Evening star., 1949-11-07
NearbyVirginia
Drives Continue
On Election Eve
Above-Averoee Vote
Expected Tomorrow;
Forecast Fair, Mild
By Alex R. Preston

Carrying their campaigns into
the closing hours before tomor-
rows election. candidates in SUBJ
urban Virginia today continued
TO- blast their opponents with
charges and counter charges.
Voters have from 6 am. to 6
pm. to go to the polls. The
Weather Bureaus forecast for
tomorrow is for fair and raild
throughout the State. A better
than-average turnout is antici-
pated because of local issues in
the suburban areas Of Arlington.
Alexandria. Falls Church and
Fairfax County.
The collective voting strength
of several organizations-some OF
them n-political-will be tested
throughout the State.
For these groups - which in
clude the Virginia Council Of
Churches, the National Associa-
ton for the Advancement Of Col
ored People, and organized labor
have gone on record in oppo-
sition to the proposed Campbell
suffrage amendments.
100000 Expected to Vote.
And If the amendments are de-
feated, these groups and the anti
organization Democrats and Re-
publicans. who also oppose the
amendments, will claim q victory
against the dominant, conserva-
tive faction of the Democratic
Party in the State.
Top State leaders headed by
Senator Byrd, Gov. Tuck and
John S. Battle, the probable next
Governor, have backed and de-
Tended the proposals which would
repeal the poll tax as a prerequi-
site to voting and make other ba-
sic changes in Virginia's election
laws.
Several of the Is Protestant de-
nominations represented on the
council have indicated that they
were not consulted by the council
before 1t announced its position
on the amendments.
Interest in the proposed elec-
ton law changes is expected to
bring more than 100000 Virgin
ians to the polls, the Associated
Press reported. About 1884,
votes were cast in the l945 guber-
material election. 49,.
While the vote on the amend
ments seems to be a tossup-even
Mr.. Battle has conceded that they
may be defeated-there seems to
be little doubt about the outcome
Of the votes for governor. lieu-
tenant governor and attorney
general. This traditionally DEM
ocratic State is expected to stay
that way.
IS Contests for Delegate.
All 100 House Of Delegates
members are elected this year but
only IS seats are contested. There
is also contest for one State
Senate seat.
Mr.. Battle is opposed by Repub-
lican Walter johnson, common.
wealth's attorney of Northumber-
land County, and Social-Democrat
Clarke T. Robb. Of Herndon.
Lieut.. Gov. L. Preston Collins.
incumbent Democrat, is opposed
by E. Thomas Mcclure, Peters
burg Republican. There is no Re-
publican opposition for Attorney
General j. Lindsay Almond, Jr..
but the Embellishments have
named Sidney Moore, Of Ports
mouth, to run against him.
In Alexandria the City Demo-
cratic Committee came out with
a statement designed to detract
from the merits of a proposal to
abolish partisan elections for city
offices.
An advisory referendum-to be
followed as guide in redrafting
the city's charter-will be held
in Alexandria on the nonpartisan
elections question.
Proposes Hatch Act Change.
Chairman Bernard M. Fagelson
Eof the city committee said his
group would work for passage Of
a bill to amend the Hatch Act,
which excludes Federal employees
from actively participating In
partisan politics either as candi-
dates or campaigners.
Because of the high percentage
Of Government workers in Alex
andria, Mr.. Fagelson said, adop-
ton Of the proposed Hatch Act
amendment would permit Federal
workers to participate and would
make unnecessary bipartisan
plan in Alexandria. ~