Evening star., 1953-07-16
Byrd Suggests
Stanley Meet
0. P. Issues
Senator Predicts
'NormuI' Victory
For Democrats
By Alex R. Preston

from Senator Byrd. head of the
dominant organization in the
State.
II think" Senator Byrd said,
"the Democrats should organize
thoroughly and meet whatever
issues are raised by the Republic
cans in the campaign. I predict
that with such an organization,
combined with our able ticket,
the Democrats will receive the
normal majority in the fall"
The Senator said he was 100
per cent behind the ticket and
would "use all the capacity and
energy I have to do everything
I can to bring about a normal
victory in the fall"
Had Avoided Debate.
The Democratic primary cam
paign which ended Tuesday in
the defeat Of Arlington State
Senator Charles r. Fenwick was
marked by Mr.. Stanley's failure
to debate the issues with his op-
ponent and refusal to answer
questionnaires from such or
ganizations as the League Of
Women Voters.
Only some 100000 voters went
to the polls compared with 345,-
900 who turned out for Senator
Byrd's own heated primary. cam
paign against Francis Pickens
Miller last July. Last fall, 619,-
600 Virginians voted in the Presi-
Dental election.
while I should have preferred
larger vote" Senator Byrd
said, Il don't see any particular
significance in the size of Tues
days turnout"
State Senator Ted Dalton has
declared that the Tuesday vote
is a sign that Virginians are
abandoning party labels to vote
on party issues.
N16 AAAhCdhCCs
Senator Byrd, however, took
the view that there was no par
ticular significance of the small
size of the vote because of the
lack of issues between the two
Democratic contenders plus the
general letdown following two
very hard-fought campaigns Of
last fall and last July.
"It was more or less a normal
campaign when compared to
those of other years, including
those Of Gov. Darden and Gov.
Tuck who were nominated in
campaigns without substantial
issues"
He said the Democratic Party
in Virginia had much to be
proud of and nothing to be
ashamed Of"
Mr.. Fenwick. whose term in
the State Senate does not ex-
pire until 1865, meanwhile, was
back at his patent law office in
washington early yesterday
morning, a few hours after his
defeat.
Fenwick Plans Rest.
He was catching up on busi-
ness affairs yesterday and today
and plans to leave tomorrow for
a week of rest and fishing at
his farm on the James River in
Cumberland County.
Now that they have their
Democratic targets spotted, Re-
publican big guns moved imme-
diately to train their sights for
the November bombardment.
Mr.. Dalton and his running
mates will meet with about 80
COP leaders for strategy con-
ference Saturday at Claytor
Lake, near Pulaski.
November COntenderS.
This is the lineup for Novem-
ber:
Mr.. Stanley versus Mr.. Dalton
for Governor.
Lieut.. Gov. A.E.S S. Stephens
versus Stephen B. Timberlake.
Staunton Republican. for lieu
tenant governor.
Attorney General j. Lindsay
Almond, jr., versus Walter Hoff-
man, Norfolk Republican. for at
torney general.
But Democrats were not going
to provide the COP with sta
tionary target for long.
Stanley aides said campaign
headquarters will reopen about
August l, or several weeks earlier
than Virginia Democratic can
didate usually considers it
necessary to set up a stand and
make his pitch to the voters.
Despite a depleted treasury
with a balance of only $4,000, Re-
publicanS are greatly heartened
by the miniscule vote in the
Democratic primary.
Their optimism stemmed from
the fact that they already had
opened their campaign by radio
and television urging voters dis
satisfied with the Stanley-Fen-
wick contest and particularly Re-
publicans and anti-organization
Democrats, to stay away from
the polls Tuesday. The voters
did stay away but it has not been
established yet whether they
were needing the Republican
plea.
Ruling Aids Optimism.
Also, a recent Attorney Gen.
erals ruling gave the G. o. P.
further cause for optimism. The
Office of Attorney General Al
mond held about two weeks
before the primary that a voter
could not enter the Democratic
primary and refrain from voting
for either candidate for Gov
ernor while voting for some
lesser office without being legally
and morally obligated to support
all Democratic nominees in
-,