Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-10

in-law of the Senator's son,
Harry F. Byrd. jr.
Both candidates began their
public careers in 1948--Mr.
Roothe in the House of Dele
gates and Mr.. Beverley on the
city council.
BOOthe . young Turk"
The new Delegate soon was
identified with the Young
Turks" movement in the Legis-
lature-a group of Byrd organ
ization men who staged indie
pendent rebellionS from time
to time against complete domi-
nation by the organization. In
two such rebellions, the Turks"
eventually won repeal of the
Byrd (for State Senator Harry
F. Byrd, jr) Automatic Income
Tax Refund Law and obtained
larger appropriations for men,
tai hospitals, institutions Of
higher learning and similar
State agencies. He moved on
to the Senate in 1855.
Mr., BOTTLES leadership in
the House Of Delegates singled
him out as a possible candidate
for Governor. He was riding
the crest of q wave Of popu-
larity until he actively cam
paigned against the referendum
to allow public funds to be
spent for tuition grants for
private education under the old
Gray Commission plan.
Beverley Elected Mayor
During the same 1948-l955 in
terval, Mr.. Beverley also was
building a reputation for him.
self in Alexandra. He suc-
ceeded in being elected Mayor
for three Of those years. He
conducted q campaign against
secrecy in City Council meet
ings, waged a running battle
with the city manager, at
tracted Nationwide publicity
in a campaign to retrieve an
old fire engine for George
Washington's volunteer fire
company. and stirred up the
Federal Government over low
flying airplanes over his city. !
Opposed Gray Plan
Mr.. 9oothe opposed the Byrd
organizations campaign to put
across the Gray Commission
plan, advocating instead a local
pupil assignment plan. Mr..
Thomson campaigned for the
Gray plan.
When the administration of
former Gov. Stanley renounced
the Gray plan and turned to
the school, CLOSING, funds cut
of program Of massive re-
Sistance, Mr.. Beverley and
Mr.. Thomson switched with
the organization. Mr.. Boothe,
however, opposed massive re-
Sistance and continued to ad-
vocate local assignment.
Two years ago, while Gov.
Almond still was following the
massive resistance line, Mr..
Boothe backed former Mayor
Albert A. Smoot for Mr.. Thorn
sons seat in the House. Mr..
Beverley Endorsed Mr., Thom-
son, who won handily. The
issue then was massive re-
sistance. advocated by Mr..
Thomson; versus local assign
ment. Endorsed by Mr.. Smoot.
End Of Trail
After a series of adverse de-
cisions in the Federal and State
courts, Gov. Almond announced
earlier this year that Virginia
had reached the end Of the
massive resistance trail. He
sounded a call to Virginians to
rally to his support in preserv-
ing public schools. He led the
shift to the Perron plan, which
squeaked through a closely d.
vided General Assembly.
So, today, Mr.. Boothe finds
himself on the side of the Gov
ernor and Mr.. Thomson and
Mr.. Beverley opposing him.
Mr.. Thomson was allied with
the group at the General AS
sembly that advocated repeal
Of Virginia's constitutional re-
quirement to maintain public
schools.
Charge and Counter Charge
Mr.. Beverley says of his OPP
ponent: "He's an integrationist.
BE started 1t an when he tried
to- integrate the railroads and
introduced a bill to appoint q
bi-racial commission back in
1850" |