Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-03
FairfaxG.0.P
Faces Crisis
InPartySp|it
Personal Feud
Over BroyhilI
Neurs Decision
BY JOHN LAWSON
Star Staff Writer


A personal feud that has de-
veloped into one Of the bitterest
intra-party battles In the his
tory of Northern Virginia Re-
publican politics. will go to the
floor Of mass meeting in Fair
fax this week.
Fairfax Republicans will de-
eide whether to support Robert
j. Gerber, candidate Of Repre-
sentative Broyhill for the party
leadership in the district, or
Delegate Glenn Burklund, who
is backed by the outgoing dis
trict chairman, Ray Crowley.
The fight between Mr.. Broy-
hill and Mr.. Cromley which
started over party organiza-
ton and personal differences,
has produced two camps within
the party. each determined to
Gust the other at the districts
convention June %.
Severe Split
Arlington Republicans voted
to pledge their delegation to
Mr.. Gerber, chairman Of the
party in that county. Alexan-
dria Republicans voted to
pledge theirs to Mr.. Burklund.
Falls Church is committed to
Mr.. Gerber and Fairfax City to
Mr.. Burklund.
Since neither has enough
votes to carry election as dis
trict chairman, the matter will
be settled in Fairfax, where a
slate of So delegates pledged
either to Mr.. Burklund or Mr..
Gerber will be selected.
Although supporters Of Mr..
Burklund contend the battle is
being fought principally over
party organization, Gerber
hackers have been claiming "a
vote for Burklund is q vote
against Broyhill."
Mr.. Burklund's candidacy,
they have asserted, represents
the beginnings of a movement
to replace the Congressman who
has won the past five elections.
Mr.. Burklund's supporters
vigorously deny that. The fight,
they say, is over party philos-
ophy, and they argue they are
strong supporters Of Mr..
Broyhill.
Test Tuesday
The initial test in the mass
meeting Tuesday night at Falls
Church High School will come
in the selection Of a temporary
chairman. Each side has put up
a candidate, believing that the
temporary chairman has too
much power to entrust the post
to the other side.
william H. Moss, chairman
Of the Board Of County Super
visors, is running on behalf Of
Mr.. Burklund, and Mrs. Ceres
Gaskins, president Of the Vir-
GINA Federation Of Republican
Women, is running as the
Gerber candidate.
Leaders of both sides say they
want the temporary chairman
in their camp because the
chairman appoints important
committees which decide who
may vote at the meeting and
how the meeting is to be con-
Quoted.
Fears Party Slump
Mr.. Moss said he joined the
fight because he believes Mr..
Corber's supporters would per-
NIT q party organization, built
UP over many years, to deteri-
crate.
He reflected the views of
other Burklund supporters that
Mr.. Broyhill gives too much
attention to his own congress
sional race and not enough to
local contests.
Mrs. Gaskins, who said she
has never seen Northern
Virginia Republicans so bitter
about an election, contended
that if the Burklund forces win
"it will mean a definite breakup
Of the Republican party"
Supporters of Mr.. Burklund,
she said, are opponents of Mr..
Broyhill and victory for them
would mean jeopardizing his
seat in Congress.
Another indication of the
acrimony the feud has aroused
appeared yesterday as Mr.
Burklund angrily denied rumors
that he intends to accept a job
in Chicago this fall.
1T is absolutely untrue and
1 I am appalled, at this tech
nique ;" he declared.