Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-01-09
Mrs. Wilkins
Rebuked After
PdrtyDebate
BY JOHN LAWSON
Star Staff Writer

The Fairfax Democratic Com
mittee last night rebuked Demo-
cratic Supervisor Anne Wilkins
for voting with Republicans 70
elect a G. o. P. chairman Of
the Board of Supervisors last
week.
In resolution hotly debated
and finally weakened consider
ably. the committee affirmed
allegiance to party loyalty and
expressed "disapproval" of Mrs.
wilkins action.
Earlier in the evening, sup
porters Of Augustus C. john
son once more overwhelmed in
surgents who tried to over
throw his liberal leadership Of
the committee.
Mr.. Johnson was reelected
chairman by a vote of l49 to
80 over Daniel Smith, who was
supported by more conservative
elements in the committee.
The resolution criticizing Mrs.
Wilkins was initially described
by Delegate John c. Webb as
a "censure" of any Democratic
office holder who failed to sup
port party nominees or vote
with the party in matters of
party organization.
Though it did not contain
the name of Mrs. Wilkins, COM
mittee members Immediately
began debating the resolution
as if it referred to her.
Mrs. Wilkins voted Wednes-
day with the three Republican
members of the Board of Super
visors to make William H. Moss
the first G. o. P. member to
head the board in its history.
Agreement With G. O.P.
She did so under an agree
ment made with Republicans
two years ago by which Re-
publicans voted for her as
chairman during the first two
years of the supervisors term
while she agreed to vote for a
Republican during the final
two years.
During the debate last night
Democratic Supervisor James
Keith called the Wednesday
election "a very simple matter
we had four Democrats on
the board and ended up with
only three votes for a Demo-
cratic chairman.
when it comes to organiz-
ing the political party" he said
in supporting Mr.. Webb'S CEN
sure motion, I'VE are bound by
the party that elected us to
office"
A letter of Mrs. Wilkins was
read to the committee in which
she said she had made the
agreement since her concept
of the needs of Fairfax County
IN such fields as long range
planning and zonlng were COM
pletely at variance with the
views of other Democrats"
The committee passed the
resolution on a voice vote after
deleting the word "censure"
and changing the resolution to
read that the committee ex-
pressed its 'disapproval."
During the fight for control
of the committee, conservatives
renewed their attempt to GUST
Mr.. Johnson-a campaign they
began in December when COM
mittee members were elected in
mass meetings.
Mr.. Smith was supported by
Sheriff John Taylor, Common
wealth Attorney Robert C.
Fitzgerald and Democratic Su-
pervisor Stuart T. deBell.
Mr.. johnson was supported
by Stephen Leo, chairman of
the Democratic committee in
Mount Vernon district where
liberals defeated a conservative
slate in December, and Mr..
Webb.
JOhnson's Statement
Mr.. Smith told the committee
new leadership was needed to
restore "a vote of confidence
and kindle new voter enthu-
siaSm."
Frederick A. Babson, jr., who
nominated Mr.. Smith, said that
Fairfax Democrats should have
new leadership because they
had lost too many elections.
Mr.. johnson said his oppo-
nents believed that the Demo-
cratic Party should not stir up
the voters"-the philosophy, he
said, which dominates the Byrd
organization in the State.
Mr.. johnson urged the cleo
ton of a slate of candidates, all
but one of whom was elected.
After his defeat, Mr.. Smith
was nominated for one of three
vice chairmen and was defeated.
He was then nominated for
another and was elected over
Charles Perlik, a johnson sup
porter.
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