Richmond Times-Dispatch from Richmond, Virginia • 23

Richmond 11 Virginia Sunday August 3 1917 State Democrats For General Assembly Tuesday Ten Richmonders To Be Named Expressway Faces Defeat In Council Member Foresees Adequate Vote Dr A Flecker Dies A her Being Hit by Car Dr Walter Ashby Plecker 86 retired chief of the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the State Health Department died last night at Medical College of Virginia Hospital shortly after he was struck by an automobile as he crossed the street in the 4200 block Chsmber-layne Ave The automobile was driven by Kenneth Berrell 33 of Route 4 who was charged with involuntary manslaughter police said They reported that Dr Plecker who lived at 3610 Hawthorne Ave was hit as he attempted to walk from the grass plot in the center of the street to the east side of Chamberiayne Avenue Attendants at the hospital said that Dr Plecker suffered a fractured leg in the accident which occurred at about 8 His death was attributed to the injury and shock Dr Plecker who organized the Bureau of Vital Statistics in 1912 and served continuously as its head until his retirement June 30 1946 was born in Augusta County on April 2 1861 Attended University He was graduated from Hoover Military Academy and attended the University of Virginia He received his degree in medicine from the University of Maryland In 1885 and practiced as a country doctor for about 25 years two of which were spent in Alabama and 23 at Hampton In 1900 he joined the health department of Elizabeth City County and there established a systematic method of keeping i health records and vital statistics giving that county a national reputation In that field Between 1910 and 1912 he was Continued on Page 3 Column 2 CwwrilT PM hr IW OUMn fer PmmiI Crowder Edward Fuller Thirteen Scats In Senate Are at Stake By James Latimer Virginia Democrats in 10 Senate and 27 House of Delegates districts will mark their ballots and choose their General Assembly nominees in primaries to climax campaigns that have with a few' exceptions been on the placid side At stake are 13 seats in the Senate and 43 In the House In some instances more than usual if the Republicans carry out their avowed intentions of putting candidates in the field throughout' Virginia the winners Tuesday will face GOP opposition at the general elections November A Dispatches from Charlottesville yesterday shifted attention momentarily to speculation about the anticipated candidacy of State Senator John Battle for Governor in the Democratic primary of 1949 Unopposed for renomination to the State Senate Mr Battle spoke to a meeting sponsored by Charlottesville Young Democrats Friday night thanked the voters for their support and said this was the last time he would seek re-election to the Senate a remark which some of his audience interpreted as a definite sign he would run for Governor "When I finish this Mr Batlle said will have been in the House and Senate together practically 20 years which is a long time In fact too long and 1 have no intention of asking the people to vote for me again for the People who heard him thought they detected emphasis on the words "for the While Richmond and Norfolk which numerically have the biggest fields of contestants settle rather listless campaigns a 1 few Leith 8 Bremer Charles Fraak 8 Rlchesoa Moseoo Department Of Welfare Undergoes Revamping Two Key Men 1 Are Appointed To State Agency By Allen Matthews A sweeping reorganization of Ihe State Department of Public Welfare aimed at placing the' tency's rapidly widening functions In their- proper ontrol was announced yesterday Arthur James Virginia's welfare commissioner Mr James an-ipunced the addition to the staff of two men both if whom will hold key positions the new setup They are Luther Class Char-rtte FBI agent who wil erve as director of the Division Care of Delinquents one of the hrre chief divisions created by he reorganization and Paul Keve i-ho will serve as acting director the Juvenile Delinquency Sec-ion of the Children's Bureau The departmental rrorganiza-ion according to Mr James ilanned for a year has been tin-Jer active consideration since the estgnatinn during the Spring of amea Phillips then assistant nm miss inner and now a member the State Parole and Pardons loarrts It was given impetus he ontinued by the resignation of Miss Lois Benedict as Irector of the Children's Bu-eau and Miss Wllhelmina Baugh-laa as assistant director Functions Co-ordinated Under the new organist ion plan the chief ublic functions have been brought igether and co-ordinated under vo "service divisions: first the division of Local Welfare Ser vs and second the Division of are for Delinquents In addition third group of agency duties as brought together tinder the (vision