Richmond Times-Dispatch from Richmond, Virginia • 15

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Simw-Bteptttcl) State JIM tJiim an omen Friday June 2 1972 METRONOME Virginia GOP Pilot Switch Is Foreseen run against Warren French or the New Sounds AtTranspo 72 By JAMES LATIMER Tbnes-Dlspatch Staff Writer VOTING for the four-year term as chairman the main contest before this presidential year convention won't be reached until sometime Saturday and the French-Holton forces will make a final effort Friday and Friday night to win a majority of the 1073 delegate votes- ByEdGrimsleyl ROANOKE Virginia Republicans gathering here for their 1972 state convention apparently are preparing to chart a party- course slightly to the right of the gubernatorial command post established by Linwood Holton after his famous victor of 1969 Kflj t' 4 Holton meanwhile has been saying he could work with Obenshain if he takes over the chairman's job though the governor still is actively supporting French Apart from the French-Obenshain' tussle a measure of the Virginia GOP temper may be provided by the wording and tone of the convention's resolutions having to do with Holton and his administration The resolutions committee is one of several planning to begin work this morning prior to a state central committee session that will set the stage for the formal opening at 3 pm in the new Civic Center A Among early-arriving delegates on hand Thursday night for preliminary committee sessions in Hotel Roanoke the Obenshain supporters were confident and the French supporters were worried about the prospects Whatever the outcome however both sides seem inclined to pacification and conciliation rather than to the bloody internal strife of the sort that threatens the Virginia Democratic party at its convention here next week On the eve of a two-day quadrennial conclave expected to draw about 2000 delegates and alternates the signs indicate that the Virginia GOP will drop a pilot preferred by the governor in favor of one preferred by the more conservative wing of the party The change in state chairmanship-from the Holton backed incumbent Warren French Jr of Edinburg to the conservative challenger Richard Obenshain of Richmond apparently will come with a minimum of rancor however if it comes at all Sen Robert Dole of Kansas the Republican national chairman sent word Not until I visited Transpo 72 at Dulles Airport did I fully appreciate Virginia's impressive contributions to transportation Oh I knew before I went that Virginia had some important transportation achievements to its credit and I expected to find them highlighted at the state's exhibit at Transpo which is an international transportation exposition 1 expected for example to see a display boasting that Virginia holds the world's record for the length of time required to build a bridge across a river of modest size Plans for a new Ninth Street Bridge across the James were conceived in 1913 and the bridge is only now nearing completion What other state or nation can say that it took almost 60 years to complete such a bridge? -j I was certain too that the Virginia exhjbit would emphasize the democratic way in which the state solves such engineering problems as highway construction and reconditioning Surely I thought as I went into the exhibit there will be bulletin boards or movies or something presenting excerpts from the great debates on where if anywhere to build Interstate 66 on where if anywhere to build Richmond's downtown expressway and on whether to repave Monument Avenue with blocks or asphalt To my amazement the Virginia exhibit makes no reference to these accomplishments Instead it emphasizes aspects of transportation that I had never been aware of Like frogs And chirping birds And lowing cattle Warren French Jr Choice OBENSHAIN was quoted here as saying he had everything in the world to preserve unity I have not Richard Obenshain Slight Favorite Continued on Page 10 Col 1 Acting Manager Wins New ModelArmies In State Politics Remain Nebulous Committee Backing agers among the highest in the nation were im-pressed that three California Con necticut and Virginia in general paid observably better compensation than many other states did to their city managers and county managers" maximum salary as assistant manager has been $27716 manager since Richmonders voted in the council-manager system in 1948 The first was Sherwood Reeder who served until 1954 to be succeeded by Horace Edwards Edwards retired and Kiepper took of-f i in September 1967 serving until Feb 29 of this year Wilkinson urged council tc keep the Richmond "compensation pattern" for man By CHARLES McDOWELL JR Tlmes-Dispatch Staff Writer ROANOKE-The Republican and Democratic parties of Virginia are coming here on successive week ends to remodel themselves Projects like this can turn out to be deceptively superficial-new radiator grilles and hubcaps-or they can involve real change and real significance for Virginia politics Anyhow the