The Sunday Star (April 28, 1946)
Hutchinson to oppose Byrd in first primary battle in 2 decades
RICHMOND, Virginia, April 27 (AP) – Martin A. Hutchinson, Richmond lawyer and a leader in the so-called “liberal” faction of the Virginia Democratic Party, announced tonight he would seek nomination in the August Democratic primary to the seat now held by Sen. Byrd.
Mr. Hutchinson’s entry, giving the state its first senatorial primary contest in more than two decades, was accompanied by a statement appealing to “thousands of Virginians deeply interested in keeping alive democracy as a living and vital force for the good of all our people.”
Sen. Byrd announced his candidacy for renomination more than a week ago.
This is the first time that Mr. Hutchinson has sought an elective office. He was secretary of the commonwealth during Sen. Byrd’s administration as governor and was chairman of the state Compensation Board during the price administration. He also served as secretary of the State Democratic Central Committee for several years.
Old critic of Byrd
Mr. Hutchinson long has been a critic of the Democratic leadership of Virginia and particularly of Sen. Byrd. He was an ardent supporter of President Roosevelt during his entire administration and critical of Virginia opposition to Mr. Roosevelt in Democratic national conventions.
In his announcement, Mr. Hutchinson said he would be “the candidate of no one man, organization or faction.” He took note by implication, of recent criticism of Sen. Byrd and other Byrd organization candidates by organized labor representatives, and added: “This means I am not the candidate of organized labor, but I shall welcome its support along with that of unorganized labor, the industrial and white-collar worker and the farmer.”
Statewide fight impends
The Hutchinson entry means a statewide battle in a primary which already includes congressional contests in the Second, Third, Fifth and Sixth Districts and a prospective intraparty battle in the Eighth. The candidates so far have engaged in little active campaigning, but this is expected to come along in June and July.
Reports were received from a number of areas this week of heavy payments of poll taxes – which must be paid by May 4 to qualify a voter. How much of this was due to organized labor’s drive to qualify its members and how much to the Democratic organization’s effort to mend its political fences is uncertain.
Republicans have named Lester S. Parsons of Norfolk to run for the Senate in the November election. GOP leaders have indicated that there will be Republican candidates in other congressional districts.
In addition to the Republican and the Democrat, there’ll be at least one independent in the field for Sen. Byrd’s seat. Howard H. Carwile, Richmond attorney, has announced that he will be a candidate as an independent.