of Administration "A year of study and planning the staff and the State Board i consultation with authoritative icncies and in lieht of dcvelop-lents In other Slates has brought to the following dd Mr James that 11 of the public elfare programs of the depart-lent are either (a) broad social ork services carried out largely trough and by the local welfare pnrtments and social agencies tb) special delinquency treat-ent services carried out princi-illy by the department with the sistance as indicated of local pnrtments "Second that for effective and Sclent administration the sev--al functions of each group tould be co-ordinated and each xup should he directed by a lief administrative officer re-lonaible to the Commissioner of ublic Welfare Other Conclusions cited 1 that all of the admln-Trative functions should be co--dinated into a Division of Ad-linistration that the heterogeneous nograms of the Bu-au should he classified and seed in their indicated relation-lips to other As a result of that-last contusion the Bureau nong all the subordinate groups the department has felt most enly the reorganization Because that bureau dealt both ith social work and with the nile delinquency problem it ill be represented in the new or-inization in both service di-sions The Division of Local Welfare rvices Includes public assistance lild welfare services adoptions censing of children's institutions ul agencies field services and hilt institutions Directed by Painter The entire divisions ia headed ir Painter assistant wel-ro commissioner and former diet or of field services The Division of Care of Delin-rents headed by Mr Glass in-udes the Juvenile Delinquency ctkrns of the Children's Bureau ie care of adult female delin-lents court services and the eatment and training phase of ie State training schools Mr James himself is' in direct large of the Division of Ad- Of These Six Democrats to Name Three for Senate Crowder Fuller Incumbents in Richmond Race dearly i Turnout Of Voters Questionable A General Assembly primary campaign notable chiefly for its quietness will draw to a close here Tuesday when Richmond Democrats will go to the polls and nominate seven candidates for the House of Delegates and three for the State Senate Twenty-four candidates 18 for the House and six for the Sendte are on the ballot Political observers have offered varying forecasts on the size of the vote ranging from 12000 to 20000 Just how sizable the voter turnout will be voting hours are from 6:30 A to 7:30 is a question on which even seasoned politicians here differ widely Of a half-dozen well-informed sources checked last week two thought the vote would total no more than 12000 another pair agreed that 14000 to 15000 would be tops while two more thought 19000 or 20000 could be expected Conflicts Are Larking All agreed that the apparent lack of conflict and 'of issues would seem to depress voter interest and keep the turnout low But some point to factors they think will make it for what is purely an Assembly primary day a heavy balloting Among these factors are: last brisk siege of new registrations particularly among Negro voters the desire of new voters to try out their franchise in preparation for charter referendum the pro and con charter maneuvering and perhaps a general trend of more interest in things governmental All were inclined to agree that pre-election prognostications on both the size of the vote and who will win were more Imponderable this August than for any similar Kimary in recent years Some are dined to give the Incumbents a alight edge on the theory that easier to get re-elected especially When there 14 no clash of issues evident What might have been the nearest thing to a real local issue the proposed charter for reorganization of city government Into the unicameral Council manager system has not emerged All candidates have said follow the wishes of the voters as manifested in the November 4 charter referendum which coincides with the general elections for House and Senate seats Some have gone further to' express approval or opposition to the charter change on its merits but most have been content to fellow the will-of-the-people tack 'Lawyers Dominate Field Lawyers as usual dominate the field in numbers with 14 There are also three real estate men two labor union officials and five in various fields of business The youngest candidate is 24 the oldest about Seven are veterans of military service in World War IL Two women are candidates for the House However the results go the House group will have at least two newcomers as nominees and the Senate one Of the present House delegation Delegate Beecher Stallard is not seeking re-election and Delegate James Gardner is leaving the House fold to run for the Senate One of- three seats in