Evening star., 1953-07-03
DemocratsHear
Nominee Plan
In Arlington
Convention Defended
By HiIder to Pick
Bourd Candidates

The Arlington Democratic Club
last night heard its county chair
man explain why a convention
instead of mass meeting had
been decided on as a method of
nominating a candidate to the
County Board.
Leonard o. Hilder, the county
chairman, speaking to a group of
about 20 which was held down in
size by the heat and then a sud-
den rainStorm, discussed details
of the county convention which
has been called for July 20 to
nominate candidate.
1--WE should anticipate the
charge that the convention
method will bar Federal employees
from participating. It's true
that the Hatch Act will bar them,
but if any one accuses us of being
responsible for that, 1 want to
remind him that the Democratic
Party in this county worked to
amend the Hatch Act but the
nOn-partiSanS defeated us.
Democratic Matter.
Some have asked why we are
not holding a mass meeting
where everybody could partici-
pate. I'd like to know why we
should open our door to the
Republicans and Non-partisans
to business which is purely a
Democratic Party matter?"
Mr.. Hilder distributed forms
which must be signed and re-
turned to him with a $5 filing fee
by 6 pm. July 13 by those de-
string to be delegates to the
nominating convention.
Delegates must sign a state
ment declaring upon my sacred
honor that I am a member of the
Democratic Party" and that they
voted for Senator Byrd, Edmund
D. Campbell for the House; Wes-
ley w. Cooper for the County
Board and A. E. S. Stephens for
Lieutenant-G Governor last No
vember. Or, the pledge con-
tinues, if the applicant failed to
vote in 1852 he must declare that
he voted for all nominees of the
party in the last general election
in which he participated.
In any case. the application
further is pledged to support
and vote for" all of the Demo-
cratic nominees in November
this year.
Non-Partisans Defeated.
Last year Democrats and Re-
publicans co-operated with other
groups in an Arlington Inde-
pendent Movement and success
fully defeated three Non-Parti-
san candidates for the County
Board.
Thomas j. Broyhill, one of six
Democratic candidates for three
seats in the House of Delegates,
told the group, meanwhile, that
AIM does not intend to nominate
a county board candidate this
year.
Mr.. Broyhill urged the Demo-
crafts to nominate Mr.. Cooper.
Mr.. Broyhill and Mrs. Lucy
G. Bussey were the only two of
the six Democratic primary can
didates for the House of Dele
gates who attended the meeting.
Harrison Mann sent an apology
for a previous engagement.
Two Women Speak.
In a brief talk, Mrs. Bussey
explained how she had conduct
ed a successful building busi-
ness since she was widowed in
1888. She reviewed her work on
the Arlington School Board and
in other school affairs. Regard
less of the nominees, she
promised, she will work for party
harmony after the July IA pri-
mary.
Another candidate, Mrs. Kath-
ryn H. Stone, recommended
that 18-year-old persons be
given vote. She spoke at a
reception by Students-for- Stone
at the home of Langdon West,
47O8 South Eighth street last
night.
THE Korean conflict and
World War II in which 18-year-
olds served key rolls in the
armed firces." she said, "dem-
onstrated beyond all doubt that
this age group has measured
up If elected, I will push for
a State constitutional amend
ment lowering the voting age in
Virginia from 81 to 49,"
Historically, she said. young
men have played an important
part in Virginia's government.