Evening star., 1949-07-11
Byrd'sBacking
OF fBatt|eDraws
Opponents Fire
Pickens Miller Denies
Charge Thot He Is
Candidate of CIO

Democratic gubernatorial nomina-
ton in Virginia, today was con-
fronted by strong criticism from
his opponents in the wake of the
Endorsement he received Saturday
from Senator Byrd.
Senator Byrd's Endorsement
marked the first time that he
has formally announced his sup
port of a Virginia gubernatorial
candidate since he Byrd served
as Virginia's Governor from
1860.
Previously. as member OF
Virginia's State Senate, he sup
ported formally the candidacy OF
E. Lee Trinkle, the States chief
executive from 1925.
In Richmond, Francis Pickens
Miller. self -avowed "anti-organ-
ization' candidate for the Demo-
cratic gubernatorial nomination,
denied yesterday that he is the
"CIO candidate for Governor" "
AS he indorsed Mr.. Battle in an
address at Harrisonburg, Senator
Byrd had said the choice before
the people of Virginia was be-
tween Mr.. Battle and a "C1O-
supported candidate" whom he
did not name.
Amendments Assailed.
And in a statement released in
Richmond State Senator Lloyd M.
Robinette of Lee County and
Delegate Robert Whitehead OF
Nelson took issue with the suffrage
amendments to the State consti-
tuition on which the people OF
Virginia will vote in November.
Citing Mr.. Battles pledge of sup
port for the proposed changes
they branded the amendments as
grave" threat to voting free
doms.
Senator Byrd's Harrisonburg
speech" said Mr.. Miller, makes
the major issue of the campaign
crystal clear.
That issue is whether Senator
Byrd is to continue to run Vir-
ginia through the Governors
whom he appoints. We will
fight that issue through August 2.
The CIO," Mr.. Miller con-
tinued. lis a false issue and Sena-
tor Byrd. if he knows as much
about the present campaign as he
processes, knows that it is false"
Mr.. Miller said he had made it
clear that he does not advocate
repeal of the States labor laws,
assailed by organized labor as be-
ing too restrictive.
Labor Law Defended.
AS Senator Byrd indorsed Mr..
Battle, he said the C1O was pre-
pairing to take over the State. He
attacked labor unions in general
and the Wagner Act and de-
Tended Virginia's right to work
law.
Senator Byrd's Endorsement was
the first official statement he has
made on the current campaign,
Meanwhile. Horace H. Edwards,
another of the States four Demo-
cratic gubernatorial candidates.
construed himself as middle-of-
the-roader" in State politics to
whom people at the extremes OF
organization" and "anti-ma-
chine" are turning for a construc-
tive program of State government.
They (the people,, said Mr..
Edwards in a press release, want
a renovation of their political
house without it's destruction.
That is why each day they are
turning with increasing numbers
to our middle Of -the-road course" p"
Mr.. Robinette and Mr.. White
head, who affixed their signatures
to a Joint statement, said, in ef-
feet. that a victory on August 2
would encourage the adoption
of the proposed constitutional
changes.
Poll Tax Opposed.
Mr.. Miller. who is supported by
Mr.. Robinette and Mr., White
head, has said he advocates repeal
of the poll tax in Virginia but
that he is strongly opposed to the
present package of amendments,
the two Virginia legislators said.
Mr.. Rcbinette and Mr.. White
head said Mr.. Miller favors sub
mission of the poll tax in it's
simplest form to a vote of the
people.
Mr.. Miller will arrive in Alex
andria at 10 am. tomorrow. After
visiting the Potomac Yards and
touring number of plants in the
area he will address a rally at 8
pm. at the George Washington
HIGH Sch001