Evening star., 1952-11-06
Virginia Near
2-Party Setup,
6. 0. P. Declares
But Democrats View
Vote as No Reflection
On Party in State
BY Tho Assoeiotad Press

BY the Assoeiotad Press
RICHMOND, Nov. 6.-Repub-
licans talked hopefully today of
long-awaited fruition Of the two
party system in Virginia. but COR
ganization" Democratic leaders
seemed unperturbed by the G. o.
P.'s amazing triumph in Tuesdays
election.
State Republican Chairman
Floyd Landreth of Galax inter-
Ipreted Gen. Eisenhower's impress
sive victory and the election of
three G. o. p. Congressman as in
dicating Virginia at long last is on
the verge Of q genuine two-party
setup.s
Mr.. Landreth said he would call
a meeting Of the Republican State
Committee soon to assay the par
tvs new position in Virginia.
Republican National Commit
teeman Ted Dalton saw Tuesdays
outcome as a move away from
the fetish" Of the Democratic
label. Hereafter, predicted Mr..
Dalton, matters will be decided
more on their merit, on the basis
of candidates and issues involved" !"
Democratic Chiefs Not Worried.
But while the Republicans had
their hopes up. Democratic chief
tains didn't appear particularly
worried about their political fu-
ture in the Old Dominion.
Most Of them attributed the Re-
lpublicans' overwhelming victory
to extenuating circumstances such
as a potent argument for q change
and charges Of corruption and
communism in Government.
Gov. Battle, in fact, saw the
vote in Virginia as mo reflection"
on the Democratic Party Of the
State. He attributed Gen. Eisen-
hower's triumph to virginians' de-
sire "for a clean sweep in Wash
lington."
They apparently felt, said Gov.
Battle, that mo matter how ca
pable and honest Gov. Stevenson
might be, he wouldn't be able to
start with a clean sheet"
In other words" he added. II
think Stevenson inherited a num-
ber Of very serious liabilities. and
he was not able to convince the
people he could dissociate himself
from these"
State Democratic Chairman
Nelson Parker said the people
wanted a change "and they didn't
think Stevenson could give them
the change-particularly after the
Presidents tour which made them
feel he controlled Stevenson"
Mr.. Parker, like Gov. Battle,
viewed Tuesdays results as no dis
credit to the Democratic Party
Of Virginia. He predicted the
party would pull together and hold
Its dominant role in the State.
Courtesy Call on Battle.
AS If to lend credence to this
forecast, two leaders Of the Demo-
Gratis = for Eisenhower movement
paid a courtesy call on Gov. Bat
tie yesterday to, as they put it,
"show good will"
The pair were Mills F. Neal, who
led the Democrats-for- State
wide campaign, and Coleman
Workman, who headed the move
|ment in Richmond.
Robert v. Hatcher, Richmond
businessman who assisted Mr..
Neal as a leader Of the Democrats
for Eisenhower, said the group
will remain in the Democratic
franks.
But this unity theme was not
sounded by leaders Of the liberal
wing of State Democrats.
Francis Pickens Miller Of Albe-
marie said the State Democratic
Party must be reconstructed "un-
der leadership that can be
trusted" While the G. o. p. sweep
in Virginia reflected a National
trend. 1t also was "a measure of
the extent to which the Demo-
cratic Party in Virginia has been
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