Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-30
Delegates Race
Tells a Tale
OF Two Cities
Wuynesboro's Status
As First-CIuss Town
May Decide Issue
By Alex R. Preston
StoF Staff Correspondent

Star staff Correspondent
STANTON, Va, July 3d.
Three candidates seek the Demo
cratic nomination for two seats
in the House of Delegates from
the Augusta-Staunton- Waynes-
boro district.
The story behind their races
involves a tale of two cities.
Louis Spilman, Waynesboro
newspaper publisher who was
State campaign manager for
Francis Pickens Miller in the
gubernatorial primary two years
ago, is making a strong bid to
pick off one of the two incumbent
House members who are seeking
to hold on to their seats.
They are George M. Cochran, of
Stanton, and Felix E. Edmunds,
of Waynesboro. Both are lawyers
and are completing their second
terms.
In recent years, tradition has
been developing whereby one
House member is elected from
Staunton and the second from the
county. Waynesboro reached first
class city status after Mr.. Coch-
ran and Mr.. Edmunds were elected
to their first terms.
Spilman Versus EdmundS.
With Mr.. Spilman, a second
Waynesboro man, now in the race,
the main battle appears to be be-
tween him and Mr.. EdmundS.
Two of the three candidates
openly state that the principle
of divided representation should
be maintained although all three
are in the fight on a dog -eat-dog
basis.
Mr.. Cochran admits that the
split representation has worked
well in the past and, of course,
as far as he's concerned there is
no danger of it being disrupted
II he's renominated.
I'm 100 per cent for split rep
resentation," Mr.. Edmunds says.
But first, I'm 100 per cent for
myself, of course. Then I'm going
to vote for George Cochran.
TITS generally recognized that
MIR. Spilman is fighting me pri-
marily because it isn't likely that
the people would elect both men
from Waynesboro. George is in
an enviable position"
Mr.. Spilman categorically de-
MES that he has singled out either
OF the two as his main target.
Il say there are three candidates
for two seats and I am seeking
one of those seats" he says.
Liberal Support Seen.
1t is believed Mr.. Spilman, a
Waynesboro publisher, will be as
sured of gaining the support of
the more liberal elements within
the party who supported Mr.. Mil
Ter against Gov. Battle two years
ago. Some sources say a sin
gle-shot" ballot may be cast by
some -Spilman voters in order
to assure a higher vote for their
candidate.
Mr.. Spilman denies any knowl-
edge OF this and, in fact, has
sent out letters urging those who
will be away from home on August
Z to vote by absentee ballot.
"1'll appreciate your vote" the
letter says. But even if you do
not vote for me, please apply
for your ballot, anyway"
Mr.. Cochran and Mr.. Spilman
say there have been no issues
drawn. Mr.. Edmunds sees the
issues set out in two editorials
which have appeared in the
Staunton News-Leader, a COM
petitor with Mr.. Spilman's
Waynesboro News Virginian.
The Staunton editorials strike
the theme that two experienced
men should be sent back to the
General Assembly while Mr.. Spill
man, as leader of an anti-organi-
zation candidates campaign two
years ago, could be of little value
and could expect no important
committee assignments in the
House.
I'm not anti-Byrd nor am
anti-organization," Mr.. Spilman
says. II have no apologies to make
for managing Mr.. Miller's cam
paign. That has nothing to do
with this race.
Cites Support of Byrd.
81 have editorially supported
Senator Byrd and voted for him
every time he ran for Office"
Mr.. Spilman has kept his paper
out of the fight. He gave nearly
identical front page displays to
the announcements of candidacy
by Mr.. Edmunds and Mr.. Cochran
as he did his own. Editorially, he
has remained silent.
"A newspaper belongs to the
community" is his view. IT don't
ever intend to tell people how to
vote"
Mr.. Cochran says, I'm taking
no position with respect to either
of the other two candidates. But
I tell people in Waynesboro that
it would be against their own in
tereSts to nominate both men
there. Undoubtedly, that would
create resentment and friction and
the people of Augusta County and
Stanton would freeze them out
in future nominations"
G. o. P. Chances Viewed.
There are those who say that