Evening star., 1949-07-09
'Dr. Bright Asks
10
Vote for Battle
Hutchinson Address
Over Radio AssoiIs
Byrd Machine
By John v. Homer

Alexandria Democrats heard an
appeal last night in behalf OF
State Senator John S. Battle for
Governor while attacks were be-
ing made elsewhere in Virginia
on the organization supporting
him.
DR.. J. Fulmer Bright. former
Mayor of Richmond. staunchly
defended the organization record
in a talk at the Alexandria meet
ing and declared that Virginia
wants to see a continuance of the
Splendid work that has been
done" by electing Senator Battle.
The Charlottesville State SEN
ator is one of four candidates for
the Democratic nomination for
Governor in the August 2 pri-
mary. The others are Francis
Pickens Miller, Horace H. Ed
wards and Remmie L. Arnold. The
August winner will be the DEM
ocratic candidate in the Novem-
ber election and almost certainly
the next Governor.
Assailed by Hutchinson.
Speaking over a State radio net
work, Martin A. Hutchinson of
Richmond charged that both Sem
ator Battle and Mr.. Edwards rep
resent the Byrd Tuck Combs ma
chine and he asserted this or
ganization is battered, discred-
tied and bankrupt of ideas, Dem
ocratic in name only"
Mr.. Hutchinson, who has fought
Senator Byrd for years, renewed
his plea for the nomination of Mr..
Miller. generally associated with
the more liberal element of the
party. He declared Senator Battle
is the organizations first choice,
but that some heretofore potent
leaders of this same machine" put
up Mr.. Edwards as a second-choice
candidate.
"As this political menu is passed
out to the voters. the leaders of
the machine are in effect saying:
We prefer Senator Battle. He is
experienced. cautious and obedi-
ent- He can be trusted to do
nothing. But if you're feeling a
little restless, if you can't quite
bring yourself to vote for John.
then by all means take Horace.
He's little bold and independent.
but we know him to be a good
and true member of our Office
holding organization. -
"It all comes down to this:
Heads we win and tails you lose"
Mr.. Hutchinson said Mr.. Miller
is against the machine" because
"he saw it repeatedly sacrifice the
public interest to further its own
political ends"
Bright at Lawn Party.
DR.. Bright, a retired physician.
presented the opposite view in
his Alexandria talk, which was
given at lawn party at the home
of Clarence Simpson, 608 West
Braddock road.
Il think we have had many
great and important things" he
said with reference to administra-
tions in the last Is years. He
mentioned the improvement and
extension of the Virginia highway
system. reduction in infant NOR
tality. health Improvements and
other achievements without
placing the State in debt"
DR.. Bright criticized Mr.. Ar
nolds proposal that bonds be
1oated for school purposes. He
said the sales tax proposition ad-
vanced by Mr.. Edwards is un-
necessary and declared Mr.. Miller
has no plan for raising school
money.
He indorsed Senator Battles
proposal that additional sums be
made available to the education
system by means of grants to the
localities from money already in
the State treasury.
In Richmond, meanwhile, Mr..
Miller's State campaign manager.
Louis Spilman, blamed the DOM
inant organization for what he
called IAN almost childish scram-
bling" of names on primary bal
lots. He said the four candidates
will be listed in different order
on the ballots in different locali-
ties and charged that this was
done for the purpose of boxing
in" Mr.. Miller.