Evening star., 1948-10-22

didates above and beyond any
loyalty or obligations to those So
called leaders of the party in Vir-
ginia who are now silent or in &C
tive opposition to the National
Democratic ticket.
"Those who leave their party in
the hour of need most often live to
regret their action. It was so fol-
lowing the bolt of 1928 in Virginia
and throughout the South. Many
splendid men then in the official
life of the States and the Nation
passed of the political scene never
to return"
Massenberg's "Neutralty."
However, Democratic State Chair
man G. A. Massenberg, Byrd man,
announced recently that party
headquarters was neutral" and was
taking no stand between President
Truman and Gov. Thurmond, be-
cause good Democrats are support
ing both candidates. 1t would be
difficult to find a better tip-ef than
that regarding the plans of the Or
ganization. The State committee,
however, is going down the line for
the Democratic congressional can
didates.
The Truman Democrats are pray
ing for a big turn out OF voters, be-
lieving that the Truman ticket
would benefit. They admit, how
ever, that this hope may be blasted
by a determination on the part Of
many Democrats not to vote for
any of the presidential candidates.
Further, they point out that the
election laws in the State, which re-
quire the payment of poll taxes for
three years before an election, in
order to cast a ballot, undoubtedly
will prevent from voting many work.
ing men and their families who
might ordinarily be counted on to
support President Truman.
Active G. O. p. Campaign.
The Republicans are putting on
their most active campaign in Vir-
ginia. They have headquarters both
here and in Roanoke, and in every
congressional district. They hold
that they have chances of taking
House seats away from the Demo-
Gratis in the I'd. 7th and, 9th Con-
gressional districts, and fighting
chances" In the 9Th and 9Th dis
tricts.
. Their best chance, according to
more objective observers, lies ap-
parently in the I'd (Norfolk) district.
They are waging Statewide cam
paign for their Senatorial candidate,
Robert II. Woods, who Is running
against Senator Robertson. Senator
Robertson will win, unless there
should be a political miracle.
While many of the Negro voters
who stuck to President Roosevelt are
for Mr.. Truman, two Negro news
papers, which supported President
Roosevelt, are backing Gov. Dewey.
They are the Norfolk Journal-Guide
and the Afro-American published
here.
Wallace Vote to Be Small.
Henry Wallaces vote in Virginia
will be small, but what he gets will
be taken from Mr.. Truman.
Newspaper support is divided, with
some of the leading dailies avoiding
Endorsement of any presidential
candidate. The Times-Dispatch is
an example of the latter group.
Editorially this newspaper strikes at
Mr.. Truman, Gov. Dewey and Gov.
Thurmond. It likes none of them.
Here is q bitter sentence, taken
from one Of its editorials dealing
with Mr.. Truman:
"It was Truman's record of blind
loyalty to the Pendergast machine
in Kansas City, the utterly sordid
back-alley of politics in which he
was weaned, that served to turn
millions of otherwise loyal Demo-
Gratis against him."
How many votes the States
Rights movement will roll UP is q
guess. Gov. Thurmond and his sup
porters have campaigned through
out the State, and conditions have
played into their hands in several
instances. One example cited are
recent suits filed to compel equal
school facilities for white and COL
ored students. One well-qualified
political observer gives Gov. Thur
mond 10 per cent of the total vote,
and says it may go higher.
Those Democrats who did not