Evening star., 1948-06-20
Race Broadens
For Top Virginia
Democratic Posi-
Six More Mentioned
As Candidates for
Stute Chuirmunship
By the kssoeiaisd Press

BY the Asseeiaisd Pres.
RICHMOND, Va, June 19.-Vir-
ginia Democratic politicians gave
high priority in their discussions to-
= day TO two questions:
/. Who is going to inherit Horace
Edward'ss mantle as Democratic
State chairman at the convention,
July 2?
2. How are the prospects of three
probable organization candidates in
the race for Governor going to af-
feet the chances of the dominant
wing of the party?
On point No. /, the possible field
of selection broadened with the
mention of a half dozen additional
names. This came after former
Senator Thomas G. Burch of Mar
tinsville apparently removed him.
self from consideration bS saying
he didn't want the job of party
chairman and couldn't imagine any
conditions that would arise to make
him change his mind.
Stanley May Be Candidate.
These other possibilities were put
forward: G. Fred Switzer, Harrison
burg telephone executive and 7th
District party chairman; State Sem
ator Frank P Burton of Patrick
County; Ira L. Harding. Halifax
County commissioner of revenue;
William L. Pr1eur, jr., clerk OF the
Corporation Courts and the Court
of Law and Chancery in Norfolk:
Edwin Cox. of Richmond, secretary
of the State Central Committee, and
w. Tayloe Murphy of Warsaw,
of the House of Delegates and al
most certain choice for conven-
ton keynoter.
Mr.. Edwards, Mayor of Richmond
said he would not seek reelection
as party chairman. This action. it
was indicated strongly, was pre-
lude to his expected public an
nouncement of his candidacy for the
Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor
Naturalization of Mr. Edwards
expected candidacy would put two
organization men in the race. since
State Senator John S. Battle of
Charlottesville has made his public
declaration. On top of this Repre-
sentative Stanley of the 5th Dis
trict. who repeatedly had consid-
cred making the race against Gov.
Tuck for the Democratic nomi-
nation, referred last week in WASH
ington to his probable" candidacy
next year.
Get Together" Anticipated.
A political and personal friend of
MI, Stanley said knowing him as
l do I believe he is thinking very
strongly of making the race"
Against the possibility of the
three organization men there is
the probable candidacy of Col
Francis Pickens Miller of Char
lottesville, who gave strong inti-
nations that he would be an aspi-
rant.
This would present a picture of
Col. Miller, an anti-organization
liberal, against three candidates
from within the organization who
would draw strength from one an
other. Such a situation, said an
organization leader would be un-
tenable If the dominant wing in
tends to remain in power.
The way he saw the picture devel-
oping, and incidentally the way
VINO knew nothing of this express
sion of views, was like this:
State Senator Battle, Mr.. Edwards
and possibly Representative Stanley
will 60 on with their efforts to win
friends and influence support with
no public pronouncements one way
OF another from the top party
leaders in the State. Then along
about April of next year the organ
ization aspirants will be asked to
make an honest appraisal of their
strength, with the organizations
public backing then to 60 to the
strongest candidate.
One Organization Man Seen.
This program of getting together"
would be left to the candidates
themselves But if they failed to
agree on whose strength was great
est the leaders would do the job
for them and publicly announce and
probably stump for single candi-
GATE.
This might be blow to the hopes
Of one or more candidates but it
would be preferable-still from an
organization view-to seeing an
anti" capture the governorship.
Il believe you could safely bet
your bottom dollar" the anti-organi-
cation leader commented, that
there won't be but one organization
candidate in the race when the
question is decided by the voters
IN, af 1OA0