Evening star., 1952-08-15
Byrd Foes Seek
Clear Stand by
PartyConnmittee
Demand Answer
On NutionuI Ticket
At August 28 Meet
BY the Associoted Press

Two leaders of Virginia's anti-or-
ganization Democrats have called
on the Democratic State Central
Committee to take an unequivocal
stand on the presidential race.
Said Delegate Robert White
head and Attorney Martin Hutch
inson in a statement last night:
1--WE believe that the State Cen
trail Committee has a duty to tell
Virginia Democrats where that
committee stands. And it should
tell them-not so days from now,
not 30 days from now-but on
August % when the committee
meets in Richmond"
Mr.. Whitehead and Mr.. Hutch
lnson are supporting Gov. Steven
son, the national party nominee.
But Gov. Battle, Senator Byrd and
State Democratic Chairman Will
liam M. Tuck have remained silent
on the race.
Battle Statement Hit.
The two anti-organization
Democrats criticized Gov. Battle
for telling the Democratic Ma
tional Convention that 1--WE (the
Democrats of Virginia) will not
betray YOU"
Yet. said Mr.. Whitehead and
Mr.. Hutchinson in their state
ment, "he now protests that he
is not committed to the Demo-
cratic ticket and refuses to say
whether he will support or even
vote for it."
The statement said loyal
Democrats of Virginia" are be-
fuddled by the action of the
States leaders.
The recently nominated can
dldate OF the Democratic Party
in Virginia for the United States
Senate and the chairman of the
Democratic State Central Com
mittee refuse to state their posi-
tions," said the statement. "The
national Democratic committee
man and the national Democratic
committeewoman from Virginia
have not let the public know
where they stand.
mo action has yet been taken
TO indicate to Virginia Democrats
when the campaign will begin,
when electors pledged to the Dem
ocratic nominees will be certified
10 the State Board of Elections,
whether the State Central Com
nittee intends to support the
ticket, by whom the campaign
will be conducted. whether it will
De a genuine and aggressive cam
oa1gn. or any campaign at ALL"
Attack Newspaper Views.
Mr.. Whitehead and MIR. Hutch
lnson also condemned what they
termed "the immoral and unprin-
cipled attempt of certain daily
newspapers. now openly support
ing the Republican Party with
which they have long sympathizedI
IN secret, to encourage Demo-
cratic voters to support Eisen-
hover and Nixon with the as
that they can legally and
,onscientiously vote in next years
Democratic primary"
They labeled this a "prostitu-
ion Of the two-party system
which the same newspapers "areI
simultaneously pretending to fos-
,er and promote"
They said the newspapers had
nisinterpreted the law in saying
Democratic voters could support
Sen. Eisenhower and then vote in
he primary the next year.
They said they would see that g.
court test of the practice is made
,efore next years primary.
Mr.. Whitehead is the leader in
he State Legislature of anti-or-
'anization forces, and Mr.. Hutch
nson was former secretary of the
Commonwealth and at one time
ecretary Of the Democratic State
Central Committee. In 1916 Mr..
Hutchinson ran against Senator
Byrd for the Senate as an anti
organization candidate.
Mr.. Tuck said yesterday in an
louncing the Central Committee
Meeting he didn't think "any real
Ssues would be involved"
It is up to the Central Commit
ee to decide whether the Demo-
ratio Convention is to be recon-
'ened if it feels the party should
'olt the Chicago nominees. A
lumber of the organization stall
7arts, including Senator Robert
on, have already indorsed the
lational ticket.
Under Virginia law. the State
could be reconvened
nd the Virginia Democratic pres
Dental electors instructed to sup
'ort a candidate other than the
National party nominee.
This, however, would not pre-
ent the national party ticket from
citing q place on the ballot in
Virginia.