the Senate has been vacant since the resignation last year of Glenn Jordan to become City Commissioner of Revenue two union members who are candidates Murray and Robertson naturally have considerable backing by organized labor here but so far as could be learned no complete slate of local candidates Cbntinued on Page 2 Column 1 Major JR Nunn Resigns Post With State Police Major James Nunn former acting superintendent of State police and during the past year personnel officer of that organization has resigned his post it was learned yesterday Major Nunn left his post as of July 27 Contacted at his home last night he said he had no comment and declined to divulge his plans for the future Colonel Woodson Jr superintendent of State police could not be reached comment on the resignation Major Nunn served as head of the State police during the war when Colonel Woodson was on eave and serving in the Navy Upon the return of Colonel Wood-son from the service Major Nunn was made personnel officer with the rank of major No information was available last night as to a probable sue- cessor To Hold Open Forum The Optimist Chib of Richmond will hold an open town at its next meeting to be held at 12:45 Monday at Hotel John Mar- A Councilman opposed to the express highwtav plan said yesterday his side will have enough votes to kill any move to delay action on the question at tomorrow night's Common Council session Opponents will block the move to postpone action and then will proceed to kill the paper itself he said Realizing that they wouldn' have enough votes to pass the pa per tomorrow proponents of the highway proposal decided last week to ask for a postponement when the paper is reached on the docket They hav felt confident that even though they could not now muster a majority to pass the measure they coulic get a simple majority in order to delay action until a later meeting The expressway opponent who wai discussing the matter yesterday denied that the other side could get even a simple majority He said "at least 10 and possibly of the members will vote tomorrow against postponement and then will kill the paper Ten Gives Majority Ten votes tomorrow night will constitute a majority as not more than 19 members will be present Councilman Ralph Eaton who is counted among the highway supporters wilj be absent because of his illness The express highway paper squeaked through the Board of Aldermen at its lost session by a vote of 8 to 4 just enough to make the required two-thirds That much of a majority is needed in both branches in any paper carrying an appropriation As passed by the board the measure commits the city to participate in the joint Federal-State-city plan for construction of a depressed limited-access high way through the city and appropriates 8200000 as the part in getting the work started-First section of the road built would be that between Broad Street and Idlewood Avenue An appropriation of $316500 for Byrd Field the garbage and trash ordinance of the City Bureau of Refuse Collection paper to require that real estate owners-he notified if their assessments are increased and a resolution to set up a committee to study the recreational facilities will be among other items on the 'docket' of Common Counci tomorrow night The airport appropriation if approved will match a Federal grant which was made available July 9 Congress made $316500 available for construction of an administration building at Byrd Field provided the city matches the fund Mayor Edwards has urged Council to do so The garbage-trash ordinance is a codification of the various ordinances concerning the collection of trash and garbage and will if passed legalize the mixing of wet garbage and dry trash There is an ordinance prohibiting such mix-in but early this year the Bureau of Refuse Collection told householders and others it would pick up mixed garbage and trash Weekly Pickups The garbage-trash ordinance also would require the use of standard covered containers for trash and garbage and direct the Bureau of Refuse Collection to pick up trash and garbage in resi dentirl areas at least once a week Under present procedure the Board of Real Estate Assessors does not notify a properly owner if the assessed value of his real estate is increased The property owner learns of the increase when he receives his tax bill An ordinance which will be before Common Council would require the Board of Real Estate Assessors to notify owners of real estate of in creased assessments listing the old and new assessments at the time increases are made Because papers calling for appropriations for playground equipment have been increasing in number in recent months Councilman Harry James introduced a reso- Continued on Page 5 Column 6 HiU Named Labor Department Factory