Evening star., 1951-11-06
Virginia Vote
Is Fairly Brisk
DespiteCo|d
Montgomery Shows
Little Interest in
School Referendum

|
School Referendum
A determined Republican and
Independent bid for power in
Fairfax County and efforts of
non-partisans to retain control
Iof the Arlington County Board
marked today's elections in sub
urban Virginia.
In the only balloting in the
Free State, citizens of neighboring
Montgomery County, Md. are de-
Gliding by referendum whether a
school board should be elected.
A fairly large turnout was being
registered in Arlington and Fair
fax Counties while voting was
spotty in Falls Church and Alex
andria.
But in Montgomery, where no
candidates names appear on the
ballot, election officials said, Its
the lightest vote we've ever seen" "
Workers Build Fires.
Ice-covered puddles of water
were outside the Clarendon fire
house for quite a while after Ar
Ilington polls opened. Campaign
workers. bundled in winter cloth
ing, stood around charcoal stoves.
Gloves seemed to hamper efforts
Iof some campaign workers pass
ing out propaganda. Instead of
being handed printed handbills
directly. many voters were told to
Take one" from piles stacked on
boxes.
Generally, the vote was expect
ed to be light throughout Virginia
where there are only 81 contests
for the l40 General Assembly
seats.
Regardless of the outcome Of
the Statewide vote. the domi-
nance of the Democratic organi-
zation controlled by Senator Byrd
was not seriously threatened.
One of the State Senate's two Re-
publican members, Ted Dalton,
faces a stiff battle from Fred L.
Hoback. heavily-backed by the
organization in the Roanoke area.
All of the 100 counties in Vir-
ginia were electing local offices,
such as boards of supervisors,
clerk, commemorative attorney,
sheriff and treasurer.
The Weather Bureau said rain.
starting in Southwest Virginia
probably would not reach the
Washington area until after
dark tonight. Temperatures here
should reach the mid-40s before
Virginia polls close at s pm. and
those in Montgomery at pm.
Airport Land Is Issue.
Much campaign work was in
evidence at precincts in Falls
Church and Fairfax. Interest
there is heightened in the con-
test between Delegate Edwin
Lynch, Democrat seeking re-elec-
ton. over Douglas A. Clark, Re-
publican. The hard-fought cam
paign has centered over the pro-
posed Burke Airport with Mr..
Clark accusing Mr.. Lynch of &C
quiring property on the site to
make a profit from the Govern
ment.
Voting in the Burke precinct
was heavy. The tiny community
had counted 88 voters in the first
four hours.
In all. 20 candidates are aspir-
ing for 13 offices in Fairfax.
In Arlington, the non-partisans
seek to increase, or at least main
tain, their three-to-two majority
on the County Board. the local
governing body.
Moderate in Alexandria.
In Alexandria, the voting was
more moderate. There the vote
is on Observation-Disclosures con-
test for the House of Delegates, an
eight-way race for city collector
and three referendum questions.
Among those voting in Alexan-
drla was Representative Smith,
Democrat, whose 9th congressional
district may be drastically changed
by the General Assembly next
year. A legislative commission has
proposed taking a new 10th dis
trict, composed of Arlington, Alex
andria, Fairfax and Falls Church,
out of the 9th district.
The light Montgomery turnout
was indicated in early returns
from the populous Silver Spring
precincts. Officials hoped bal
loting would pick up when
mothers got their children off to
school and could come to the polls
to vote on the elected school board
issue.
The Office of Education says at
least IS per cent of school boards
in the country are elected by the
people. Maryland is the only
State where the Governor ap-
points board members. About 70
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