University of Virginia Library

Candidate's Wife
Campaigns At Tea

By Debra Kroner
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

As the "Ladies for Linwood"
blue, green, and white bus
navigated the treacherous routes at
the Barracks Road Shopping
Center, the Holton theme song was
blasted at the unsuspecting masses.
One elderly lady, dressed in jeans
rolled up to her knees and sporting
a mink jacket with a complimenting
blue head piece, glanced up from
her knitting and gazed at the
passing bus. With an almost
mischievous smile, she held up the
V for Victory for Virginia and
Holton sign.

While the music was blared to
the unwary masses outside the bus,
the music's effects were also felt by
those riding inside the vehicle. Mrs.
Jinks Holton, the wife of Linwood
Holton, the Republican
gubernatorial candidate; Mrs. Helen
Obershain, wife of the Republican
candidate for Attorney General;
and Mrs. Mary Cam Dawbarn, wife
of the contending Lieutenant
Governor.

Mrs. Holton, dressed in the
Holton colors, ("Red and blue are
too dull"), was eager and
high-spirited. Her attitude appeared
to be so sincere toward those with
whom she came into contact, that
one could not imagine that she was
simply playing the part of the
greedy-for-votes politician. She
waved enthusiastically to the
shoppers, and commented often on
how "All those smiles make nine
weeks of riding around in this bus
worthwhile."

Expressing her views on the
1969 campaign, Mrs. Holton said,
"The women of Virginia are less
apathetic than ever before. Through
critical interpretation, one can see
that the women may still be
considered to be disinterested in
politics, however not to such an
extent as in previous election years.

At 3:15 p.m. the entourage of
candidates' wives gravitated over to
Alumni Hall for a tea.
Approximately 45 people,43
women and 2 hardy, or hungry
males, attended.

Spread out on a banquet table
were American flag-shaped cookies,
Holton-green punch, Holton-green
and pink and white mints, and
Holton-sized sandwiches. Few of
the people present seemed anxious
to sample the delicacies (possibly
because they were deterred by the
abundance of green), preferring to
chatter rather than eat.

One guest at the tea stated that
she hadn't decided upon a
gubernatorial candidate yet, and
that possibly Mrs. Holton would
say something that would sway her
choice in either direction. She
further commented that "It is
difficult to judge what either
candidate would do in a given
situation, since neither one of them
has done too much politically. In
other words, we have a choice
between men who haven't proven
themselves." Several heads nodded
in agreement, either out of
conviction or laziness.

The most prevalent fooling of
those present at the tea was that "It
is high time for the two party
government in Virginia." One
woman pointed to an instance of a
"well-educated" man who said he
wouldn't be voting this year, for his
vote probably wouldn't make that
much difference anyway, just as the
candidate chosen probably
wouldn't make that much
difference. "When educated people
feel that way, it's time for a
change," she concluded.

Mrs. Holton wondered aloud
what could be done to gain the
support of the University students.
Brightening up, she promised, "If
we're elected, we're going to have
wining football seasons at the
University."

On the whole, all three women
were very kind. Mrs. Holton
radiated vitality, while Mrs.
Obershaintended to be pleasantly
subdued. Mrs. Dawbarn seemed to
be willing to take over the
situation, but "under the velvet
glove is an iron hand."

If these candidates' wives are
representative of their husbands'
politics, and if the Republicans
should be victorious on Tuesday,
Virginia will be, if nothing else, a
happy state for the next four years.