Evening star., 1953-04-25
FenwiCk Assai|s
Stanley, Record
lnFighting Talk
Candidate Charges
Drift, injection in
Changing Tactics
THE EVENING STAR
~ Washington. D G.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1853
By Alex R. Preston
Ster SfaH cerEaspondant


Stsr Staff Correspondent
ROANOKE, Va. April 25.-Vir-
ginia's gubernatorial campaign
had a new look today, far diff
ferent from the serene and
peaceful air it bore only a few
hours earlier.
The campaigns sweetness
and-light" round apparently
ended when one of the candi-
dates took of his gloves and
came out swinging charges that
his opponents record is one of
"inaction, stagnation, drift and
evident disintereSt in the public
welfare"
The new turn of events de-
veloped in a radio and television
broadcast here last night by
State Senator Charles R. Fen
wick of Arlington. His target
was his opponent for the Demo-
cratic nomination in the July
IA primary, former Representa-
tive Thomas B. Stanley.
Announced Platform Early.
The Arlington legislator re-
minded his listeners that he had
come out with a platform as
soon as he announced he would
be a candidate AS a result, he
charged, public pressure had
forced his opponent, who had an
nounced as a candidate earlier
but without a platform, to make
his position known on issues.
"Yet," Mr.. Fenwick went on,
"there were some people who an
nounced their support Of my op-
ponent even before he told them
what he stood for.
Perhaps they did so because
my friend. Tom, is a likeable
man, against whom no one has
raised a word of personal doubt.
Even so. it is hard to understand
indorsing a man for Governor
without the slightest idea of what
he stands for-like buying an
automobile without looking I'M
der the hood to see if it has an
engine"
With a slogan of "a record Of
accomplishment" Senator Fen
wick promised to list his record
In detail and then added:
Since my opponent has re-
Trained from discussing his quail
if1cations for Governor, shall
be forced to give you his record.
It is truly an amazing one, a rec
ord of inaction, stagnation, drift
and evident disinterest in the
public welfare.
LAS the record unfolds, you will
understand more fully why it
took so long for the people to
get statement of position from
him."
Only the night before, in front
OF a gathering Of 500 women at
a convention banquet, the two
speakers had referred to each
other as my distinguished friend
and opponent" and my good
friend of 20 years"
The two have appeared to-
gether only three times during
the campaign so far and each
has contented himself with talk
ing about his own accomplish
mentS.
In attacking Mr.. Stanley's rec
ora in Congress, the Arlingtonian
declared:
II have time for only one leaf
from his record of drift, a page
from his seven lean years, when
he was supposed to be represent
ing the people in Congress of the
United States"
Mr.. Fenwick then quoted news
stories from the Richmond News
Leader. One said Mr.. Stanley
was one Of two members of Con-
gress from Virginia who went |
on the record less often than the |
average for all the members of
the House on votes taken during
the first six months of 1880"
Another Record Quoted.
Another story. quoting the
Congressional Quarterly, said Mr.. |
Stanley was lowest on the list Of
Virginia members of Congress
going on record on public issues
IN 1850. A third story in 1851
said Mr.. Stanley Tagged" other
members Of the Virginia delega-
ton on votes taken in the House.
Il have given you a fair sample
Of my opponents absentee voting
record as shown by the Congress
Sional Quarterly" Mr.. Fenwick
said. But this is only half of
the story. In a later broadcast I
will give you the rest of the
record"
After listing projects he has
supported in the General As
sembly, Mr.. Fenwick explained
how he would encourage more
industy to move into Virginia so
as to provide additional tax rev.
enues without increasing the tax
rate.
Mr.. Fenwick said, MY oppo-
nent has attempted to cloud the
issue by stating that he is OPP
posed to the establishment of a
new State agency.
Under my plan. no new
; agency would be created. It is
clearly evident that my opponent
is simply opposed to an idea de-
signed to insure the future
growth and progress of Virginia"