Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-25

Whitehead Will
Quit Campaign,
Associates Say
Financial Pledges
To Anti-Byrd Leader
Called insufficient
By Alex R. Preston

! Called insufficient
By Alex R. Preston
Delegate Robert Whitehead Of
Nelson County will not be a can
didate for Governor of Virginia
this. year. according to his asso-
ciates in the anti-Byrd faction
Of the Democratic Party.
These sources, who would not
be quoted by name, say he has
not received enough pledges of
financial support to wage the all
out campaign he desires to make.
Mr.. Whitehead is scheduled
to make a public statement on
his plans later today for release
tomorrow.
His decision not to run was
seen as adding momentum to
the campaign Of State Senator
Charles r. Fenwick of Arlington
for the governorship. .
Mr.. Fenwick, like his princi-
pal Democratic primary oppo-
nent, former Representative
Thomas B. Stanley, has a rec
ord of loyalty to the dominant
organization headed by Senator
Byrd. But Senator Fenwick's
long record as a legislator and
in other public affairs has identi-
fed him as the more liberal and
independent of the two.
Leads Anti-Byrd Wing.
Mr.. Whitehead is the leader
of the liberal wing of the Demo-
cratic Party which, in general,
opposes the conservative Byrd
organization. The Whitehead
followers, according to some OBJ
servers. probably will have no
other place to go than into the
Fenwick camp.
When asked about the reports
this morning, Mr.. Whitehead
merely said, I'm withholding
my statement until tomorrow"
On February S. the Nelson
County legislator announced he
would run for Governor if he re-
ceived sufficient contributions or
pledges of financial support for
an about campaign. He warned
at the time that such a drive
would be expensive, and said
that getting out only one letter
to the voters would cost $40, 900.
Since the announcement, Mr..
Whitehead has, from time to
time. said the public response to
his appeal for funds had been
gratifying" (
His friends, however, now say
that the amount pledged was
not enough. and Mr.. White
head may throw further light
on this phase in his statement
today.
nuH"OH was Likely.
Chances of a run-off primary
in Virginia for the first time
this year were greatly reduced
by the Whitehead withdrawal
from the race. Had he run, o
run-of was virtually certain.
Many observers believe the
run-off law was enacted in
1850 at the behest of the Byrd
organization for fear that Mr..
Whitehead would enter the race
this year and the organizations
vote would be divided among its
own candidates, such as Mr..
Stanley and Senator Fenwick.
There is a third Democrat in
the race. w. Russell Hatchett,
former Virginia Beach town
councilman, but he is relatively
unknown.
Last night Senator Fenwick,
speaking over 10 Virginia radio
stations, advocated a program
Of economic development which
he calls the "Fenwick Plan"
Program for Progress"
His plan calls for creation OF
an industrial development
branch of the State government
to harness undeveloped re-
sources, provide a balanced
economy to localities and bring
in sufficient tax revenues from
new business to reduce other
taxes.
Before mentioning his plan,
Senator Fenwick had urged that
the Battle school fund should be
continued to those localities that
have not yet used their share.
He also supported enlargement
of the literary fund. also used
for school construction.
To sponsor teamwork between
management and labor, he said
he favors creation of a division
OF reconciliation and negotiation
within the State Department Of
Labor.
II believe in the construction
Of self-liquidating turnpikes for
through highways, continuance
Of Virginia's pay = as = you 60
financing and improvement of
our secondary and farm-to-
market feeder roads," he added.
Another program receiving
support in his address Is the
fight to end stream pollution.
Observation-Disclosures