Evening star., 1955-11-17
Stevenson Backers
Organize in Virginia
Ex-Gov. Bottle
Supported for
Running Mate
By ALEX r. PRESTON

sAANA ANk1A W VA ASS~SAAAAAte AS4 @SAAANS@
Gov. John S. Battle as a pos
'ible vice presidential candidate.
A cross section Of opinion from
delegates to the 1852 Democratic
National Convention shows q
itrong sentiment for the former
Illinois Governor who formally
entered the presidential race
Discussion of Mr.. Battle as a
possible running mate got its
;tart-among Virginians, at least
following a Commonwealth Day
luncheon Saturday at the Uni
versity Of Virginia.
Conference Held
At that time, Mr.. Stevenson
went to Charlottesville and con-
terred with Mr.. Battle along with
former Gov. Colgate w. Darden,
jr., now the university president,
and Representative Smith, 9th
District Democrat.
Gov. Battle told a reporter
later that it was just "a social
chat" and answered all political
queries by referring to the fall
leaves on the mountains. Mr..
Stevenson, who spoke at the
woodrow Wilson Centennial
Foundation, said after the meet
ing he had received "reassuring
reports" of the loyalty of Vir-
ginia Democrats in 1856.
It was Mr.. Battle who, as Gov
ernor and head of Virginia's
delegation in 1852, led Virginia's
historic fight to retain seats in
the convention without sub
scribing to the loyalty oath"
Webb DiscIOses Aims
Announcement Of the Vir.
ginians for Stevenson organiza-
tion. claimed to be the first south
of the Mason-Dixon Line, came
today from John C. Webb, mem
Der of the House of Delegates
from Fairfax County and the
10th Districts nominee for Con-
gress last year.
Mr.. Webb said the first goal
Will be to round UP support for
a Stevenson pledged delegation
TO next years State convention.
He recalled Virginia was one of
four Southern States to vote for
President Eisenhower in 1852.
We don't want a repetition
of that in 1885," Mr.. Webb said.
I'VE are getting an early start
to return Virginia, and we hope
all other Southern States, to the
Democratic fold in 1856. We
think the best way to achieve
this is to secure the nomination
of Adlai Stevenson, a great
Democrat and a great Ameri-
can"
Joined by Five Colleagues
Mr.. Webb said five of his COL
leagues in the General Assembly
from the 10th District had
Joined him in launching the
move. Temporary chairman of
organization is Mrs. Anne VIII
kins, member of the Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors.
Members along with Mr.. Webb
include State Senator John A,
K. Donovan of Fairfax and Sem
ator-elect Armistead l.. Boothe
OF Alexandria; Delegates Har-
rison Mann of Arlington and
Omer L. Hirst of Fairfax; Del
egate-elect James NJ. Thomson
OF Alexandria and Burke Hertz,
Falls Church commissioner of
The organization meeting will
be held November %. First pub
lie meeting has been set for No
vember % in the Falls Church
High School.
The cross section of opinion
among the 1852 convention del
egates was obtained in a poll by
Guy Friddell of the Richmond
News Leader.
Unanimous for Battle
While many of them expressed
an interest Mr.. Stevenson's
candidacy they were unanimous
in backing Mr.. Battle for vice
president.
Senator Byrd, head of the
States democratic organization,
is in Europe, but his chief
lieutenant, Senate Clerk E. r.
Combs, said he had heard MIR.
Battles name mentioned as a
possible vice presidential candi-
date, didn't know how the
former Governor felt about it,
but would be very glad to see
him nominated"
Other interviews brought these
comments: T. Nelson Parker.
State campaign chairman for
MIR. Stevenson in 1852, said Mr..
Battle would make the ideal Vice
President and I'D work my head
OF to help him get elected"
If they really want to i'm
prove the chances of the Demo-
cratic Party for 1856, they'll
nominate John Battle for Vice
President" said Sydney Kellam
of Virginia Beach.
National Committeeman G..
Fred Switzer of Harrisonburg,
said MIR. Battle is highly regard
ed by people in both factions of
the national Democratic Party
and "his name would strengthen
the ticket all through the South"
On Stevenson's candidacy, sew
eral top Virginia leaders were
noncommittal.
Entirely too early to make
any definite comment said Rep
resentative Tuck. another former
Governor.
Since I supported Mr.. Steven
son last time, he is perfectly &C
ceptable, but i feel it is too early
to make any definite comment, I"
said State Senator Charles r.
Fenwick of Arlington.
Mr.. Fenwick's 10th district
committee was the first to in
'dorse Mr.. Stevenson in 1852.