Evening star., 1953-07-10
Fenwiick Urges
Registration
Of Party Link
Check on AffiIiotion
Of Voters Would Be
Easy Then, He Says
Speeiol Dispatch 10 The Stor

Speeial Dispatch 10 The Stor
RICHMOND, July 10.-State
Senator Charles r. Fenwick said
today that permanent registra.
ton Of party affiliation-as prac-
ticed in several States-probably
would be "the ultimate answer to
a strong two-party system in
Virginia"
Winding up his campaign to
capture the Democratic nomina-
ton for Governor in Tuesdays
primary, Mr.. Fenwick waded
into the controversial question Of
who can vote in party primaries.
AS yet. his opponent, Thomas B.
Stanley, has not commented on
the issue.
Attorney Generals Ruling.
A reporter sought Mr.. Fem
wick's views on the question
which was projected into the
lmelight last week when the At
torney Generals Office ruled that
a voter in next Tuesdays pri-
mary is legally and morally
bound to support all Democratic
nominees in the November gen.
eral election, even though he
doesn't vote for some of them in
the primary.
Mr.. Fenwick suggested that
when citizens register to become
voters they also register the
party in which they wish to be-
come active in mass meetings,
conventions and primaries.
A voter might register, he said,
as a Democrat, Republican or
Independent and have the privi-
lege annually of changing his
aftiliation If he became dissatis-
fled with his party's views.
"As it now stands, there is no
effective way of keeping Republic
cans out of the Democratic
primary. The law provides that
a voter may be challenged, but a
challenge is an Objectionable
process that few care to under
take" he said.
Check Would Be Easy.
Under a system of registra-
tion, when a person goes to the
polls in a primary a check on his
affiliation would be simple and
easy"
He noted that registration was
used in a number of States, in
cluding Massachusetts,, Florida,
New York and Maryland.
The Arlington legislator be-
leves the principal objection to
permanent registration is that a
voter would have to declare him.
self to some extent.
This objection would be out
weighed by the Qualification of
the present situation" he said.
Permanent registration would
alleviate much of the confusion
before elections which causes the
Attorney General to have to in
terpret many complicated party
situations.
State Employees Jobs.
The Arlington State senator
said a story is being circulated
that if he is elected. State en-
ployes will lose their jobs.
II want this understood right
now: How a State employe votes
is his own personal business" Mr..
Fenwick said. IT am interested
only in merit and efficiency and
getting the job done for the peo-
pie of Virginia." He added:
II have been a friend of the
merit system, and I have dealt
with hundreds of our fine State
employees in my service in the
legislature. I know something
about the job they are doing, and
they know me-"
Mr.. Fenwick made his state
ment after a television and radio
appearance last night in which
he said he entered the race for
Governor last January facing
great Odds"
Il knew that certain political
commitments had been made at
the expense of the people of Vir-
ginia as long as eight years ago."
he said.
Mr.. Fenwick read a typical"
letter from a well known Vir-
ginia Senator" whom he did
not identify by name. It quoted
the Senator as saying he prom
ised seven years ago to support
Mr.. Stanley for Governor and
added: II therefore find myself
rather embarrassed, as ] cer-
tainly would like to support
you
Stanley Also in Richmond.
Mr.. Stanley also was in Rich
mond last night for an informal
gathering of some of his sup
porters but he made no speeches
or issued no statements.
Horace H. Edwards. his Speak
er's Bureau chairman. broadcast
over eight radio stations last
night. He said:
There has been some loose
talk in this campaign about
leadership. My friends, leaders
are not made by proclamations
on the street corners, through
the press or over television and
radio"
Apparently jibing at Mr.. Fen
wick's use of sound trucks in
some parts of the State, Mr.. Ed
wards said VirginianS have DEM
onstrated that they never have
approved certain Snowy kinds
of campaigns that have found
favor in some other States"
Declaring that Mr.. Stanley'S
supporters have been saying that
"it's his turn" Mr.. Fenwick. in
his talk last night, asked:
Since when did the great
Commonwealth of Virginia elect