Evening star., 1961-12-04
Mrs. Stone Joins,
Thomson Sees
No Great Peril

Reaction among other
Ncrchcrl Virginia legislators
to the committee formation
was mixed, with at least cne
supporting Mr.. Mann's posi-
ton and another disa greeing
with him.
But Delegate James M. Thom-
son of Alexandria, who was the
only Northern Virginia House
member present at meetings
when the screening committee
repeatedly was formed, said the
main idea was to acquaint new
House members with State
problems and legislative pro-
cedure. He deprecated any idea
that a group was needed to
combat anti-Byrd forces.
The exchange occurred over
reports that loyal Byrd organi-
cation House members had de-
clded it was time to set up
some form of working organi-
zation in the lower chamber to
count heads when crucial votes
are taken, and generally solidify
legislative aims of the organi-
cation forces.
Mann Concerned
Mr.. Mann, who does not con-
slider himself either organiza-
ton or anti-organization. said
the reported formation of the
screening committee was "re-
pugnant to every concept of
the oldest representative boay
in America"
If the stories about the
meeting are accurate" Mr.
Mann said. lit is most unfor-
tunate that any group should
try to array members of the
General Assembly against each
other.
Whether intended or not,
this meeting will be interpreted
as reading the remainder of
the Democratic House mem
bers out of the party. It
is not an auspicious way to
usher in a new administration. "
Falls Church-Fairfax State
Senator John A. K. Donovan.
however said he believed that
the caucus is a part of the
American system.
He said he had participated
in many secret caucuses,
though never in any held by
the so-called organization
group"
I'VE organized our forces
that's the way you do it." he
said. He added: "The State of
Virginia and the American
nation raouse out of just such
caucuses."
Webb Sees Distinction
Fairfax Delegate John Webb
said he would not be opposed
to such a committee IF it is
simply a gathering of members
to organize support on issues /"
But if it is really a steer
ing committee whose purpose
is to control legislation, then
l would be violently opposed"
he said.
Il find it hard to believe that
the members I know in the
General Assembly would organ
ize a Gestapo-like committee, F."
he said.
Mr.. Mann's criticism of the
committee drew immediate sup.
port from Arlington Delegates
Kathryn Stone and William
Winston. >
Mr.. Winston said he thought
such committee might en-
danger the passage of the Gov
ernor'S program"
Mrs. Stone said:
Strong reaction from the
public, plus the normal reac-
tions of delegates who surely do
not wish to be robbed of
n cir independent Judgment
will operate, I hope, to explode
this sinister move"
Calls II a "Comintern"
Mr. Mann labeled the COM
mlttee a Legislative COMM
tern" and said that such a
"super-AsSembly would be the
most direct step imaginable to
persuade the people that there
actually exists an invisible gov
ernment in Virginia"
Mr.. Thomson, a staunch or
ganization man, said he had
attended two or three of the
meetings but had left them
early. He said it was under
stood that attendance did not
obligate anyone to anything.
At the meetings members dis
cussed various problems facing
the State, such as re-district-
ing, the Governors reorganiza-
ton program and finances, he
said.
AS to any suggestion that a
group was needed to combat
anti-Byrd forces, Mr.. Thomson
said: That's all a bunch of
hogwash."
The dominant organization
already has firm control both
of the Democratic caucus, and
on the floor, he said.
Many meetings such as this
have been held On the past to
discuss State affairs. I have
attended them and so has Hank
Mann" he said.
He added it would be silly to
form a group to side with the
on every issue,
since delegates change their
according to the