Evening star., 1953-04-23
6. 0. P. Faces
Bar 10 Primary
In Arlington
Late Filing Fee
Spells Victory for
Convention Fuction
By Alex r. Preston

BY Alex r. Preston
Arlington Republicans appar-
emily will have to give up plans
for holding a primary July IA
because a candidate was late IN
paying his filing fee.
Bennie L. Fletcher. jr., an at
torney. one of two G. o. P. cam
didates for one County Board
seat. did not pay his $36 fee to
Treasurer Colin C. MACPHERSON
until the morning Of April 16.
The deadline was the previous
midnight.
And there aren't enough Re-
publican candidates for other Of
fees to justify a primary.
The development apparently
spells victory for a faction that
has long opposed this method
of nomination and has favored
the convention plan, instead.
Groom Resigns.
Robert L. Groom, county
G. O. P. chairman, who is a
strong advocate of primaries for
Offices at all levels, has submitted
his resignation and the Execu-
tive Committee will meet Tues
day night to name a successor
as well as to consider the
Fletcher matter.
Mr.. Groom said he must de-
vote more attention to his real
estate business. The issue Of
primaries versus conventions has
to do with his move, he
said.
One of the areas original
of Eisenhower be-
fore Abilene" Mr.. Groom said
that after the election, II was
besieged with letters and re-
quests from all kinds of 'Repub~
licans' whom I had never heard
of before. I'm just stepping
aside for awhile to sell moro
houses to the incoming Republic
cans in this administration"
Board to Meet Soon.
The Arlington Electoral Board
apparently will have the final
say on whether Mr.. Fletcher Is
disqualified. 1t is expected to
hold a meeting soon.
There is a difference of opin-
ion among G. o. P. leaders over
an Interpretation of State law
coupled with local party regu-
lations. Attorney Oren r. Lewis,
who has been identified with
the group favoring convention
nominations, said he had been
consulted on the matter and he
is not ready to give an opinion.
but does feel considerable doubt
as to whether Mr.. Fletcher re-
mains qualified candidate.
State law sets up certain re-
quirements for filings and fees
to be paid 80 days in advance
of a primary, and also specifies
that primaries shall be con.
Quoted in accordance with reg.
ulationS of the local party,
About five weeks ago the Ar
lington Republican Committee
set the deadline at April 13 for
receiving declarations of candi-
dacy.
Mr.. Groom said these papers
from all candidates were re-
ceived by him before the dead
line. They were from Mr..
Fletcher and Richard L. Parli,
for the one board seat, and from
F. Belew and Robert A.
McGinnis, for two of the three
House of Delegates seats to be
filled this year.
Candidates Ratified"
Mr.. Groom said the Republic
can Executive Committee met
April II and ratified" +he can
didates. He subsequer' sent a
letter to the Elect Board
purporting to certif. Ill four
names and stating lie candi-
dates had complied with the
rules of the party.
However, the State law says in
one place: Every candidate for
any Office at any primary shall.
before he files his declaration of
candidacy, pay a fee equal to 2
of one years
salary ,"
Another section of the law
says:
"All other candidates" (than
those for Senator. Representative
or Statewide Offices shall pay
the fee to the treasurer of the
city or county in which they
reside. A receipt for the payment
of such fee must accompany and
be attached to the declaration OF
candidacy: otherwise the same
shall not be received or filed :"
What the Electoral Board and
the Republican leaders now are
trying to figure out is:
Does the law mean the receipt
must be attached to the declara-
tion of candidacy when it is
filed with the party chairman?
Or, does it mean that the receipt
must be attached when the Elec-
toral Board later gets the declar-
ationS2