Evening star., 1953-10-24
byrd Stresses
Timing Angle
In ke||am Case
Senator Hits Back
At Miller, AssuiIs
Dulton Road Plan

Vi 0eIiaCOT byrQ CnaC the 1ndlct-
ment of one of his Democratic
organizations lieutenants on
Federal income tax charges has
mo relation whatever to the af-
fairs of the State government"
Referring to grand jury action
against Sidney S. Kellam, who,
as a result, quit as State cam
paign manager for Thomas B.
Stanley, Democratic candidate
tor Governor, Senator Byrd said:
"It is the timing of the indict-
ment that gives the case a polit-
ical significance"
Developments in the campaign
between Mr.. Stanley and his Re-
publican opponent, State Sena-
tor Ted Dalton, apparently
moved the Democratic organiza-
ton leader to take a personal
hand in the contest. Republic
cans are making their strongest
bid on record to win the Gov
ernor's chair.
Byrd Answers Miller.
Senator Byrd spoke on a
Statewide radio heokup last
night.
In his speech the Senator
struck back at a Wednesday
night statement by Francis
Pickens Miller, anti-organization
Democrat, that loyal members of
the party are free to vote for
Mr.. Dalton in view of Senator
Byrd's refusal to go along with
the nomination of Gov. Steven
son at the Democratic National
Convention last year.
Senator Byrd saw this remark
as indicating "a strange coalition
between" Mr.. Miller and Mr..
Dalton. He also took the oc-
casion to hit back at Mr.. Dali
tons "pay-as-you-use" road bond
program which would mark a
departure from the traditional
pay-as-you-go plan instituted by
Senator Byrd when he was Gov
ernor, 1926-30.
Issue Called Unjustified.
Senator Byrd charged that a
Republican district attorney, by
diverting from "the customary
procedure" made the Kellam tax
case an unjustifiable issue in
the election.
There is no justification what
ever for this to be an issue in
the campaign" he said.
Mr. Kellam and four others
were indicted on charges of in
come tax evasion involving $22,-
600.
The indictments were handed
down by a Federal grand jury
after the cases were presented
by District Attorney O. Shields
PARSONS, a RepuDllcan.s
Mr.. Dalton. Republican NOM
1nee for governor, and other
State G. O. P. leaders have denied
their party had anything to do
with the Kellam case.
But Senator Byrd charged
that Mr. Parsons presented the
cases in Richmond instead of in
Norfolk, which would have been
customary procedure, as those
involved resided in the Norfolk
area"
Not Criticizing Jury.
Senator Byrd made it clear he
wasn't criticizing the grand
jurors, saying:
The Richmond grand jury
acted, believe, in accordance
with their judgment in the very
sincere effort to discharge a
public trust. I have known the
chairman, A. I. Webster, for
years. I regard him as a man of
the highest character and the
most patriotic impulses. The
other members, I feel certain,
nave equally high standards.
In raking Mr.. Miller, Senator
Byrd referred to his rivals
speech of Wednesday night.
Il gather that Mr.. Miller
wants to defeat the Democratic
Party because of me-" Senator
Byrd said, although I am not
even a candidate in this cleo
ton"
1T appears he is permitting
his implacable hatred of me to
lead him very far afield. If ne
is opposed to Mr.. Stanley, he
should have opposed him in the
primary, and I do not recall any
effort he made then.
Miller said that there was no
legal or moral obligation on any
Democrat to vote the Democratic
ticket. . . Why should he urge
his followers to do something he
is not willing to do himself?"
Kellam Case Discussed.
Concerning the Kellam case,
Senator Byrd said:
During the period involved
Mr.. Kellam was not State Off
cial. The only State position he
has ever held was chairman of
the Conservation and Develop
ment Commission. He was ap-
pointed to this position by Gov.
Battle in 1850 and held the office
until 1858, when he resigned to
manage the primary campaign
of Mr.. Stanley"
"Mr. Kellam was not indicted
on his personal tax return as
signed by him" Senator Byrd
said, "but on the returns made
by the Beach Taxi Service, of
which, according to his state
ment, he was not an officer.
He says further that he was only
a minority stockholder and as
such he did not sign returns"
Senator Byrd said he wanted
to make crystal clear that do
not condone in any manner
fraudulent or illegal conduct"
"It is the timing of the in
dictment," he added, that gives
tho coca q no1ificol c{o,o;Rno~oa