Evening star., 1950-03-20
Virginia Politicians
Watching indications
Of House Elections
BY the Associated Press

Virginia political leaders today
studied the results of a variety of
weekend meetings and statements
for possible indications of what
to expect in this years Congress
sional elections.
The series Of events ranged
from the selection of a Repub-
lican candidate for the House in
the Ninth District to a denuncia-
ton of the recent session of the
General Assembly by Francis
Pickens Miller. a leader of Vir-
ginia's anti-organization Demo-
cratic faction.
Sutherland Nominated.
These were the weekend de-
velopments:
/. Ninth District Republicans,
meeting at Bristol, nominated
George c. Sutherland, 64-year-
old Grundy attorney, as their con-
gressional candidate, and hurled
a series of attacks at the Demo-
cratic Party on both a National
and State level.
2. Mr.. Miller. in a statement
from Charlottesville, said the
legislative session resulted in the
Democratic machine" failing to
seize the initiative and re-estab-
lish its leadership" and the draw
ing of issues he promised will
be fought out :. during the years
to come"
8. Delegate Victor P. Wilson,
another anti-organization leader.
said in Hampton he will disclose
within week whether he will
run for the House in the First
District in the May special cleo
ton which already has brought
forth four candidates.
Democrats to Hold Primary.
4. The Seventh District Demo-
cratic Committee, meeting in
Harrisonburg, decided to hold a
primary to decide the Democratic
congressional nominee and told
Representative Harrison, can
didate for denomination, it had
heard of no opposition to his can
didacy.
S. Members of the executive
committee of the Virginia CLIO
Political Action Committee met in
Roanoke, but refused to comment
on whether they had discussed
plans regarding the August con-
gressional primaries.
Speculation was aroused by the
CIO-PAC meeting that Boyd E.
Payton of Lynchburg, Upper
South director CT the CLOS Tex
tile Workers of America, will be
a primary candidate against Rep
resentative Burton, also of Lynch
burg. There was no confirmation,
however.
Mr.. Miller, who ran second to
Gov. Battle in last years guberna-
torial primary, praised the work
OF several younger members OF
the House of Delegates and said
the divided sentiment in the
House accurately reflected the
weakening of the machine s
power in the State"
Gibes at Other Candidates.
While not announcing his can
didacy in the First District elec-
ton to name a successor to the
late Representative Otis Bland
Mr.. Wilson used an interview say
ing he was considering making
the race to take a few pot-shots
at three other Democratic hope
fuls.
Two of them, Mr.. Wilson said
are backed by the Byrd ma
chine" and third has the "re-
sources of the National Manu-
facturers Associations pot OF
gold" to help him in the race
The three Democrats are:
William A. Wright of Tappa-
hammock, chairman of the State
Conservation and Development
Commission; Blake T. Newton OF
Hague, president of the State
Board of Education. and E. j
Robson, jr., vice president of the
Newport News Shipbuilding &
Drydock Co.
The fourth candidate is a Re-
publican, Niles Straughan, Fred
ericksburg businessman.
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