Evening star., 1952-07-08
Byrd and Miller
Garry Fight 10
Area
Vireiniuns Step Up
Their Bottle for Votes
In Tuesday Primary
By John v. Homer
Stor Stcff CORRESPONDENT

NORFOLK, Va, July 8.-Sena-
tor Byrd and Francis Pickens
Miller intensified their torrid
campaigns for the Democratic
senatorial nomination today by
combing Tidewater Virginia for
votes in next Tuesdays primary.
After a handshaking and
speechmaking tour of the Newport
News area, Senator Byrd moved
across Hampton Roads to Virginia
Beach and Princess Anne County.
There he hoped to unite the war
ring Democratic factions solidly
behind his banner.
Mr.. Miller, meanwhile, held a
series Of campaign conferences
with hackers in Portsmouth. where
he delivered another singing at
tack last night upon the veteran
Virginia legislator. He planned to
leave later for Richmond and will
appear tonight on a television'
program in the State capitol.
Two Major Bids.
Senator Byrd is making two
big bids for support today. The
first is a barbecue in Princess
Anne which was expected to at
tract a throng. The second,
as a major address, is
scheduled for Warsaw, in the
northern neck. En- route there,
he will stop to greet friends at
King William Courthouse.
While the principals maintained
the pace. supporters in both
camps ground out a steady stream
of words advocating that their
candidates be nominated. Many
of the words were harsh.
Representative Abbitt, who halls
from the pro-Byrd 4th district,
lashed Mr.. Miller for trying to
win the nomination by refighting
the 1949 gubernatorial campaign.
In 1949. Mr.. Miller and two others
lost out to John S. Battle. Rep
reSentative Abbitt said that since
Mr.. Miller has revived that con-
test, it should be pointed out that
he was supported then by the
CIO. Such backing is supposed
to hurt politicians in Virginia.
Campaign Tactics Assailed.
Boiling Lamberth. the Miller
campaign manager, echoed the
claim that Byrd forces are con-
Quoting a campaign of distortion
and deceit. He seid it is time for
a change in the Senate because
the State government has been
controlled too long by too few
people.
"As we reach the concluding
days Of this senatorial contest, I"
said Mr.. Lambeth, Mr.. Byrd Of
fers himself as a farmer and the
farmers friend--when, in fact, he
is the publisher Of two large news
papers and the head man Of a
large corporation, H. F. Byrd, Inc,
a corporation controlling about
the largest apple orchards in the
world.
What kind Of a friend do vir-
ginia farmers have in Washington
in Mr.. Byrd, when on June of
this year he was not even present
in the Senate chamber to vote
either for or against the impor-
tant 1858 agricultural conserva-
ton program?
What kind of a friend do Vir-
ginia farmers have in Washington
in MIR. Byrd, who voted in 1851 to
cut the soil conservation program
funds in half, voting against the
people Of Virginia in support Of
amendments proposed by Repub-
ican Senator Dirksen Of Illinois
and Senator Ferguson Of Michi-
gan?"
Switches to Byrd
Minnetree Folkes, jr., of Rich
mond, a World War II Marine,
who worked for Mr.. Miller in his
1949 race for Governor, an
nounced he would support Sena-
tor Byrd this year. He indorsed
the Senator's efforts in behalf of
economy and his stand for a
strong national defense.
In his Portsmouth address last
night. Mr.. Miller asserted Sena-
tor Byrd's voting record shows
he is more Republican than Mr..
Republican. himself-Robert Al
phonso Taft" He said the peo-
pie now are demanding that rep
reSentation.
Mr.. Miller declared victory
over the organization is within
sight and that a good solid blow
in the final week of the primary
campaign would knock Senator
Byrd out of his seat In Congress,