Inspector John Leslie Hill of Richmond has been appointed factory inspector for the State Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner John Hopkins Hall' Jr announced yesterday Mr Hill who assumed office Friday succeeds John Bradford Smith who resigned to enter the advertising business in Phoenix Arir The new inspector 'a Journeyman boilermaker received his apprenticeship training in the shops of the Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad Company He la a graduate of John Marshall High School He formerly was employed at Norfolk Navy Yard Federal Shipbuilding and Dry-dock Company port Newi Kamey and Newport Shipbuilding and Drydock Company president of the Portsmouth Central Labor Union (AFL) With Federal he was in general charge of safety and accident prevention work in his shop Now making his home in Richmond Mr Hill Is first sergeant of Batterv A 442nd Field Artillery at tiie Virginia National Guard i 127 Pass State Bar Examination 13 Richmonders Among Applicants Thirteen Richmonders were among the 127 applicants who passed the State bar examination in June the Virginia Board of Law Examiners announced yesterday The Richmonders are: Marvin Frederick Cole Howard Keith Cunningham John Lefebvre Gayle John Wingo Knowles John Edwin Lamb William Francis Parkerson Jr George Roberts Penick Jr Robert Nelson Pollard Jr John Dexter Rogers III George Washington Stokes Howard Crawford Vick Aubrey Simpson Williams Jr and Robert TUnstall Winston Jr A total of 188 candidates for the bar took the examination in June Other successful apolicanta (in alphabetical order last names first) are: Andrews Hunter Booker Uni versity Balch Samuel Eason University Ball Martin Lewis Jr Charlottesville Bangel Stanley Jerome Portsmouth Barr James Madison III Charlottesville Battle William Cullen Charlottesville Beaubian John Oscar Alexandria Bivins Alexander Jeffery Newport News Blackburn Joseph Earl Lexington Also Bohannon Ralph Monterey Tenn Boiarsky Ivor Franklin Charleston Va Boyd Alan Stephenson Charlottesville Cocke Dudley DuBose Charlottesville Coleman Nathaniel Ragsdale Jr Charlottesville Gotten Robert Claude Jr Charlottesville Crockett 1 James Strother Welch Va Daniel Walter Taylor Jr Waverly Davis Richard Jr Charlottesville deKoz-mian Henry William Alexandria Dixon Robert Millard Washington Dodson Ryland Ringgold: Downing Thomas Nelms Hampton Dudley East-ham Waller Lexington Also Earp Thomas Spencer Arlington Eason Fugene Gary Charlottesville Eggleston Beverley Purnell Jr Wilmington Eisenman Arthur FickUng Jr Newport News Eley William Brinkley Charlottesville Elliott Norman Norfolk- Ellis Thomas Francis Wilmington Del Flannagan Francis Wills Bristol Fleming Kermin Georgesf ord Fleming Thomas Olln Lexington Also Gerwig Everett Dean Charleston Va Glass Powell Jr Charlottesville Goffigon Kemper III Cape Charles Good-man Solomon Hopewell Grav-atte Robert Howerton Jr Arlington: Gregory Kossen Roanoke Hall Charles Bewick Con- Continued on Page 4 Column 8 Huntley James Gardner Budget Study Will Begin September 15 1 i Tnck Advisors To Tour Institutions Governor Tuck and members of his budget advisory commission will begin work September 15 on preparation of the Commonwealth's 1948-50 budget make series of inspection trips to various institutions from September 16 through September 28 and hold public hearings on budget requests at the Capitol here October 6 7 and This schedule for preliminary labors on the biennial budget a fiscal plan that may well run to a total of around $375000-000 or more for the two years beginning next July 1 was worked out last week by Budget Director Bradford and announced yesterday through the Governor's office Face Heavy Taak Ahead of the budge teers will be the task of reconciling anticipated requests for greatly increased appropriations for schools health mental hospitals welfare and other purposes with revenues expected in the biennium The Governor and his advisors work out a budget which will be submitted to the General Assembly in January From there on the budget is entirely what the lawmakers want to -make it but generally the final product does not vary greatly from the outlines recommended by the Governor Mr Tuck and his advisory commission composed of leading members of the Senate and House of Delegates will initiate their studies at a conference in the office at 11 A September 15 That afternoon the group will visit the Virginia Manual Labor Continued on Page 2 Column 4 Two Counties Have Varied aces Contest Spirited In Chesterfield The two Richmond area counties of Chesterfield and Henrico will greet the Democratic primary Tuesday with diametrically opposite political situations highlighted by a spirited contest for attorney in the former section In Henrico County the only