University of Virginia Library

Garland Attacks Opponents
At YR Workshop Saturday

By Rick Pearson
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Ray L. Garland, member of the House
of Delegates from Roanoke and
Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate,
spoke here Saturday afternoon to a
Young Republican Workshop, attacking
his opponents as "essentially yesterday's
men, tirelessly re-fighting the ideological
battles of the 1930's."

Mr. Garland addressed the Young
Republicans in Wilson Hall, where the
day-long workshop was held. The
workshop, attended by college Young
Republicans from around the state, was
held to formulate political strategy for the fall
elections.

Chairman Schul

Besides Mr. Garland, several other speakers
were presented to the group, including the
chairman of the Virginia Republican Party,
Edward Schul. The workshop, beginning at
noon, lasted through the day and was climaxed
by a party at night.

The featured speaker of the day, however,
was Mr. Garland. Although originally scheduled
to spend more time at the University, the man
who hopes to unseat Senator Harry Byrd was
forced to cut his visit short. The Republican
nominee spent the busiest day of his campaign
Saturday, speaking also in Norfolk and Smyth
County.

In a short talk with the press before his
speech, Mr. Garland waxed enthusiastic about
the prospects for the election. He felt his
campaign was progressing better than he had
expected and he stated the election would
primarily be a two-man race between Mr. Byrd
and himself.

Two Man Race

Mr. Garland discounted the candidacy of
Mr. Rawlings, who had predicted in his own
speech at the University last week that the
election would be a two-man race between Mr.
Byrd and himself.

The Republican nominee also discounted
press reports during the campaign which have
minimized his chances of winning. He said,
"There is a trend in Virginia today, a
deep-seated feeling of repudiation of Sen. Byrd
and a rejection of Mr. Rawlings' liberalism. The
press will be the last to know it."

"The moderate Democrats will hold the key
in November," Mr. Garland stated. "For them,
Byrd is too reactionary, and Rawlings is too far
left. It is these people who will turn to me, and
their swing vote will carry the election."

Mr. Garland traced the modern history of
the Republican Party in Virginia, showing that
even in its worst year since 1952 it drew 38 per
cent. This "bedrock" Republican vote, along
with about 50,000 moderate Democrat and
black votes, will win the election.

Black Vote

The Roanoke Republican was confident his
candidacy would attract a sizable black vote.
"Blacks are hungry to see Harry Byrd kicked
out, and they lack the confidence that Mr.
Rawlings is a serious candidate." He thus
predicted he would draw 25,000 black votes.

Turning to the issues, Mr. Garland felt it is a
question of a more contemporary outlook.
"We're running against a man on the left and a
man on the right. These men represent defunct
political philosophies that have already been
repudiated by the people of Virginia."

Mr. Garland spent much of his time
attacking the policies of Mr. Byrd, running as
an independent. "This man has paid lip service
to the concept of states' rights while making no
corresponding effort to ensure that Virginia
fulfilled her own responsibilities to her
citizens."

"While Virginia languished in the bottom
ten per cent of practically every index that
measured the performance of the states," said
Mr. Garland, "Mr. Byrd sponsored legislation to
rebate state revenues."

Criticises Byrd

Continuing his criticism of Mr. Byrd, Mr.
Garland said, "He was content to witness the
destruction of Virginia's public school system.
He was content to see a substantial part of the
people of Virginia disenfranchised.

"It was," said Mr. Garland, "this record of
indifference and negative thinking, this arrogant
assumption of having a monopoly on truth that
the people of Virginia weighed in the balances
in 1969 and overwhelmingly repudiated."

Speaking on national issues, the Republican
nominee said, "No government can shrink from
the responsibility to build a strong military
force to maintain a balance of power."

Vietnam

On Vietnam he stated, "We have to look at
our policy in Vietnam and admit that it has
been wrongly conducted at times. But also have
to look at what would have happened if we
hadn't put our foot down and drawn a line for
aggression."

"In Eastern Europe," he stated, "aggression
toppled government after government in a
political vacuum. But the United States drew
the line in Western Europe and now this area is
free and strong." Mr. Garland felt this type of
policy is needed in Southeast Asia also.

"Looking at the states on the perimeter of
China," continued Mr. Garland, "we can see
that these governments may make it. But what
would have been the situation of the United
States had not made a commitment to the
balance of power? I predict that there might be
a much more sinister situation than there is
now."