Evening star., 1952-07-04
|VirginiaPrimary
WAKES Hot as
Foes Fire Blasts
Miller Speaks Today
On Rodio Hookup;
Fenwick Defends Byrd
By the Associated Press

Virginia's Democratic senatorial
primary campaign waxed hotter
than the Fourth of July today
with exchanges between the rival
camps exploding al
most as frequently as the tradi.
tional holiday fireworks.
There was only one scheduled
activity today "a speech by
Francis Pickens Miller tonight
over Statewide radio hookup.
Mr.. Miller is opposing Senator
Byrd in the July Is primary.
After yesterdays round of fir-
ing, however. it was apparent that
almost anything could and
might-happen. In nutshell,
yesterday saw:
On the Byrd side-a charge by
State Senator Charles R. Fenwick
of Arlington, that it was pure
political expediency" to inject
into the campaign an accusation
that "Byrd's leadership has made
the General Assembly a rubber
stamp; an Endorsement of Sen
ator Byrd's farm policies by an
Augusta County farmer.
From Miller Supporters.
On the Miller side-a renewal
by Mr.. Miller of his charge that
Senator Byrd is more of a Re-
publican" than Senator Taft Of
Ohio; a statement by Delegate
Robert Whitehead that a move is
under way to picture Senator
Byrd as "a real New Dealer" re-
garding farm legislation: the edi-
torial Endorsement of Mr.. Miller
for the Senate by the Bristol Her.
aid Courier.
Mr.. Fenwick's statement was an
answer to a pro-Miller statement
recently by State Senator Victor
P. Wilson of Hampton. and the
Arlington legislator declared that
"it is manifestly unfair to hold
Senator Byrd responsible for any
shortcomings of the Legislature"
But. added Mr.. Fenwick, IF this
is going to be done, he should re-
ceive credit for the great progress
that has been made"
Mr.. Fenwick singled out Mr..
Wilson's criticism that the Byrd
controlled Legislature" had failed
to provide adequately for mental
hospitals by declaring that "in the
last six years Virginia has made
more progress in the fields of pub
lie health. mental health and edu-
cation than probably any other
State"
Praises Byrd Policy.
Support of Senator Byrd's farm
policies came from John H. East
of Staunton; who said he was q
county and State AAA commit.
teeman for many years.
Virginia farmers could make
no more serious mistake than to
fail to support Senator Byrd for
reelection at this time when the
hope of all rests so heavily upon
the restoration of fiscal sanity
and integrity to our national gov
ernment," Mr.. East said.
Theodore c. Pitcher, jr., of
Norfolk, former State commander
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
termed unfair" Mr.. Miler's ef-
fort Ito try to make the public
think that Senator Byrd voted
against increasing servicemen's
pay when, in fact, he actually
voted for it," The preliminary
votes on amendments to the 1912
bill boosting the lowest rank serv-
icemen'S pay from $21 to $50 q
month don't matter. Mr.. Pitcher
said. 'The vital and important
vote is on the passage or defeat
of the bill ITSELF"
No Democrat, Miller Says.
Mr.. Miller attacked Senator
Byrd's voting record again and
charged that I'VE don't have
Democrat representing us' in the
Senate. And he renewed another
accusation that the organization
brought in Pennsylvania Republi-
can funds to elect Gov. Battle in
1949.
Robert Alphonso (Taft) ought
to come into Virginia right now
and help Mr.. Byrd, but maybe he
knows that If Robert Alphonso
came down here. I'd beat him by
$4,000 votes" Mr.. Miller declared.
Mr.. Whitehead returned to the
quote attributed to Senator Byrd
last August at Berryville that he
Byrd could not name a single
New Deal measure that he favored.
Senator Byrd charged at Fairfax
Wednesday that Mr.. Miller and
Mr.. Whitehead had lifted from
context the statement he made at
Berryville.
The Nelson County legislator
said that Senator Byrd's --latest
complaint is that we quoted
him correctly, but this time out
of contest whatever that means.
He is hard man to please"
Newspaper Hits Byrd.
The Bristol Herald Courier said.
in its editorial supporting Mr.. Mil
Ter. that it had supported Senator
Byrd when he ran for Governor
in 1925 and several times since
then. But it went on:
Senator Byrd, like the Virginia
political machine prior to his gov
ernorship, has become decadent.
He is welded to a single thought
and is out Of touch with the elec-
torote and the economic prob.
lens of the common man."
The paper said it believes in
social security, guarantees Of
banking deposits, minimum wages
and hours, collective bargaining
and farm price supports and ex-
planned that "the denomination of
Senator Byrd and election of a