Evening star., 1956-03-23
Talk Of Third Party
Rebuffed in Virginia.
Key Democrats
See No Benefit
In 1856 Bolt

14Cf1MOINO, MAI, 90 tH1.-.
Two former Virginia governors.
the States Junior Senator and
another top Democrat said today
they see no need at present for
Southern Democrats to form q
third party for the forthcoming
presidential election. {.
John S. Battle and Colgate W..
IDarden, jr., the ex-governorS and
National Committeeman F. Fred
ISwitzer said they could see no
real advantage" in such a party.
Senator Robertson. Democrat
of Virginia, said previous third.
party movements have resulted
in the defeat of the major party.
ITO me they have always been
illustrations of what happens to
any party when it divides its
vote between two candidates" he
said.
There have been slight rum
blings in recent weeks in some
Southern States about the pos
sibility of such a movement be-
cause of the segregation contro-
versy.
The South Carolina Demo-
cratic convention suggested
Wednesday that the South join
in a united front for political
action prior to the national COM
vention in Chicago and leave the
door aiar for a possible third
party.
Leaders Shun Kefauver
Some of the party leaders
made it clear they want nothing
to do with Senator Kefauver's
bid for the party's presidential
nomination.
I'm not in favor of Kefauver
for anything" Mi. Switzer said.
The leaders of Virginia's con-
trolling conservative Democratic
faction have long regarded the
Tennessee lawmaker as too much
of a liberal for their political
taste. Consequently. there was
little joy among State Demo-
Icrats over Senator Kefauver's
surprising triumph over Adlai
Stevenson in Tuesdays Demo-
cratic primary in Minnesota.
State Democratic Chairman
Thomas Blanton of Caroline
County and Mr.. Battle said they
didn't think Senator Kefauver
could carry the Old Dominion
should he receive the Democratic
nomination.
Courses of Action
A Kefauver nomination at the
party's Chicago convention in
August might well bring one Of
two results in Virginia. The
Iparty's State machinery might
go into mothballs during the
presidential campaign rather
than support the TenneSsean, or
there could be a swing toward
a third party movement.
Mr.. Battle, who has worked
closely with national Democratic
leaders in an effort to give the
South a greater voice in party
affairs, said he felt there was o
good chance the liberal and con-
5ervative factions could bury the
political hatchet this year.
For some time I have felt
there was a definite spirit Of
compromise among various DEM
ocratic leaders who earnestly
want to resolve party differ
ences," said Mr.. Battle, who was
Governor from l949 to 1858.
Strides Toward Harmony
Certainly the attitude toward
the South is much better than
several years ago. I think we
have made good strides toward
more harmony in the ranks"
Mr.. Darden, now president Of
the University of Virginia, said
he could see mo good purpose"
in setting up a third party.
Certainly in the long run the
interests of the country are
served best by a good two-party
system" he added.
Mr.. Switzer echoed the re-
marks of Mr. Battle and Mr..
Darden and said he had heard
of no third party talk among
Virginia's Democratic leaders.
He voiced the fear the Northern
liberals might rise up at the
convention and demand
a strong civil rights plank that
could precipitate a bitter fight.
Mr.. Switzer said the South
also might run into trouble II
efforts are made to keep out of
the convention Democrats who
bolted to President Eisenhower
in 1852.