Evening star., 1955-11-06
6. Chances
Are Slight in
Virginia Voting
Democrats Hold
On State Assembly
Is Overwhelming
81 ALEX n. PRESTON

~ ALEX n. PRESTON
/ A number Of interesting possi-
bilities are posed by Tuesdays
election In Virginia. but 1t doesn't
take q prophet to predict the
Democrats win retain their lop-
sided control Of the General AS
sembly In 1856.
That Is going to be q year Of
crisis. Issues to be met include
public school segregation, q $li2
million capital outlay program
and the sales tax.
Republicans now hold only five
|of the 100 seats In the House Of
Delegates and three Of 40 In the
State Senate. Even II they won
all contests where they have
fielded candidates. the best show
ling they could make would be 20
I'm the House and six In the Sem
ate. But they won't come any
where near to those figures.
Democrats Favored in 10th
In the nearby 10th District,
which has twice elected a Repub-
llican. Joel T. Broyhill, to Con-
gress. the @. o. p. has done some
thorough grass-roots organizing
But the Democrats. nearly all in
cumbents with records Of accom-
plishment behind them, are the
|odds-otl favorites to win.
In Arlington State Senator
Charles r. Fenwick, q veteran
|of the legislature since 1910. Is
opposed by . political novice,
Warren s. Parr, q retired ad-
|miral. Mr.. Fenwick is potential
|gubernatorial timber in 1857.
Admiral Parr has used this fact
as q campaign charge that Ar
lington's local needs are being
neglected. Senator Fenwick,
however. points 70 q long list Of
special legislation he has shaped
for Arlington's benefit.
Arlington,s House contests in
|volve two incumbents-H Harrison
Mann and Mrs. Kathryn H.
Stone--plus q newcomer, VIII
liam L. Winston, on the Demo-
cratic ticket. Opponents for the
three seats are Republicans
Francis c. Browne, j. Fuller
Groom and Charles o. Pratt.
In the Fairfax-Falls Church
district. delegates John C. Webb,
unsuccessful candidate against
Mr.. Broyhill for Congress last
year. and Omer L. Hirst, face a
light from Republicans John s.
|Shultz, q retired rear admiral,
and Kendall K. Hoyt.
Economist Opposes Donovan
State Senator John A. X. Dom
ovan. Democrat, Of the Fairfax
Falls Church district, is opposed
by an economist. Victor Parker,
Republican.
In both Fairfax and Arling-
ton, the @. o. p. challenge has
been based on m alleged failure
by the Democrats 10 give North
sri1 Virginia adequate representa-
ton In the legislature.
Delegate Arnistead L. Boothe
Iof Alexandria is giving up his
House seat to run for that city's
new seat In the State Senate,
The Republicans failed to for
Imally nominate q candidate
against him but Charles w.
cobb, jr., an Independent,
claims support Of the q. O.P. as
well as that OF conservative"
Democrats. The city Republican
COMMITTEES has disclaimed any
Endorsement Of Mr.. Cobb.
For Alexandria's House seat,
James NJ. Thomson, Democrat,
Is seeking Mr.. Bootheis House
seat but Is opposed by Republic
can Stuyyesant B. Wright.
Radford Race Significant
Experienced observers have
given the Republicans Q chance
|of winning one additional seat
In the Senate and possibly three
seats IN the House as q result Of
the contests throughout the
State.
The most significant race Of
all is taking place In the Radford
area, near Roanoke, where State
Senator Ted Dalton. Republican,
lis facing stiff opposition from
Democrat r. Douglas Nininger.
Democrats have imported con-
siderable outside talent into this
district to defeat Mr.. Dalton who
has come to be known as vir-
|ginia's .Mr. Republican since
his near-miss In his race against
Gov. Stanley two years ago.
Dalton Seen Winner
Recent talks with leaders in
this district indicate that Mr..
Dalton Is an almost sure winner
but the Republican admits he Is
running scared"
One reason Is that Mr.. Ninin-
ger claims he has Travelled some
$500 miles In the area on 4
personal hand-shaking tour dur
ing the last two months. There
are two other factors that keep
Mr.. Dalton actively campaign
ing: Mr.. Ninineer was Roanoke
County school superintendent
for 10 years and could be ex-I
pected to draw the support OF
most Of the teachers, with whom
he was popular.
The Democrat also Is q Dunk
ard. Heretofore members Of that
sect have been identified as die
hard Republicans but Democrats
are claiming at least 80 per cent
OF that vote in this election.
Democratic Claim Unity
Democrats are making one
claim In this fight which could
have Statewide significance:
they say that both the "crgani-
zation" and "anti-organisation
factions Of the party have united