Evening star., 1948-09-27
'Anti-Byrd Fight
In '49 5purred
ByPartyAction
Refusal to Consider
Trumon Support Due to
Affect Governor Race
By John v. Homer

cratic State Central Committee to
consider an Endorsement Of Presi-
dent Truman has so alienated the
anti-Byrd wing Of the party that
repercussions are expected to be
stronger in the 1949 fight for Gov
ernor than In this falls presidential
contest.
Some politicians believe the out
come Of the l949 battle will de-
termine whether the organization
led by Senator Byrd and Gov. Tuck
retains control over the party
When the State Central Com
mittee refused Saturday to allow
Truman supporters to petition for
an Endorsement Of Mr.. Truman by
name, it not only gave party mem-
bers the green signal to vote as they
please in November, it also angered
the liberal" faction headed by
Martin A. Hutchinson of Richmond
to the point of assuring finish
fight over the State leadership.
No Commitments Made.
Under a committee resolution.
Democratic campaigners are di-
rected to get out the full vote" but
no commitments are made as to the
candidate for whom the votes
should be cast. Under ruling OF
the Virginia attorney general. Demo-
Gratis may vote for a Republican for
President and still keep their stand
ing in the Democratic Party.
The committees stand thus per-
mits Democrats to vote for Mr.,
Truman, for the States Right
ticket headed by Gov. Thurmond
of South Carolina. for Gov. Dewey
or, presumably, for Henry Wallace
or any other candidate.
Robert Whitehead, member Of the
Virginia House Of Delegates from
Nelson County, tried to address the
committee in behalf of Truman
Endorsement but he was not heard
on grounds that he is not a COM
mittee member. Mr.. Whitehead said
he wanted to submit petition
signed by himself, Mr., Hutchinson.
Francis Pickens Miller of Charlottes-
vile, Lloyd M Robinette, Lee
County: E. H.. Mcconnell Of Scott.
Emanuel Emroch, Richmond: H. M.
Sutherland, Dickinson; Henry H.
Fowler, Alexandria; j. Enos Ray,
Achland, and Frank D. Floyd, New
port News.
"High- Handed" Tactics Hit.
After the meeting, spokesmen for
this group issued a statement de-
nouncing the committee and Chair
man G. Alvin Massenburg for high
handed" tactics, and for refusing to
recognize the, ancient and honor
able right of petition" They prom
Used that the committee would be
held accountable for its course.
This suggests a-majory q battle at
tae first tas,s 0pportapttyItRs l'4s CUB
The anti-Byrd forces will be rail-
lied behind Mr.. Miller, one OF sew
eral candidates already in the rum
ming for the party nomination as
successor to Gov. Tuck.
The fight probably will be hotter
if, as some observers predict, Vir-
ginia goes Republican in the presi-
dental election November 2. These
observers think the Democratic vote
will be so badly split between Mr..
Truman and Gov. Thurmond, and
enough others will vote Republican
or stay at home. that Gov. Dewey
will capture the II electoral votes
usually found in the Democratic
column.
Mr.. Miller will seek the nominal
ton for Governor in contest with
Mayor Horace H. Edwards of Rich
mond and State Senator John S.
Battle OF Charlottesville. Senator
Battle is regarded as the choice Of
the Byrd machine.
Privately the anti-Byrd leaders
say that Saturdays decision Of the
State committee will hurt Senator
Robertson's chances against Rob-
ert H. Woods, Republican. in No
vember. Although the Hutchinson
Whitehead Miller group favors
Senator Robertson, II. thinks large
number of voters who wanted a
Truman Endorsement will be SUM-
ciently angered to switch from Sem
ator Robertson to Mr.. Woods.