opposition for any elective office is found in a three-way race for justice of the peace in Fairfield District In Chesterfield all of the major posts are sought by at least two candidates and in Ber- muda District there are six aspirants tor the job The spotlight in that area however is turned on the race for attorney in Which Marcus A Cogbill who has held the post for 24 consecutive years is opposed by Pinkney Sowers South Richmond attorney who is making a second attempt to unseat the incumbent The final public utterances in the current campaign by these candidates were delivered at a rally yesterday afternoon under the sponsorship of the Dale District Civic League at the county courthouse Both Avoided Government Issue Although both have outwardly avoided strictly political entanglements with respect to the office itself it is generally recognized that each plays a prominent role in the major governmental issue with which Chesterfield is now faced: the proposal to substitute the present form of government which has a Board of Supervisors and an executive secretary with a board and a county manager That matter nevertheless will Continued on Page 2 Column 2 Pleads Guilty On 31 Counts Case Goes to Grand Jury The case of Harry Gatewood Smith Jr went through its first judicial stage in Police Court yes terday with a minimum of excitement at suspected pleaded guilty to 31 charges of housebreaking Justice Carleton Jewett certified all 31 counts to the Hustings Churt where they will come before the grand jury on the morning of August 11 If the grand jury marks any or all of the charges as the court will set some later date for the trial Smith who will be 19 years old tomorrow heard Justice Jewett read the 31 charges against him As he finished each warrant the justice would look at the prisoner who would nod and move his lips slightly In indicating his plea of guilty When it was all over Smith was taken to the city jail to await the higher action Among- items connected with the case which police were holding yesterday was a purse found in the room when it was searched following his capture early Thursday morning The purse with a ring inside was found wrapped and addressed ready for mailing back to a woman from whom police' say it was stolen Also inside was a note in which the writer said he was returning the pocketbook because the woman might want it and he lad no use for it It also expressed the hope that the woman think too harshly of the note-writer and that he hoped some day he might be able to return the money that had been taken from the purse It was learned also that another of the victims lad received in the mail a check which had been among the loot taken in one housebreaking The Negro youth was arrested after he was captured in a home at 2402 North Ave Persons living at that address held him until police arrived Later Acting Chief of Police Garton said that Smith had admitted entering letween 35 and 40 houses in the North Side since April Hudson Joins Amvets Plays for Dance Dean Hudson the band leader not only played last night for a dance for the Richmond Amvets He joined them A former captain of paratroopers Mr Hudson was received into the Jimmy Monteith Post No 4 of the Amvets by Leon Barrerc post adjutant and Bowdon dance chairman called a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children because that is its sole interest What the parents do is of no concern to the division workers until those activities result in neglect or abuse of children On of Many Causes Alcoholism is the leading hut just one of many causes of child neglect Miss Dorothy Grayson division supervisor lists these others in order among the 271 cases studied: economic needs 64 broken homes 47 marital discord (parents living together) 30 health problems 25 death of one parent 14 vicious and immoral conduct of parent 19 Miss Grayson's job is not for the too tenderhearted She has found cases that would rip your heart out: the four youngsters locked in a room all day while the mother was away the 9-year-old beaten and bruised boy who came to the are counted Tuesday night Liveliest at Roanoke Roanoke City Is the scene of perhaps the liveliest campaign with a no-holds-barred fight for the State Senate underway between Delegate Walter Scott and former Delegate Earl A Fitzpatrick Here the lines have been drawn more or less pro and anti "organization? with' Mr Fitz- trick supported by organization roes and Mr Scott heading a sort of local coalition of Almost equally warm is contest for the House' nominations: six candidates are vying for two places Another brisk primary race will be submitted to the voters just west of Roanoke where former Delegate Benjamin Chapman of Roanoke County and Carter Lee of Franklin County are struggling for favor