Evening star., 1952-10-19
Byrd Statement
|Cheers Backers
|0f Eisenhower
| Stevenson Forces,
However, Soy State
| Will Stuy Democratic
BY the Assoeiated Press

Will St0y OemOCTottC
BY the Assoeiotsd Press
RICHMOND, Oct. 18.-Eisen.
hover hackers claimed new conf
dence Of carrying Virginia today.
But Stevenson leaders conf
IDENTIFY predicted the State will re-
main in the Democratic column
despite Senator Byrd's refusal to
indorse the national ticket.
Republican and Virginia Demo-
Gratis for Eisenhower officials saw
Senator Byrd's non-support stand
as "clinching" the Old Dominion
for the Republican presidential
candidate.
But Democratic leaders support
ing Gov. Stevenson were ready to
give no quarter. While frankly
admitting that Senator Byrd's
stand would make their job
harder. they vowed to redouble
their efforts to prevent the State
from going Republican for the
first time since 1928.
Disagree ON "Trumanism."
Most of the Stevenson leaders
commended Byrd for telling where
he stands. But they said they
disagreed with the Senator's view
that Gov. Stevenson Is an adj
herent or "Trumanism."
Gov. Battle, who indorsed Gov.
Stevenson some two months ago
and praised him warmly in a
Dickinson County speech a week
ago, said he did not believe the
election of Gov. Stevenson would
mean the continuation of the Tru-,
man administration"
Gov. Battle praised Byrd's
speech as "a very frank state
ment by a great Virginian and q
great American" and said he re-
gretted they differed on the
presidential campaign.
State Democratic Chairman
Nelson Parker reiterated Gov.
Battles belief that the Illinois
Governor won't toe the Truman
line.
II don't think Stevenson will
be led by any man-Truman or
otherwise" Mr.. Parker said. "Hel
will be led only by the desire for
good government"
Confident Of Majority"
Mr.. Parker, Richmond attorney,
and friend Of Senator Byrd, said.
he still has mo doubt" that Vir-
ginia will cast a majority vote
for the Democratic nominee.
Senator Byrd's avoidance Of any
reference to the Republicans and
Eisenhower gave rise to the
question of whether he might not
vote for Stevenson despite >refus-
ing to Endorse" him.
Delegate Lewis A. McMurran
Of Newport News. a Stevenson
supporter. interpreted it this way.
1T is important that we, as
Democrats, remember that while
Senator Byrd said he cannot in
dorse the national platform. he
stated: I will not make q pledge
in July and break 1t in October
ITO me. this implies that all.
though he cannot indorse the ma
tional platform. he will vote for
Stevenson"
Pledge Held Not Binding.
The pledge referred to Is a re-
quirement Of State party rules
that victors in State Democratic
primaries support nominees of
the party" Attorney General j.
Kindsay Almond held in 1948,
however. that the pledge is not
binding in presidential campaigns.
Former State Democratic Chair
man Horace Edwards saw the
word Endorsement" as highly
significant" too. He said Eisen-
hover hackers can get little COM
fort from it,"
MIR. Edwards. also Stevenson
backer, said he didn't think the
Byrd address would help Mr..
Eisenhower much.
State Senator A. e. s. Stephens
Of Smithfleld. who was nominated
for Lieutenant Governor because
Of his support of Gov. Stevenson.
said Senator Byrd had merely
expressed the views which he has
enunciated during most of the
Roosevelt and Truman Admins
trations."
Mr.. Stephens said he is mot in
accord with all of the Senator's
ideas because I feel that great
social. economic and humane
progress has been made in our
country under the Democratic adj
ministrations since 1882"
! Robertson Stands Firm.
/ While Senator Byrd was veering
away from the national ticket, his
fellow Virginia Senator, A. Willis
Robertson. was reaff1rming his in
tention of sticking with Gov. Ste
venson. Senator Robertson, who
announced some weeks ago his
support of the Democratic nomi-
nee, said he would vote for party
candidates 100 per cent.
Mr.. Almond and Republican
Thomas Stanley of Henry County.
both likely candidates for gover-
nor in next years Democratic
primary, did not have any COM
Iment.
Nor did former Gov. William
Tuck. who resigned as state Demo-
cratic chairman rather than in
.dorse Gov. Stevenson. Mr.. Tuck
promised to have statement next
week.
Leaders Of the anti-organiza-
ton Democratic wing said they
weren't surprised at Senator
|Byrd's stand. Francis Pickens
Miller. whom Mr.. Byrd defeated
in the July senatorial primary.
suggested that the Senator "has
betrayed his party"
Delegate Robert Whitehead of
Nelson, another probable candi-
date for Governor. said Byrd's
position came ''as no surprise"
~