Evening star., 1952-03-23
Democrats Meet
Tomorrow for
Reorganization
Virginia Leaders Set
To Revise Committees
For New Districts
BY Alex R. Preston

VuSlklId VUp 0GUlUCIatS Will
meet in Richmond tomorrow to
.eorganize the State Central Com
nittee and congressional district
in line with new and
.eShufiled congressional districts.
They also viii take up the problem
of holding primaries for the House
of Representatives.
Two conflicting plans for set
ting up the district committees,
one for the new 10th,
composed of Arlington. Alexan-
dria. Fairfax and Falls Church,
will be offered.
AS result Of a redistricting act
of the recent General Assembly,
nine Of the 81 members Of the
State Central Committee-com-
posed of district committee mem-
bers-are due to lose their posi-
tions because their counties will
be shifted from one congressional
district to another. The law goes
AAAtO CAACCL julio 90.
B0othe to Lose Position.
Among these is Gardiner L.
Boothe, chairman Of the 9th dis
trict committee, whose home is in
Alexandria. and State. Senator
Charles r. Fenwick of Arlington.
Senator Fenwick will offer q
resolution which would give party
organizations In each of the four
Jurisdictions in the new 10th q
direct voice in electing members.
State Senator Edward L. Bree.
den Of Norfolk will submit q plan
calling on the State Central Com
mittee to name members Of the
10th and fill vacancies where they
exist in other districts.
The new redistricting law, spon-
sored by Senator Fenwick. win
carve the 10th out Of the 9th dis
trict. In addition counties are
added to the 9th and changes also
are made in the 1st, I'd, Sd, 4th
and 7th districts.
Not Affected.
Committeeman affected by the
changes are Dan w. Chichester.
Stafford; John Galleher, Manas-
sas (moved from Loudoun); Mrs.
II. H. Walton, Louisa; l.. Lake
Triplett. Marshall: D. French
Slaughter, Culpeper: w. r. Dettor,
Charlottesville, and H. T. Davies.
Manassas.
This is how the Fenwick reso-
luton would affect the 10th: The
two members shifted--Mr. Boothe
and Senator Fenwick--would re-
main as members from the new
district. The Democratic commit
tees Of each of the four political
subdivisions would select one per-
son. The total Of six would elect
another member to bring the dis
trict committee up to full strength
with seven votes in the Statewide
group.
For other areas, the district
committees would elect members
to fill vacancies. If q district re.
ceives members from another dis
trict it would be authorized to add
those members even If they
brought the membership to more
than seven, but it would retain
only seven votes in the Statewide
committee.
Precedent Exists.
There is a precedent for this.
The 9th and 7th districts now are
allowed nine members who vote
as seven.
Among other committee changes
made by the redistricting act are
these: The Sd will lose its chair
man. Ben c. Garrett, when King
Williams joins the 9th. The 1st
loses Thomas H. Blanton Of
Caroline and Blake T. Newton of
Westmoreland when their counties
join the 9th.
Thus, under the Fenwick plan.
the new 9th district committee
with its remaining seven members
could add the three who will be
transferred to it from the Sd and
the lst.
The Attorney Generals ruling
that congressional primaries can
be held this year on July IS.
despite the effective date Of the
redistricting bill, June 28. has
caused considerable misgivings
for party leaders. The legal issue
was raised because congressional
candidates must file by April 16
this year.
Court Test Hinted.
Some feel there is still enough
doubt to invite possible court
action. later while others are con-
vinced the Attorney General is in
error.
Senator Fenwick's resolution
would authorize each district COM
mittee. before June 28, to deter
mine the manner Of nominating
candidates and, II conventions are
decided upon, how representation
shall be divided. This would have
the effect Of placing the respon-
sibility for q primary directly on
those committees which decide to
use that method.
Senator Breeden said he will
ask the State Central Committee
tomorrow to set UP machinery to
permit congressional districts to
hold primaries. It was Senator
Breeden, along with other Norfolk
area legislators, who spearheaded
the fight against an emergency
clause being added to the Fenwick
redistricting bill.
II he and one other Senator
had voted for the emergency
amendment there would have
been sufficient votes to add 1t to
the bill, the law would now be In
force and there would be no prob
lem about congressional primaries.
Those in charge Of the bill In the
House Of Delegates said they had