Evening star., 1952-07-03
Miller AssaiIed
As 'Spendthrift'
In Byrd Attack
Senator's Foe Hits
Stute Machine in
Charlottesville Talk
By John v. Horner

Virginia's hot Democratic con-
test for the Senate grew hotter
today after Senator Byrd dubbed
Francis Pickens Miller a spend
thrift, and the Charlottesville
contender intensified an attack
on the Byrd machine"
Senator Byrd told a Fairfax
audience last night that Virgini-
ans who want a spendthrift in
the Senate should vote for Mr..
Miller.
He'll spend more money than
old man Humphrey, himself
Senator Humphrey" the veteran
legislator declared. Mr.. Byrd
thus took another opportunity to
link his opponent with the most
liberal elements of the Truman
New Deal.
Hits Political Silence.
In Charlottesville, meanwhile,
Mr.. Miller delivered his strongest
assault to date upon the Byrd
organization. He said the State
machine" had forced thousands
of Virginians to buy their living
at the price of political silence" p"
This charge was an extension
of an earlier accusation by Mr..
Miller. He declared last month
that Virginians who would not
go along with the Byrd organiza-
ton had been threatened with
economic reprisals. When Senator
Byrd called on him to get down
to cases and cite the instances,
Mr.. Miller declined, saying that
to do so would pave the way for
further reprisal.
Senator Byrd drew a crowd of
500 to the Fairfax High School
last night. including leading Dem
ocrats in Alexandria, Arlington,
Falls Church, Loudoun. Prince
William and Fauquier Counties.
Defends 19 Years Record.
Stoutly he defended his record
as a member of the Senate for
19 years after saying Mr.. Miller
and Delegate Robert Whitehead
of Lovingston had accused him
of 19 wrong" votes in that period.
The Senator expressed belief that
this number of votes out of $4,000
he has cast was fair percentage.
But he maintained he was not
necessarily wrong on the 10.
Senator Byrd accused the Mil
Ter forces of taking out of context
a statement he made last year
ito the effect that if I were asked
to name the New Deal measures
I favor, I could not name single
one" He told the Fairfax crowd
that many of the progressive
measures considered by Congress
during his tenure bear no stamp
of the New Deal or the Fair
Deal of President Roosevelt or
President Truman.
Then he went on to recite some
programs he has supported in that
period: reciprocal trade agree
ments, the Federal Deposit Insur-
ance Corp. stock exchange regu-
lations, soil conservation and
rural electrif1cation.
Cites Social Security Stand.
"Of course" he said, II op-
posed the original social security
bill-and I know you would. too,
if you understood it. But Sena-
tor George and I offered an
amendment which improved the
bill. I opposed the Brannan Plan
because that is socialized farming.
I opposed the Ewing plan because
that is socialized medicine.
"And, of course, I opposed
packing the Supreme Court and
the illegal seizure of the steel
plants"
In Statewide radio broadcast,
Mr.. Miller asserted the Byrd
organization achieves its purposes
through the money controlling
power of the State Compensation
Board and through patronage in
the hands of the judiciary. He
read what he said was a photo
static copy of letter from the
Franklin County commissioner of
revenue to a deputy, suggesting it
would be advisable to get out the
1949 vote for John S. Battle, then
running for Governor.
The letter stated the chairman
of the Compensation Board was
interested in seeing Mr.. Battle
elected.