Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-28
Byrd Aide Sees
Party Harmony
Step Up 10 Us
Outlines Possibilities
After Meeting
With Mitchell

RICHMOND, Va. July o.
The next step in bringing to-
gether the State and national
Democratic parties sis up to u.s."
a Byrd lieutenant said today.
National Chairman Stephen
Mitchell has made approaches
to us and we owe him the cour-
tesy of considering what he has
said, and then comforting further
with him." said G. Fred Switzer,
Virginia's Democratic National
Committeeman.
Mr.. SWltzer, Staunch member
of the conservative wing of the
party, led by Senator Byrd, con-
ferred at a private luncheon in
Washington yesterday with
Chairman Mitchell.
Sees Good Opportunity.
Today, Mr.. Switzer reported
from his home in Harrisonburg
that there is a good oppor-
tunity" for the State and Ma
tional Democratic parties com
ing together on a working basis"
I'm not speaking one way or
the other on party issues and
the platform" said Mr.. SWitzer,
but at least there's a good
chance that we could cooperate
on the working mechanics of
the party"
Mr.. Switzer said that he would
confer with other leaders in the
State Democratic Party on what
their moves should be on the
proposed reconciliation.
Byrd Denounced Ticket.
The Byrd organization veered
away from the national party
early in the New Deal admins
tration, and the gap widened last
year when Senator Byrd de-
nounced the Democratic presi-
Dental ticket.
"Mr. Mitchell wants to bring
the extreme factions of the Dem
ocratic Party to common ground
for an understanding" said Mr..
Switzer. Every other national
chairman since Farley has prac-
tically ignored the South, but
MIR. Mitchell wants to give us a
proper break"
It was learned yesterday that
Mr.. Mitchell had invited II Vir-
ginia Democratic leaders to
Washington on July 18 for pri-
vate harmony dinner" at the
Metropolitan Club.
Missing from the love feast
were Senator Byrd, Representa-
tive Tuck and other prominent
leaders of the dominant wing of
the State party who refused last
November to back Presidential
Candidate Adlai Stevenson.
Mitchell Comments.
Mr.. Mitchell, reached sepa-
rately for comment, said he and
Mr.. Switzer talked over Demo-
cratic affairs, the committees re-
lationship to Virginia, and pro-
motion of future plans for party
affairs.
He was asked if it was another
meeting to reconcile the Virginia
and national party organizations
and Mr.. Mitchell said reconcile"
wasn't a good word. ITO make
relations better" would be a bet
ter description of what is taking
place, he said.
The 17-member meeting was
made up of about half organiza-
ton Democrats and half anti
organization Democrats.
Senator Byrd was asked to
comment on the conference, but
declined.
Fourth Try by Chairman.
The Switzer meeting was the
fourth Mitchell attempt to WOO
the State party back into the
National party fold. Earlier, he
appointed Gov. Battle to a COM
m1ttee revising National Demo-
cratic Committee rules and con-
suited with Colgate w. Darden,
jr., former Virginia governor,
about the party's future.
In the group at the July 10
meeting were:
1t. Gov. A. E. S. Stephens;
Delegate Armistead L. Boothe, of
Alexandria; Delegate Edward M.
Hudgins, of Chesterfield; former
State Senator William N. Nef,
Of Abingdon; Gibson Harris of
Richmond, who headed "Volun-
teers for Stevenson" last fall.
Also Delegate Robert White
head, of Nelson County; Francis
Pickens Miller, of Charlottesville;
Martin A. Hutchinson, of Rich
mond; James Ashby, of Fred
ericksburg; Thomas j. Niche, of
Charlottesville; Edmund Camp
bell of Arlington, Democratic
nominee for Congress in the 10th
District last year; Henry Howell,
of Norfolk; Boiling Lambeth, of
Bedford, and Hunt Whitehead,
of Chatham.