Evening star., 1953-10-04
Dalton Hits Secrecy
In State Government,
Would Open ParIeYs
BY Alex R. Preston


A strong appeal to end the
handling of the public's business
"behind closed doors" was made
last night by State Senator Ted
Dalton, who said a free flow Of
information to the press is a
guarantee of clean and progress
sive government.
While the Radford Republi-
can was speaking in Alexandria,
his opponent in the Virginia
gubernatorial election, Thomas
B. Stanley, spoke to the State
Young Democratic Convention
at Old Point Comfort and ex-
pressed alarm over voters apathy
for the November 3 election, a
month away.
"a free flow of information is
a pretty good guarantee Of a
clean and progressive govern
Ynent," Mr.. Dalton told rally
at Hunting Towers. Secret seS-
sionS show a lack Of confidence
), in the judgment of the peo-
pie generally"
Public Scouting Helpful.
cat present." Mr.. Dalton said,
''too many of the departments
and agencies hold meetings that
are partially or entirely closed to
the public and to representatives
of the press. AS we view it, the
scrutiny of public opinion would
be helpful rather than hurtful." "
The State legislator said that
If he is elected. II shall certainly
do all in my power to see that
the public gets information on
what is going on in the State
government In our platform
we ask to make public the pub
lies business. Further, I pro-
pose to direct all department
heads to open board meetings to
the public and the press"
He said certain safeguards
would be placed on such matters
as property transactions which
should not be made public pre-
Inaturely.
In rare instances when mat
ters should be regarded as con-
f1dential," Mr.. Dalton added, Il
feel the press and other repre-
sentatives would justify the con-
f1dence and trust by thus guard
ing it"
He charged that too many
of the committees of the General
Assembly, of which he is a men,
ber, hold executive sessions.
You Bet I'm Worried
Mr.. Stanley, meanwhile, in his
speech to the Young Democrats,
admitted he was concerned about
the election.
You bet I'm worried" the
former Representative from,
Henry County said. Il was Wor-
ried in the primary last July =. :.
I'm always worried when I have
opposition. But what my oppon--
ent doesn't realize is that my
anxiety stems not from a fear
that l will be beaten by his plat
form and his qualification, but
from a fear that apathy will set
in in my own party members
and, feeling that they are not
needed, they will refrain from
voting on November 3.
Il realize it is natural for
them to assume that, since the
Democrats have for generations
won in Virginia; they can always
do so, whether they exercise
their full strength or not. The
critical danger, I say to you, is
a tendency to feel that the time
has come when we can relax.
That is the thing that gives me
alarm"
Opponents Platform Asinine.
In other parts of his speech,
Mr.. Stanley made what was, for
him, one Of the strongest attacks
of the campaign against his op-
ponent. He branded Mr.. Dalton's
platform as "aSinine proposals."
being dictated by voice from be-
yond the Potomac"
The Democrats position on
poll tax repealS has been inter-
preted by members of his own
party that Mr.. Stanley favors
repeal and that he favors RETAIN
ing it. This is what Mr.. Stanley
said about it last night:
II believe that authentic lists
Of voters, which the capitation
tax now helps provide and safe
guard, are too important to
change without assurance of
proper substitute. Frankly, be-
fore recommending to the people
that the poll tax be eliminated
as a prerequisite to voting,
would want the assurance of
constitutional provision furnish
ing a voting list that would not
be subject to fraud or manipula-
ton as is now provided by the
payment of a poll tax"
In Alexandria, Mr.. Dalton last
night had this to say on the
same issue:
Il have told you fatty that I
want to remove the poll tax in
Virginia as prerequisite to