Republicans are expected to emerge from their state convention today and Saturday looking consid- erably more conservative than the party that elected Linwood Holton governor in 1969 The Democrats who will take over Hotel Roanoke and the Civic Center convention hall next week are expected to adopt a more liberal look than ever Just what the Virginia parties will do with their new models after Roanoke is not dear even to them but there is solemn talk of major realignments in the year ahead There is more than a little irony in all this I DISCOVERED THE frogs birds and cows only moments after entering the exhibit It is a small room containing screens on which flash scenes of Virginia accompanied by appropriate background sounds When I first entered I saw objects and heard sounds normally associated with transportation: trains ships automobiles and airplanes Suddenly trees fields and other bucolic scenes flashed onto the screens and 1 heard the frogs that?" I asked another visitor standing nearby Frogs I he said Next came the chirping of birds I ventured he agreed Then the gentle moo of a cow Puzzled 1 walked over to one of the charming young women on duty at the exhibit and asked you tell me what frogs birds and cows have to do with transportation?" Seeing no one else to consult I walked away mystified I spent so much time thinking about the frogs birds and cows that I concentrate on anything else I saw at the exposition Finally the answer came With its exhibit I concluded Virginia is trying to say that croaking frogs chirping birds and lowing cows are part of the stale's total transportation experience Anyone who drives through the state the exhibit is saying in effect should be able to hear and enjoy the sounds of frogs birds and cows I resolved to listen for them on my way back to Richmond William Leidinger was unanimously recommended yesterday by a citizens committee to become Richmond's next city manager Mayor Thomas Bliley Jr said in an Interview after the joint' meeting of council and the committee that is a good chance the appointment will be unanimous" by City Council Councilman Howard Carwile who has publicly said he will support Leidinger commended the committee and council yesterday for holding a meeting open to the press and public Leidinger 32 is assistant city manager and has served as acting city manager since Alan Kiepper left Feb 29 to take a $40000 job as general manager of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Kiepper was making $36000 a year here Leidinger is expected to receive -approximately the same amount as his starting salary William Leidinger Likes Old TV Movies Leidinger Support Is Growing SOME OF THE conservatives bidding for power in the Republican party for instance are seriously interested in supporting Mills Godwin Jr for governor in 1973 Former Governor Godwin when last identified was a Democrat The Republican conservatives devoted as they are to the re-election of President Nixon can see evidence that the big men in the President's campaign in Virginia this fall will be Godwin Sen Harry Byrd Jr an independent Democrat and FitzGerald Bemissof Richmond a Byrd Democrat I If the reliance on non-Republicans nettles the conservative Republicans they are asked to bear it in the -hope that it contributes to the creation of the conservative coalition in the gubernatorial race next year One more Republican irony: they are going to nominate a devoutly conservative congressman William Scott to run for the Senate but many of the pro-Nixon Democrats and independents who would be part of the new coalition are supporting Democratic Sen William Spong Jr By JAMES DAVIS Richmond's next city manager who Mayor Thomas Bliley Jr says already has the unanimous support of City Council is a big big man 6-feet-5 210 pounds who likes hot dogs with Texas Pete old TV movies beagle hounds and long hours at the office But William Leidinger married father of two boys Roman Catholic also likes to reserve Sundays for his family He his wife Karen (married in 1962) and their two sons Steven 5 and Michael 6 live in an integrated neighborhood in Sherwood Park in the North Side Councilman William Daniel issued a special statement to describe how he feels about Leidinger saying that WELL 1 QUICKLY discovered that it is impossible to hear frogs birds and cows when you are zooming along an expressway at 65 miles per hour This being true Virginia obviously expects motorists to stop every now and then simply to enjoy these delightful sounds Accordingly 1 pulled over to the side of the expressway rolled down all of the windows and listened 1 sat there for at least five minutes without hearing a single frog bird or cow What I did hear was the sound of another car parking behind me Looking in my rear view mirror 1 saw a tall stern state trooper get out of the car and walk toward me wrong?" he asked not sure Wax 1 suppose" What do you mean?" mean I guess I can't hear the frogs the birds and the cows because 1 have too much wax in my