petitions in
his own behalf for the lieutenant
governor nomination.
Before deciding the primary is
sue. the convention heard Senator
Cain. Republican, of Washington.
declare that the trouble with the
party is that its members don't
believe enough in what they think
they believe in"
The Senator called on in
dividuals to arouse sufficient in
terest in Republican tenets to
bring about the establishment Of
a real" two-party system in Vir-
ginia. He said Virginians cannot
expect their just political dues so
long as a Democratic administra-
ton knows the State automati-
cally votes Democratic. and 50 long
as the national Republican organ
ization is convinced the COP has
no chance Of victory here.
Both parties are adopting an
attitude of having more impor-
tant fish to fry elsewhere. +" Senator
Cain said. He urged the Virginia
party to convince national Re-
publican leaders that enough is
being done for the COP to
justify national assistance in
campaigns.
A majority Of the resolutions
committee wanted to defer action
on the shift to primary elections
so a special committee could study
the question until the 1850 con-
vention. Eighth District spokes-
men and Young Republicans said
a delay could serve no useful pur-I
pose.
what have we got to lose?"1
demanded one advocate.
I'VE never have won an elec-I
tion under the convention plan.
Let's try this-now." i"
The proponents argued . Re-
publican primary on the state
level would tend to keep many cit
izens from participating In the
Democratic primary. These votes
would go to the COP they
said. They cited statistics In the
Eighth District congressional races
last year, saying the Republicans
picked up 10000 votes over the
1914 figure because of the flrst
Virginia congressional primary in
history.
In that balloting. Mr.. Krum won
the COP House nomination over
Charles O. Pratt. He was de-
feated in the general election by
Representative Smith, Democrat.
Among Northern Virginians
speaking for the primary plan
were Carl Marshall. Vienna: Mr..
Pratt and Henry B. Goodloe. Al
bemarle County.
Young Republican advocates In
cluded. j. Calvett Clark. Rich
mond, national committeeman:
Lester Parsons. jr.. Norfolk. and