Evening star., 1959-06-18
Webb Wants
Woman as
Running Mate
BY JACK KELSO
star star Writer

Delegate John c. Webb OF
Fairfax has Endorsed Mrs. Dor
othy McDiarmid of Vienna as
the "best qualified" candidate
with him in the five-way Dem
ocratic primary race for two
Fairfax-Falls Church seats in
the House Of Delegates.
Mr., Webb made this state
ment after a meeting at Crest
wood School last night at which
all five candidates spoke. The
meeting was sponsored by the
Springfield Civic Association.
The Democratic primary is
July IA.
Mr.. Webb, who is seeking his
fourth term. said he had been
reluctant to choose among
the candidates until he had
heard them and read what they
said.
1T Is very obvious TO me-"
Mr.. Webb said. that Dorothy
McDiarmid is the best qualified
candidate on the platform"
Cites Woman Voters
Noting that there are 2 mil
lion women in Virginia. l00,-
900 Of them In Fairfax County,
Mr.. Webb said: "They ought
to be represented"
He pointed to the school
question as critical" and said
Mrs. McDiarmid was "the only
one who Joined the Statewide
organization" aimed at protect
ing public schools.
Earlier, Mr.. Webb told a
gathering Of more than so
persons that "our greatest need
is for the preservation, con-
tinuation and improvement OF
the public school system"
The battle is not over yet"
Mr.. Webb said.
Mr.. Webb, who said he was
campaigning on his record.
cited his stand against massive
resistance and the advance in
county services since he has
been In ONCE.
School Issue Ahead
Mrs. McDiarmid, who has
served with parent-teacher as
sociations on the local, county
and State level. said the ques-
ton Of preserving the public
schools isn't behind US. Let's
not put our heads in the sand"
Asserting the need to broad
en- the States tax base. Mrs.
McDiarmid said there was q
great deal Of undeveloped land
that could be used for desirable
industry.
ITS becoming extremely OBJ
vious that bedroom and subur-
ban communities can't provide
the tax base" she said.
Ralph w. Mullen of Spring
field. an accountant and real
estate man., told the gathering
he was moderate on the school
question and said he would
work toward a clarifying"
what he described as the CON
fiicts" between State and Fed
eral laws.
Moderation is the method
by which problems will be
solved in Virginia. I violently
disagree with the people who
would close the schools rather
than have a little integration,"
he said.
Recalls Work
Mr.. Mullen recalled the work
he had done in Springfield TO
improve the area for those liv-
ing in 1t, noting that com
promise, persuasion and good
hard work" were necessary.
William Pierce. a former
member Of the Falls Church
School Board. said he was a
conservative and asked: do
you think 1t will do white chill
dren or colored children any
good" to send them TO "racially
mixed schools?
1T will be my purpose and
my hope that we shall retrieve
our position constitutionally,"
Mr.. Pierce said. referring to
what he called coercion" from
the Federal Government.
/ Alfred w. Trueax, an attor-
ney with ofices in Arlington,
said he did not believe ANY
man should be forced to send
his child to a public school
where there is integration un-
less he wants TO-"
HE should be allowed to
send :. tthe children) to a
private school," Mr.. Trueax
said.
Let's have q little tolerance
in our hearts," he said. "for
those who feel differently than
we do"