Evening star., 1952-07-23
virginians Stand Firm.
AGAINST attest Version
OF Loyalty Pledge
By Alex R. Preston
Stor Staff Correspondent

By Alex R. Preston
stor Staff Correspondent
CHICAGO, July 23.-Virginia
today stood Arm against the latest
watering down of the Democrats
loyalty pledge as worked out last
night.
If they want to throw us out,
let them. A good many Of u.s.
would welcome it, said Senator
Byrd.
They've got themselves in al
hell of a hole-now let them get
out Of it."
The Senator, leading figure I'M
the southern bloc of States Right
ers and the undisputed ruler of
Virginia's party machinery. made
this comment after Senator
Moody of Michigan and Repre-
sentative Roosevelt of New York
offered a modified proviso to the
loyalty pledge.
Reiterate Stand.
A caucus was held this morning
and Gov. Battle reported that
there is no change in the situation.
However. he conferred with Sena-
tor Byrd after the caucus and
later announced that the state
ment of policy would be sent to
the Credentials Committee.
The letter of transmittal de-
clared, Il further advise that the
Virginia delegation by unanimous
vote has directed that no loyalty
pledge be taken or agreed to by
any representative or member of
this delegation in regard to the
so-called Moody resolution or any
amendment thereto or any SINH
lar resolution"
This letter was dictated by Gov.
Battle at 12:45 pm. Washington
time.
Governor Goes to Bed.
The VirginianS had caucused yes
terday afternoon to adopt a state
ment of policy and at the sug-
gestion of Gov. Battle, delegation
chairman. adopted a resolution
that he Battle) will file nothing
with the Credentials Committee. NJ
The Credentials Committee &C
cepted assurances of party 10y
atty from most of the States last
night, but Gov. Battle was not
available. He went to bed and
didn't answer his door or his .tele-
phone.
Reporters caught him earlier,
however. after he had been clos
eted with other Southern leaders.
Il doubt if we are in a humor
to be put on terms of any kind
or sign any agreement" Gov. Bat
tie said.
He said Virginia wants no part
of a loyalty pledge-compromise
Ior not-that would put it in the
position Of bowing to the national
party.
What the position Of the Vir-
gianianS amounted to, after the
unanimous vote in caucus, was a
silent dare to the convention to
throw them out. They'll show up
lat their allotted space on the
lconvention floor today. They'll
sit and wait.
The original Moody resolution
lrammed through yesterdays early
morning session by Fair Deal
forces over Southern opposition
would require delegates to give
assurances that they will try to
lget the names of nominees of the
convention to appear on the State
ballots in November under the
Democratic label.
Appearance Is Mandatory.
The Virginians' policy state
ment simply declares that they
transmit to the Credentials Com
,mittee-simply declares that they
ALREADY have a law "by which ii
lis mandatory that the names OF
the nominees of this national
convention and their electors be
iplaced on the ballot of Virginia
under the name of the National
Democratic Party"
What they don't say in the
statement is that the same "anti-
Truman law" passed during the
administration of William M
Tuck in 1948, also gives them the
right to bolt the National Demo-
cratic Party" and place another