Evening star., 1953-10-22

Democrats Can
Back Dalton,
Miller Says
Sees No Obligation
To Support Byrd
Ticket in Election
BY the Asseeioted Press

the Byrd organization, Francis
PickenS Miller, said last night
that true and loyal" Democrats
could choose any of three courses
of action in the State election
November 3 with a clear con-
science" and vote Democratic,
stay at home or vote Republi-
can.
Mr.. Miller, in q radio address,
condemned what he repeatedly
referred to as "the Byrd Party"
but he said, II myself have no
alternative" but to vote the
straight Democratic ticket.
This, he said, was because "it
is essential for me to continue
to be in an unquestioned posi-
ton to work for a strong DEM
ocratic Party in Virginia
(and in order that I may be
able to serve this purpose, I
must maintain party regularity"
But Mr.. Miller told his liberal
Democratic followers that "it is
my considered Judgment that you
are under no legal obligation
whatever to vote the Byrd party
ticket on November 3, and cer-
tainly under no moral obligation
in view of the way Byrd party
leaders have reacted to the Fed
eral grand jury Indictment in
Richmond last week."
Sees No Clear Line.
Moreover" Mr., Miller con-
tinued, ''in light of the total po-
litical situation which has de-
veloped in Virginia. there is, in
my opinion, no one clear line OF
duty for loyal Virginia Demo-
Gratis to follow on November 3.
Some will feel as I do. that
they have no alternative but to
vote the straight Democratic
ticket. Others will feel that the
most effective way for them to
protest against an intolerable
situation is to abstain from vot-
ing. While still others will feel
that it is their duty to vote and
to vote for the candidates and
the program that they think will
best promote the interests OF
Virginia.
II know that honest men and
women may choose any one OF
these three possible courses Of
action. Whichever course they
choose, they can choose it with
a clear conscience"
Stanley Has Comment.
Mr.. Dalton, who is campaign
ing in the Norfolk area today,
could not be reached for COM
ment. but Mr.. Stanley. from his
State headquarters in Richmond,
had this to say:
II see that Mr.. Miller in his
speech says he is going to vote
the Democratic ticket because he
wants to keep himself. in an un-
questioned position to work for a
strong Democratic Party in Vir-
ginia, and I assume that if he
wants to keep himself in an un-
questioned position, that he will
also want to see his friends and
former supporters remaining in
similar position.
Therefore, I cannot help but
feel that since he himself is going
to vote the Democratic ticket that
lVs friends will also vote the
Democratic ticket"
Got 1850 Votes.
Mr.. Miller ran unsuccessfully
under the anti-organization ban
ner for Governor in the Demo-
cratic primary four years ago
and for Senator against Senator
Harry Byrd in the party primary
last year. He addressed himself
last night primarily to the 128.-
900 persons who supported him
last year and said those sharing
his views should now have in
creased to 100000.
He said the Democratic nomi-
nee. Thomas B. Stanley, has
conducted a campaign without
parallel in the memory of living
men for it's lack of voter appeal"
Mr.. Miller said Mr.. Stanley was
the candidate of a know Moth
ing, say nothing, do nothing
party" and that he was relying
upon the power of a machine to
get out the vote that will come
out for any machine candidate
irrespective of his qualifications"
Mr.. Miller said Mr.. Stanley
had made no effort ito appeal
to the 10000 Democrats to
whom / am speaking tonight.
And since he does not wish their
support, why should they give it
to him?"
Can Vote for Dalton.
Mr.. Miller said in effect that
Democrats could vote for Repub-
lican Ted Dalton in spite Of
rulings from the Attorney Gen.
erals Office which he said were
inspired by fear that control
may be slipping from the Byrd
Bosses" He termed THE Great
Betrayal of 1852" a radio speech
Senator Byrd made last year in
which he repudiated the national
Democratic presidential candi-
dates.
The platform Mr.. Dalton is
running on, Mr.. Miller said. in
its major plankS reads like a
1853 version of Mr.. Miller's own
1949 platform for Governor. And
he added:
What an irony that the Re-
publican Party IN Virginia has
become the champion of that
Democratic program.