Evening star., 1952-10-26
Campbell Cites
Housing Case
Against Broyhi||
Democrat Reads
Five Affiduvits to
Ndeo Audience

rive aTndaVltS accusing Repup-
lican House Candidate Joel T.
Broyhill with failure to build
veterans housing according to
approved plans and specifications
were read to television audience
last night by Mr.. Broyhill's Demo-
cratic opponent. Edmund D.
Campbell.
The Republican nominee is a
builder in Arlington. He and Mr.
Campbell, lawyer, are in a con-
test for the seat from Virginia's
new 10th District.
Mr.. Campbell told the audience
|cf WMAL-TV that most of the
complaints mentioned in the af-
f1davits were covered in a suit
pending against Mr.. Broyhill in
Federal Court at Alexandria.
The Republican candidate, who
has admitted in campaign speeches
that his building firm made some
mistakes in constructing 5000
homes, plans to reply to Mr..
Campbell in his weekly television
speech at 8 pm. Wednesday over
WMAL-TV.
Violation of Act Charge.
Mr.. Campbell said the Govern
ment suit against Mr.. Broyhill
and others charges they violated
the Veterans Emergency Housing
Act "by failing tc construct said
dwellings in accordance with the
description and plans contained
in the application for priorities
assistance. as approved by the
Federal Housing Administration. ."
Then the Democratic nominee
read the affidavits. They were
signed by James E. Birchell, jr.,
OF 2244 North Harrison street.
Arlington; Alfred j. Kelly, 5445
North Twenty-second road; Carl
A. Almquist, 54O5 North Twenty
second road; Warren j. Harrison,
5425 North Twenty-second road,
and Mrs. Bess Swerdloff, 1929
North Twenty-Second road, whose
husband is a veteran.
Some of the affidavits said the
Broyhill firm substituted plaster
board walls for plaster and lath
In the houses bought. Other COM
plants charged variously the
omission of sub-floor paper, drain
tile, shutters, windows or a base
ment lavatory.
Refused Time on Television.
Mr.. Campbell made no charges
in connection with the Broyhill-
built houses. He said he wanted
to present the veterans case be-
cause they had been refused tele-
vision time last Monday to air
the complaints.
! Station WMAL-TV refused to
schedule the veterans program
when its counsel ruled that the
script contained possibly libel
Gus" material.
In his speech last night, Mr.
Campbell said the veterans story
deserves the sober consideration
OF all of us who are concerned
with the qualifications of our next
Congressman"
Quite frankly" said Mr.. Camp
bell, Il was at first not anxious
to get involved, knowing full well
that my opponent. who has al
ready accused me of engaging in
political smear. would be only toe
happy to repeat his charges in an
emotional attempt to keep you
from rejecting calmly on the
facts.
Threatened With Suit.
However, after learning that
a local television station had been
threatened with a suit if these
veterans went on the air with
their story, I felt that would
not be deserving of your support
if I failed to carry out my con-
viction that your congressman S
first job is to act as the personal
representative of the people in his
district who seek his help.
Furthermore, I was shocked
that these veterans were pre-
vented from exercising their right
of free speech without being sub
Ijected to coercion"