in the Twenty-first Senatorial District Whoever wins will have another fight in November against Ted Dalton of Radford the Republican incumbent Down on the Southside what appears to be a neck-and-neck fight between Delegate Shelton Short Jr of Chase City and A Harrison Jr of Lawrence-ville will be determined for the Seventh Senatorial District (Brunswick and Mecklenburg) Other contests of some warmth: A 1 1 former Delegate Charles Fenwick against Frank Ball Jr Twenty-thliti District (Staunton Highland Delegate William Young of Staunton vs Curry Carter former Mayor of Staunton Local Area Coal Outside city limits there are few in this immediate area Incumbents in Chesterfield and Henxico are unopposed Delegate Edmund De-Jamette of Hanover has opposition in Henry Saunders of Ashland outspoken foe of the organization and crusader for poll tax reform A two-wav contest in Continued on Page 2 Column 5 be issued against one defendant when one warrant would cover the "The salary system for justices of the peace would cost more but it would be worth the judge said 1 Reminded that in some States complaint clerks or desk sergeants of police departments are commissioned justices of the peace and issue warrants without collecting fees for themselves merely drawing their police salaries Judge Ingram said: 'And that's all wrong too Warrants should be Issued by persons acting Independently of the police If you let policemen issue warrants the first time you have a law wrfnrMBiHit esmpsign ynnll have a lot of unnecessary warrants because the policeman who issues warrants ia still a police-man- with a continued on Page 3 Column 4 Ucoholism Tops List of Causes for Neglect Children Social Service Bureau Finds Judge Ingram Asks Proper Identification Of Arrested Persons by Justices of Peace By Overton Jones MOre Richmond children' are (elected because of alcoholism on ie part of parents than because any other single reason This is one of the findings of He Social Service Bureau's Pro-tive Division during its first ar of operation just ended Analyzing the first 271 cases indled by the division the SSB Wd that in 72 of these younger had been neglected or abused (cause of too-free imbibing on ie part of one or more parents nmoHmea the youngsters ran round unattended while the lults threw long-lasting drinking irtiea in the hones sometimes ie children were left alone while id was at work and Mama was the beer parlor sometimes the fids went along with Mama The protective division is a jw approach to solving an old poblem It might accurately be police station to report his own case ill children whose parents refuse to provide medical care But Miss Grayson and a second division worker recently employed have time to shed tears Their task is to set the parents straight as to their duties and responsibilities and to do it without taking the case to court if such is possible Protection of children from neglect and abuse didn't just begin when the Social Service Bureau inaugurated its new program a year ago But up to then such cases were being worked on by various private welfare agencies Through the efforts of the Richmond Area Community jCbuncil agreement was reached whereby virtually all of such cases would be channeled to the new unit in the SSB which is a part of the Department of Public Wel- Oontinued on Page A Column 4 Judge John Ingram of Hustings Court said yesterday that justices of the peace should require arrested persons to furnish means by which they can be identified if there is any reason to believe that fictitious names are being given Told that attachments are gathering dust in the police stations because they have not been served on defendants in some cases Judge Ingram said that if a defendant gives a name other than his own then his own name as well as the name supplied should be listed on the warrant "The real name should be listed and the fictitious name should be written on the warrant and listed as an Judge Ingram said "But if a justice of the peace or the police have any reason for believing that a defendant is giving any name except his own then means of Identification should be From that point Judge Ingram launched into caustic criticism of the fee system under which jus tices of the peace operate He termed the fee system been a well known fact for 150 years and nobody has done anything about said the judge of the peace should be paid straight salaries the only way the system can be operated properly and it be operated properly until they are on 'straight Judge Ingram continued' He predicted that arrests would decline if the fee system were abolished' Too many persons are juid Judge Ingram would not be issued in many eases if arrest feet and bond foes were abolished Then too sometimes four or five warrants will S' Vi.