Evening star., 1948-09-02
A "THE EVENING STAR. Washington D. c.
Democratic CLEAVAGE
May Give Republicans
Virginia S II Electors

Republican chances Of capturing
Virginia's II electoral votes in No.
vember were being discussed in the
Old Dominion today as a series of
developments widened the cleavage
in the Democratic Party.
With the formal qualifying of the
States Rights Party for a place on
the presidential ballot, leaders in
all political parties were reported
figuring the prospects for the
Dewey-Warren ticket if the Demo-
cratic rebels can poll sizable vote.
Some Democratic organization men,
bers predicted privately that If 20
per cent Of the ballots are cast for
the Thurmond- Wright slate, enough
votes will be taken from President
Truman and Senator Barkley to give
Virginia's electoral votes to the Re-
publicans
Frank P. Burton, jr., of Stuart.
who heads the Virginia dissident
Democrats, said the 20 per cent esti-
mate was conservative and declared
that intensive efforts would be made
to capture the State for Gov. Thur
mond and Gov. Wright. In qualify
ing the party with the Board OF
Elections. Mr.. Burton filed petitions
bearing the signatures of LIS per-
sons, 715 more than the new election
law requires.
This action capped series Of de-
velopments which included the fol-
lowing:
/. John D. Hooker of Stuart. son
of the late Democratic Party chair
man, Murray B. Hooker, advised
the State Elections Board and State
Democratic Chairman G. Alvin Mas
senburg of Hampton that he was
resigning as one of the party's II
presidential electors. He asserted,
however, that there were no ''politi-
cal implications"
Leadership Turns Over.
While there was suggestion that
Mr.. Hooker might find himself
trapped" for the Truman-Barkley
ticket. Chairman Massenburg said
he believed the State Central Com
mittee has sufficiently broad powers
to take care of the matter.
2. Mrs. F. Cleveland Davis of Lex
ington resigned as vice chairman of
the State Central Committee, max
ing almost complete the turnover of
the party leadership. Since July 2,
Mr.. Massenburg succeeded Mayor
Horace H. Edwards of Richmond as
chairman; G. Fred SWitzer, Har-
risonburg, succeeded E. R. Combs as
secretary, and w. Tayloe Murphy,
Warsaw, succeeded William H.
Schwarzschild, Richmond, as treas
urer.
Mrs. John Garland Pollard. widow
Of the former Governor, is the only
top-fiight party leader remaining in
Office She continues as national
onmitteewoman.
Eacho Quit Post.
3. Thomas D. Odom of Suffolk,
president of the Young Democratic
Clubs of Virginia, disclosed that Vice
Chairman Stuart A. Eacho of Rich
mond. had asked to be relieved from
further service on the committee
arranging for State convention at
Richmond in October Mr. Eacho, a
stamch supporter of the national
nominees of the Democratic Party,
quit in protest against Mr.. Odom's
invitation to Gov. Thurmond to
address the convention. Mr.. Odom
said he issuad the invitation on my
own prerogative.''
A split developed in the Young
Democratic ranks last month when
the Executive Committee voted IA
to 2 to support the Virginia party
nominees. At that meeting the
committee defeated a. move by
Frank Burton, jr.. and Cloyd Mar
tin. to reform the Young Demo-
Gratis into the Young Dixiecrats of
Virginia.