The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-08-04
Votes Tell Story
Of Byrd Machines
Most Crucial Fight

Richmond, Va. OPA) = The
Byrd machine-last of the nations
major political machines to face a
struggle for its life-went through
the hottest and most crucial battle
Of its history this week in the Old
Dominion state.
For years Sen. Harry F. Byrd, a
nominal Democrat who has worked
hand in glove with Tory Republi-
can leadership in Congress, has
had an iron grip on government
and politics in Virginia. 1t was en-
forced by trick registration laws,
state control of local jobs, ballot
box stuffing and other tactics.
What brought the machine to
the verge of it's Waterloo were two
major factors: (D a split in its
ranks, and (2) emergence of a
strong rival candidate, Frances
Pickens Miller, behind whom or
ganized labor and all other pro-
gressive elements rallied.
Four candidates battled it out
in the Democratic pre-primary
campaign for governor. They were
State Senator John Stewart Battle,
the official candidate of Boss Byrd
Horace d. Edwards, former Rich
mond mayor and Democratic state
chairman, who split from the Byrd
ranks year ago; Remmie l.. Arm
old, a pen manufacturer, conserva-
tive in his views, who entered for
the devil of it, and Miller, a dis
tinguished Virginian who is a we'll
to-do landowner, former Rhodes
scholar, and writer on foreign
policy.
Miller, Sd, served overseas both
in World War and ii and came
out of the latter colonel. Around
him have rallied all the anti-Byrd
forces, giving the machine the
greatest scare since its establish
ment.
A whirlwind campaign was con-
Quoted by Miller. In every corner
of the state he carried the fight
for destruction of the Byrd mac
hine and return of the government
to the people" He pledged himself
to restore real democracy in Vir-
ginia; build up Virginia's sub-stan-
dard schools; develop the states
improve the lot of the
farmers, and raise the living stan
dards of the people.
Miller's campaign stirred trem-
endous interest and brought large
crowds almost everywhere. Thru
out the state, registrations reach
ed new high. Thousands who had
never voted before paid their ac-
poll taxes SO as to be
eligible to vote.
Byrd's forces became desperate
over Miller's progress. They tried
to brand him as the "CIO candi-
date" and raised the bugaboo of
''outside labor interference" But
about the only proof they could
drum up was letter sent by Pre-
sident James c. Petrillo of the
ALL Musicians urging all MEM
bers of that union to vote for Mill
er. AS a matter of fact, other union
chiefs sent similar letters and
many Virginia trade unionists
threw themselves into the fight on
Miller's side.
One of the frantic moves of the
Byrd group was undertaken by.
Sen A. Willis Robertson of Vir-
ginia, a BYRD henchman. AS chair
man of a subcommittee of the
Senate Banking Committee, he
launched an Investigation of alleg-
ed '"union monopolies" in an effort
to smear labor and create propa-
ganda against Miller.
President William Green of the
AFL charged bluntly that "the real
purpose of this Robertson investi-
cation is to prop up the tottering
Byrd political machine and to boil
,ter its anti-union issue in the cur
rent gubernatorial campaign"
The attempt to pin the "labor"
abel on him didn't disturb Miller.
He declared that he wears no mans
collar, but that he is proud to have
he support of all Virginia's work
.rs.
Byrd's tieup with the Republi-
,ans also played a part in the cam
)aign. COP leaders in Virginia
.alled on their people to desert
heir own nominee and go into the !
Democratic primary on the side Of
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