The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-11-02
President Race
More of Issues
Than Personality

iicIald area voters Tuesday
have the once-in-four- years priyi-
lege Of helping decide great
American issue: who will be the
next president of the United
States?
While they exercise that demo-
cratic privilege from 6 am. to 6
pm. they VIII have a number Of
additional decisions to make. one
involving a Y. S. Congressman.
lhree more requiring yes or no
decisions on amendments to the
virginia Constitution.
The amendment issues arc ex-
planned in another news account
on this page, and commented ON
editorially elsewhere in this issue
The plesfd ntial ballot win con-
tain the names of the candidates
for president and vicc-presid mt
nominated by five parties in Viz
glnia. with electors for each party.
The marking place is box ap-
peai1ng beside the party named
Five Parties
The parties presenting candi-
dates in the national issue arc the
Democratic Party. Republican
Party. States Rights Party. So
ciallst Labor Party and the Viz
ginia Social Democratic Party
A second ballot Will present I'M
opposed the name of Fourth Dis
trlct Congressman Watkins NJ.
Abbitt for tWo-year term to be
added to his years of consecutive
service since l948.
While Abbitts is the only name
on the ballot and no decision viii
confront voters. it is customary
to consider such a ballot seriously
with the others, Tradltionally. UNI f.,
opposed candidates receive public
endorsement or cenSurc depend
ing on the percentage of votes
given them by the total number
who visited the polls.
194S Remembered
The re-birth of states rights as
a national issue gives the election
Nov. a new complexion over that
ordinarily worn at presidential
voting Last serious attempt to
make the two major political par
ties take COgnizancC Of Conser-
vative element in the electorate
was in 1913,
That year. J. Strom Thurmond.
then governor of South Carolina.
carried Farmville Prince Edward
County and the adjoining counties
however swung the vote here to
President Truman. That was the
year Thomas E Dewey was the
odds-on public opinion poll favo-
rite III what turned out to be a
surprising election
Another interesting comparison
to be seen after Tuesday will be
the rise or fan of President Essen
howcrs strength In 1882 the
President carried Prince Edward
County with major emphasis in
Farmville, and Cumberland Pow
hatan. Amelia and Charlotte
Counties.
Buckingham County alone, in
area Fourth District counties.
gave the nod to Stevenson "a
candidate this time too.
A final note of interest. proba-
bly, BY no means the least. will
be: how much voting strength the
States Rights Party headed by
T. Coleman Andrews, muSters.
It is conceded considerable
more strength with the turn OF
events since 1854. particularly in
the South. where states rights
groups have candidates on ballots
in IA states.
How much il overcomes the
areas traditional favor for the
Democratic Party, and its 1852
revolt for a Republican PERSONAL
ity. rather than the Republican
Party in the person of President
Eisenhower. remains one of the
intensely interesting aspects of
the vote next Tuesday.
The Fourth District is the only
Congressional area without
contest Incumbent members OF
the House have fights in nine
districts
Candidates. BY party, on the
Tuesday ballot will be:
Republican, Eisenhower ana
Nixon: Democratic, Stevenson ana
Kefauver. States Rights, An
drews and Werdel: Socialist La
hor. Hass and Cozzine. ana VII
ginia Social Democratic, Hopes