Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-13
Virginia Bill
On Convention
Due Next Week
Measure Awaited
To Set Method of
EIecting Delegates
BY a star stan Correspondent

delegates to constitutional
convention probably win be
placed before the General As
sembly about the middle Of next
week.
Until then, any attempt to
spell out the mechanics to be
followed in filing as a candidate
must be in the field Of conjec-
lture based on precedent and the
Iexisting law.
Sounds already are being
heard from Northern Virgins
by those who may run, or sup
port, candidates for the conven-
ltion. Former Mayor Marshall ].
beverley of Alexandria was the
first to announce for the con-
vention which has been au-
Ithorized by voters but not yet
formally set UP by the Legisla-
ture
Mr.. Beverley was q leader OF
the pro-convention forces In
alexandria, which lost there in
Mondays referendum, I 4.446 to
4,026. On the same side is
another convention candidate,
Charles Pickett. Fairfax at
torney. The Fairfax vote was
Il0,687 against the convention
and 1881 for.
| Would Remove Tuition Ban
The convention would re-
move barrier from the State
constitution that now prevents
public tuition grants for educat-
ing children in private schools
This was the first recommends
ton of the Gray Commission to
prevent forced school integra-
ton.
Opposing states may run for
the convention - that is those
who favor the amendment and
those who oppose it. Heated
contests could develop in North
ern Virginia's 10th district
where the referendum amend
ment was given a 5-to-4 defeat.
In Arlington, where anti
amendment forces also won, Ed
ward B. Nincks, who headed one
lof the opposing organizations.
lsaid he hoped that a person ac-
lceptable to both sides would be
chosen as the county's sole can
didate.
Senator Charles r. Fenwick.
Delegate Harrison Mann, for
inner delegate J. Maynard Ma
lgruder. all In favor of the
amendment. obviously don't
represent Arlington and would
Ibe opposed If they file their
candidacy" MIR. Hincks said.
But in about every other sec.
Stion of Virginia. where State.
wide totals rolled UP a 81 ma.
Ijority. last Mondays vote wa
Regarded as having settled the
issue for all practical purposes.
The feeling is prevalent
around the Capitol that those
on the losing side last Monday
either will throw in the towel
or accept the overwhelming vote
as handwriting on the wall when
the election is held for delegates
Sentiment is spreading among
1.-THE lawmakers to place more
emphasis on deliberate" than
on speed" as Senator Byrd sug-
gested-in enacting the rest OF
the Gray Commissions program
Results Still Coming
4 Results Of Mondays referen-
dunn have not all trickled into
the State Board of Elections
from some of the far-out pre-
-cincts. Until all returns are in
the board cannot certify the final
figures.
After members of the board
certify the results, possibly by
Wednesday. Senator Garland
Gray Of Waverly, chairman of
THE commission that drafted the
Ianti-integration program, will be
free to drop his bill into the
hopper.
There are three procedures
that could be followed. If the
convention is called for q date
more than IS days after approval
of the bill, those who file as can
didates would, under the exist
ing law, be required to file at
least 80 days in advance Of the
ELECTION.
Five-Day Limit
If the convention is IS days or
less from passage of the act,
candidates for Delegates would
have to file within five days after
the Governor issues the writ of
election. It is more likely that
something like the latter course
will be followed inasmuch as
Gov. Stanley has called for
speedy action.
In either case the Legislature
could leave the way open for
Gov. Stanley to set the date Of
the election. This, however, was
not done in 1945 when the last
constitutional convention was
held.
A third possibility, and one
that was followed in 1945 for the
war voters amendment, would be
that the General Assembly may
call the special election within
IS days but extend the period in
which candidates could file.
Details of the Gray bill being
prepared here are a closely
guarded secret, but either the
second or third method out
lined here, or combination of
both. is believed to be the likely
procedure to be suggested.
There would be no filing fee,
Mr.. Davis said. inasmuch as this
would be a special election.
In general, any person would
be qualified as a candidate If
he is qualified to vote.