Evening star., 1953-10-09
Democrats Fear
Dalton Strength
In ; Districts
Each Went G. 0. P.
In Congressional
Races Last Fall
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

Hecent statements by Demo-
cratic leaders indicate a grow
ing concern over the party's pros
poets of carrying three congress
Sional districts in Virginia in next
months election for Governor.
The districts are the 9th, 9th
and 10th, each of which went
Republican in congressional races
last fall.
State Democratic Chairman
Thomas H. Blanton, in a speech
at Bowling Green last night, be-
came the latest to declare the
districts were "in doubt" so far
as the Democrats are concerned.
Representative Howard w.
Smith Of the 9th district, ad-
dressing the same party rally,
declared "it is no joke that there
are certain defections ir some
parts of the State that are some
what serious"
Thomas B. Stanley, the Demo-
cratic nominee for Governor,
said in a statement last week
that he had reason to believe"
his toughest fight would be in the
three districts represented by
G. o. P. congressman. Mr.. STAN
ley has said he believes too many
Democrats are taking the view
that the party will walk back in
as heretofore.
G. o. p. Expects to Garry Them.
Republican leaders have openly
boasted Of their belief that Ted
Dalton, the G. o. P. guberna-
torial nominee, will carry the
three districts. They have also
said they think the race will be
close in the Sd district.
Mr.. Smith, who has taken to
stumping the 9th district in be-
half of MI Stanley. warned that
county officeholders will be the
next targets" if the Republicans
go into power.
"All you State employees have
a personal interest in this elec-
tion," he said. Where are you
going to be if they elect a Re-
publican GOVERNOR"
In an obvious reference to Del
egate Robert Whitehead of Mel
son County, Mr.. Smith said an
alleged" Democrat had called
on Mr.. Stanley to clarity his
stand on the poll tax. Mr.. White
head called on Mr.. Stanley to
speak out on the poll tax issue
earlier in the week.
Whats the matter with the
poll tax?" asked Mr.. Smith. II
can't speak for others, but per-
sonally l don't see anything
wrong with it,"
Remarks to Empty Chair.
AS Mr.. Dalton spoke last night
at Norton at a $5-per- plate cam
paign dinner before $50 persons,
one of his ticket mates, Walter E.
Hoffman, was in Richmond ad-
dressing remarks to an empty
chair and talking about party
loyalty rulings of Virginia's At
torney General j. Lindsay AL
mond, jr., the man who wasn't
there.
Mr.. Hoffman addressed the
empty chair, he said, because it
had been reserved for Mr.. AL
mond in the event the latter de-
cided to accept Mr.. Hoffman'S
challenge and show up to debate
his party loyalty rulings.
Mr.. Hoffman reiterated his
claim that Mr.. Almonds opinions
were calculated to keep the old
machine in power. Nothing
but subterfuge to protect politi-
cal tricksters."
He also charged that Almonds
opinions were politically expedi-
ent" and that he knew better
than to issue them.
Refers to Two Rulings.
The rulings to which Mr.. Hoff-
man referred were reiterationS
by Mr.. Almond of two previous
rulings by attorneys general.
They held, in effect, that Vir-
ginian may vote for either party
in a presidential election and
not hurt his standing as far as
voting in his party primaries is
concerned.
However. the ruling went on to
say that Virginian who votes
in any part of the State Demo-
cratic primary is morally obli-
gated to vote for all Democratic
nominees if he votes on the next
general election.
Mr.. Hoffman challenged Mr..
Almond to debate the opinions
and said last night Lindsay AL
mond hasn't the intestinal forti-
tude to come up on the plat
form and say his rulings
are right. He knows he's wrong"
The Republicans put the empty
chair on the stage and put a
sign in it which read, "If the
gentleman wishes to challenge
me to public debate, I might
say I never ran from one yet"
This was attributed to Mr..
Almond by a reporter soon after
Mr.. Hoffman first challenged
him to debate.
Mr.. Hoffman said Mr.. Almond
"is a very capable man when
he wants to be. He is the most
able campaigner they (the Demo-
crats) have. They are send
ing him around the State speak,
ing for Tom Stanley, who won't
speak"