ears" "Have you been drinking?" he demanded sniffing course not I've been to Transpo where I was led to believe that I could hear frogs birds and cows on my drive through Virginia And I'm listening for AS FOR the Democrats their rising faction mostly favors 1 Sen George McGovern for president and Lt Gov Henry Howell Jr for governor Just to keep the irony running How- ell is for Sen Hubert Humphrey for president Some of closest political associates are bidding for -the top positions of control in the Virginia Democratic party yet Howell said again Thursday that he was considering run- I ning for governor next year as an independent Of course Howell might wind up running as a Democrat if the party holds a primary rather than one of those conventions" that distress him so but he might well run as an independent If so would the high-flying liberals in the Democratic party try to persuade the party to endorse Howell the independent rather than nominate a candidate? And would his opponent be Godwin running as an in- -dependent endorsed by a conservative-dominated Republican 99 Prospects Harvie Wilkinson Jr chairman of the citizens committee told council all '99 prospects were screened Over 150 telephone calls were made to check reference sources Five out-of-town trips were made by one or more committee members to interview prospective candidates in their home (He would not say what cities) The committee met 28 times Wilkinson added the committee's opinion Mr Leidinger is able dedicated and professionally qualified to serve our city in an outstanding manner" Serving with Wilkinson were Garfield Childs an executive of Union Mutual Savings Loan Co Millard Binswanger Sr of Binswanger Glass Co Richard Foster vice president of the Virginia Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co Justin Moore president Virginia Electric and Power Co Dr Frank Royal chairman of the City Electoral Board and Stuart Shumate president Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad It's against the law to park on an expressway You'd better get except in emergencies I could arrest you Continued on Page 4 Col 1 Well 1 did but you can be certain that 1 was highly indignant It is simply not right for my state to encourage me to enjoy the sounds of frogs birds and cows and then threaten to put me in jail for trying to do so- Carolinian Leaps To Death Here Staff Rioto by Silt Unt for Owner Man's Best Friend Caused Problems Realtor Doesn't Share Fondness for Heidi Worker Walks Away After Falling 60 Feet IN OTHER words is it conceivable that neither of the remodeled parties would have a candidate of its own in the 1973 gubernatorial election? The mind boggles at the dreams generated in the mountain air of Roanoke Eviction Notice Mixup Produces Tension It seems at least as likely that the Republicans might come up with a gubernatorial candidate of their own like Rep Kenneth Robinson that the Democrats might find one too like Attorney-General Andrew Miller Then Howell could run as an independent But what about the Godwin thing? Would the new coalition gather around Robinson? A North Carolina man leaped to his death from the Fifth Street overpass west of the Coliseum to the eastbound lane of Leigh Street at noon yesterday according to police Police said James Reams age undetermined of Oxford NC gave away about $100 to various persons in Kelly's Restaurant at Fifth and Broad streets according to witnesses then walked out of the restaurant and north to the 500 block Fifth Street where he jumped Reams suffered head injuries according to police and was pronounced dead at Medical College of Virginia Hospital atlpm Perhaps it will all be dearer when this remodeling is over was being wheeled on a stretcher into the X-ray laboratory Bonds told Hewitt might see about getting me some new clothes The other ones are kind of muddy" Bonds said he blank" when he hit the water but the cold water revived him almost immediately the way down I was trying to think how to land on my feet" Bonds said "but I guess I make stable's office yesterday afternoon Travis Realty Co agent for the Manchester Tow-nhouses off Hull Street Road near Chippenham Parkway notified Decota several weeks ago that a Public Hearing Bliley said that the earliest an ordinance can be introduced in City Council to select Leidinger is Monday A public hearing will be held and he is to be appointed for an indefinite term serving at the pleasure of council If named by council Leidinger would become the fourth By DAVID HOWE Michael A love for his German shepherd an eviction order from his realtorr that should have been rescinded and an unloaded 30 cal carbine caused some anxious moments for Decota the police and the city high con Meanwhile the Republicans who had not elected a governor of Virginia in this century until Holton are gathering for a try at repudiating his party leadership by replacing his man Warren French Jr as state chairman Richard Obenshain is the conservative cnadidate and seems to have the upper