Evening star., 1955-02-23
White1eadSees
Unified Front
As Party Need
Foe Of vireinio's
Conservative Rule
Urges Partnership
By Alex R. Preston

ernor and the leader Of anti.
organization Democrats in Viz.
ginia warned members of the
party last night that too many
Democrats are taken for granted.
"It is expected they will toe
the line on the day Of the gem
eral election" said Robert White
head, member of the House Of
Delegates from Nelson County.
He spoke at George Washing
tons birthday banquet sponsored
by the Fairfax County Demo-
cratic Committee in Alexandria.
One of the first lessons to be
learned from the first President
is tolerance, he said.
1--WE must confess that we are
not always tolerant of Republi-
cans, and. even worse, of our
fellow Democrats" he said.
The fiery orator is the states
most outspoken critic of the con-
trolling conservative faction Of
his party headed by Senator
Byrd. AS a leader of the liberal
wing. he almost entered the
gubernatorial campaign two years
ago but held out when he failed
to get the 100000 he estimates
is needed for such a race.
Appears to be Campaigning.
His utterances have gained
added significance in recent
weeks, however. when his State
wide appearances have taken on
sembance of an early campaign
start for 1857. Speaking Monday
in Suffolk. he told Negro audi
ence he would run for Governor
two years hence if things were
"propitious."
The early portion of Mr..
Whitehead's talk last night dealt
with Gen. Washington's efforts
to unity the Nation in the hectic
years Immediately following the
Revolution. The first President,
he said, was more of a Federal
ist-predecessor of todays Re-
publican Party-than a Demo-
crat. as we know that party
today.
! Mr.. Washington had no pa
/ tience with political parties; he
feared them" the speaker said.
This was contrary to the philos-
ophy of Thomas Jefferson, gen.
orally regarded as the founder
Of the party.
What lesson, then. are we
Democrats, as party members. to
learn from the long. useful and
honorable life and career Of Mr..
Washington and his unifying ef-
forts?" the speaker asked.
Points to Maryland.
II would say that the first Is
/ tolerance. :. If We were more
tolerant of our fellow Democrats,
our personal relations would be
! happier. we could present a more
united front on general election
day, and our party could better
serve the State and Nation.
Rather than refer to our own
troubles in Virginia, I point to
the unhappy situation Of the
Democratic Party Of our sister
State Of Maryland, and to the
bitter fruits of its divisions.
The reference was to a pre-
dominantly Democratic State
where intra party squabbles have
lost the governorship in the last
two elections and resulted In
two other Statewide Offices
the Senate-fllled by the G. Q. P.
Il would say that the other
lesson that we as Democrats can
gain from Mr.. Washington's ex-
ample is the spirit of partner
ship-by this I mean that all
sections and groups in the party
should have an opportunity to
share in the formulation Of its
policies and in the execution Of
its decisions. with a correspond
ing recognition for services per-
formed.
Calls for New Blood.
"Too many Democrats are
taken for granted. 1t is ex-
pected that they will toe the
line on the day of general elec-
ton. :.
"As applied to Virginia, party
policies and decisions are made
on too narrow a base. by too
small q group. with undue ern-
phasis on maturity and insuffi-
cient emphasis on youth. The
infusion of new ideas, new blood
and new vigor are essential to
the well-being of the Democratic
Party in Virginia.
Party labels now rest lighter
on the minds Of Virginians than
at any time during my memory.
Especially is this true of our
youth. And when we forget the
youth, we have lost. -.
Our young people are not
we'll satisfied with the way things
are going. 7ney provided Ted
Dalton with a powerful back
log Of votes Ia November, 1858"
Republican Dalton polled IS
per cent Of the vote in the race
for Governor.
There is q Job for all Demo-
Gratis to do in Virginia" the
speaker concluded. "It cannot
be done with outmoded ideas. 1t
is a job for all Democrats, Of all
factions. Of all ages and Of all
ideas"