Evening star., 1952-09-24
G.0.P.Conceded
Even Chance 10
Garry Virginia
Biggest Obstacle
Is Split Of Bockers
Into Mony Groups
By John v. Homer
Stnr Sfoff Corrasnondanf


stor Stoff Correspondent
RICHMOND, Va, Sept. a.
Gen. Eisenhower has an excellent
chance to carry Virginia in the
November election, but if he does
it will be in spite of the Republi-
can Party.
Thanks to his great personal
popularity and to Virginia's frank
dislike of the Truman administra-
ton, the general is conceded at
least an even break-so far-with
Gov, Stevenson in a fight for the
IL electoral votes here.
The general has ample backing
at this stage of the campaign in
the Old Dominion, but the back
ers are split into too many groups
going their separate ways. That
is chiefly the fault of the Republi-
can Party.
Gen. Eisenhower will wind up
his present whistle-stop tour with
a swing through Virginia Friday.
Most people think he will do all
right in his own behalf but they
wonder whether his strength will
be dissipated by campaign con-
fusion.
Stop In Four Cities.
The Eisenhower train will stop
at Roanoke. Lynchburg and Pc
tersburg before it brings the pres
idential candidate to Richmond
for the principal address Friday
night.
The Republicans have gambled
heavily on that one appearance.
If they get a good break in
weather, the gamble should pay
of. A bad break could mean dis
aster.
The Eisenhower handlers elected
to hold this rally out of doors. The
nominee will speak-rain or moon
from the south portico of the
State Capitol. So his crowd will
depend upon the elements.
The G. o. P. rejected the idea
Of an indoor meeting partly be-
cause they feared the touchy
racial segregation issue would be
raised. They figured Southern
whites who object to sitting beside
Negroes in an auditorium wouldn't
mind rubbing elbows with them in
Capitol Square.
These fears may have been
groundleSs. Under Democratic
auspices here Saturday night, Gov.
Stevenson addressed an unsegre-
gated audience at the Mosque
without incident. AS far as can be
determined. the Democrats suf-
fered no damaging political con-
sequences.
The weather gamble, however,
is small beside the risk involved
in having half a dozen playing
coaches on a six-man team. That's
what Gen. Eisenhower has here.
Taft Men Run Campaign.
There is. first. the regular"
This is the group that wanted
Senator Taft to win the nomina-
tion in Chicago. Now it runs the
Eisenhower campaign in Virginia.
It is headed by State Senator
Floyd Landreth as chairman, and
State Senator Ted Dalton as ma
tional committeeman. Both of
these leaders live and spend most
of their time in Western Virginia.
State headquarters in the Ra-
leigh Hotel here are directed by
Maurice Dozier of Richmond, who
is G. o. P. chairman for the third
district.
Next comes the Eisenhower
Nixon Club. It's members never
did like Senator Taft. They've
been plugging for Gen. Eisen-
hover all along. They maintain
headquarters couple of blocks
from the Raleigh-at TIC East
Main street. Banners in the VIM
dow proudly proclaim that this
club is the original" outfit for
the general.
In the group is Earle Lutz.
former Richmond newspaperman
and once an unsuccessful candi-
date for the House. He is bitter
that the regulars" refused to
run a candidate against Senator
Byrd" He says this leaves the
Virginia campaign without a focal
point.
The Young Virginians for Eli
senhower operate from another
address-10 East Main street
under the aegis of William Carlton
and Joseph Butler.
Republican women working for
Gen. Eisenhower are established
at II North Adams street, which
is described as "the only perma-
nent Republican headquarters
south of Washington" Their
leader is Miss Doris Austin.
BY some circumstance, the
Young Republicans for Eisen-
hover are housed there, too. Their
operations are directed by Robert
Lynch.
There's still another member of
the Eisenhower team. It's known
as Virginia Democrats for Eisen-
hover. The only reason 1t isn't
two organizations is that the
"Virginians for Eisenhower" de-
cided to merge with the Dem
OcratS for Eisenhower"
Headquarters: Hotel Richmond
Despite their influence. the Vir-
ginia Democrats for Eisenhower
cannot run the Republican cam
paign. They win bring out an i'm
preston vote. Some are expert
enced in politics and they have
money to spend. but they are
rockies to the regulars.
The signals, right or wrong
will he eallad hv fie nld c1,ard