hand Continued on Page 10 Col 1 Even for Washington Shissler Case Is Termed A construction worker on the new Manchester Bridge fell some 60 feet from one of the supports at the north end of the bridge landed on his back in 10 inches of water and walked from the James River about 9:45 am yesterday Heavy William Bonds 25 of Bedford was carrying anim- pact wrench walking on a 2-by 10-inch plank spanning two of the concrete supports when the plank broke according to his foreman Lowell Hewitt of the Central Contracting Co of Farmville Richmond Police Lt RD Hobson said he was standing on the old Ninth Street Bridge parallel to the new structure when someone came to him and said a man had fallen off the new bridge He rushed to the site Hobson said and saw Bonds standing under the bridge leaning against a support and apparently unhurt Bonds was taken to the Medical College of Virginia Hospital for examination but doctors found no injuries Bonds told his foreman be back on the job in a little while I as he boatts in the Rappahannock about 90 miles south of Washington Positive identification was not made until late Tuesday wife and father-in-law are in Washington trying to help police just not understandable said William Johnson of Roanoke the father-in-law Identification had to be made by fingerprints and dental records and a medical examiner in Richmond where the body was taken ascribed the death to multiple internal injuries Police feel it was caused by beating Johnson's dismay finds an echo in the officers of the District of Columbia homicide squad for even in a city accustomed to violent death the Shissler case is a freak By DUNCAN SPENCER Washington Star WASHINGTON Virginia and District of Columbia police are trying to trace the last days of a Pillsbury Flour Co executive whose body was found floating in the Rappahannock River south of here with cinder blocks wired to the neck and feet and a plastic bag over the head John Shissler Jr 48 a traffic manager for the firm based in Minneapolis disappeared from a Washington hotel room shortly after arriving here for tf hearingim grain and freight rates before the Interstate Commerce Commission Shissler the father of two checked into the Hotel Washington a block from the White House on May 22 He called his wife late that night Shissler failed to appear at the ICC offices the next morning however And associates notified police ing a briefcase and a suitcase and wearing a dark suit and tie The hotel aware that he was a Pillsbury executive asked for no identification or credit card Shissler did not sleep in his bed that night He was classified as a "sleep out" but that docs not mean he stayed up enjoying night life either Hotel officials note that his bill to be paid by the company contained only items for the room rate tax and long-distance call to his home in Minneapolis Hotel managers also said that any call made from the room would have been noted by the switchboard operator At 7:30 the next morning the telephone rang in the suite but there was no answer It was the hotel making a wake-up call as Shissler had requested A maid reported that the night latch was turned but the manager suggested maids often do this to save work when the hotel is full At 9:30 Shisslcr's associates at the hearing noticed that he was not there Inquiries were made sistant managers was one of the first to go into the room the day after it became clear that Shissler was missing He found a curious combination of items bed was a little messed up" Murphy recalled and on one chair were piled the trousers of a suit a pair of underpants and a pair of socks In another room of the suite was the coat to the suit and in the closet under hotel laundry bags was Shisslcr's wallet with $55 and credit cards in it Murphy added that the suitcase and briefcase were gone but that the night personnel in the front lobby who could scarcely have missed a man going out at midnight or later with his bags saw nothing and told police so The briefcase and overnight suitcase have not been located The bartender of the top-floor cocktail lounge at first thought he remembered Shiss-ler's face but later positively said it was not the same customer Monday night Between 11:49 the notation on the Minneapolis call Monday night and 7:30 am Tuesday Shissler disappeared WiiiNtoud ltrn tuned TAKE THE FACTS: when Shissler checked into the hotel at 7 it was late enough on a reservation to be remembered by a clerk and there was another reason he was remembered Because the hotel was so full Shissler was given a suite but at the same rate as the $23427 single he had reserved The clerk remembered that he was carry WARSAW The Richmond County School Trustee Electoral Board Wednesday appointed Julian Winstead of Callao to his second four-year term as at-large representative on the county school board LAST SUNDAY the Essex County Va sheriff's office reported that the body of a bald middle-aged man had been found by GEORGE MURPHY one of the hotel's' as John Shissler 'Sleep.