Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-01
Dalton BdIkS
AT Race in ST
For Governor
Republican Leaders
In Virginia Think
He'll Change Mind
BY TOM BURKE
star stan Correspondent

star Stan Correspondent
STAUNTON, Va, Dec. RE
publican State Senator Ted Dali
ton pulled the rug out from
under the State G. o. p. last
night with an II don't want to
run for Governor" statement,
but the party faithful came up
smiling.
HE doesn't mean it." seemed
to be the opinion Of top Repub-
lican leaders here for a State
Central Committee meeting.
The Radford Senator's state
ment. which he later admitted
did not completely close the door
on a second try for the top State
Office. brought a temporary pail
of gloom over the victory festivi-
ties at the Stonewall Jackson
Hotel.
He spoke at a banquet sched-
uled as a celebration of the
Eisenhower sweep in the Old
Dominion, the reelection Of two
G. o. P. Congressmen and the
strong showing of other Repub-
licans in Virginia congressional
races.
Senator Dalton gathered As
per cent Of the vote in 1853 when
he ran against Gov. Stanley.
Pledges Of Support
He had been regarded BY
G. o. P. leaders as the logical
candidate for the gubernatorial
race next year and had even
drawn pledges of support from
State Republican Chairman L.
Lee Potter and 10th district Rep
resentative Broyhill minutes be-
fore he declared:
". want to say that it is
not my turn and my feeling is
that someone else should make
the race this time, and If it were
necessary for me to reach a de-
cision now ! would have to say
no.
Il do not want the party lead
ers to rely on my running. but
instead to be searching out other
possible candidates, not only for
Governor but also for Lieutenant
Governor and Attorney General. f"
Typical of the reaction Of
other party leaders was that of
Mr.. Potter, who said:
Il believe he will make the
race. When he is made aware
of the true feeling of people all
over the State and of the willing
ness of the party to work hard
in his behalf. he will run. He
has never let the Republican
Party down yet"
Lone Wolf in 1853
Senator Dalton told a ques-
toner after the dinner meeting
he felt he had played a lone
wolf role in 1858, stumping the
State without benefit of a hard
working Republican organization.
If the signs point toward bet
ter organizational setup next
year, with prospects for a hard
hitting campaign, he said. it
would strongly influence his final
decision.
Enthusiasm and optimism
exuded from the speakers who
addressed the $50 party workers
attending the banquet.
Representative Broyhill said
the November 6 election results
indicate Virginia is well on its
way toward being a two-party
State.
I'VE have made gains that we
will not lose in the future. AS
far as am concerned" ReS-e-
sentative Broyhill said 1--WE have
our candidate for Governor right
here in Ted Dalton. If he
doesn't announce his candidacy
we are going to draft him"
Horace E. Henderson. 39-year-
old Williamsburg businessman
who barely missed upsetting
Democratic Representative Robe
son in the 1St district race, said
the results there indicated "just
how weak that mighty temple is
that we call the Democratic State
organization"
National Leader Speaks
Charles K. McWhorter Of New
York, president Of the National
Young Republican Federation,
told the victory dinner that "in
Virginia we will carry the ban
ner Of sound conservative poll
cies in line with the Eisenhower
administration"
Others who spoke included
Mrs. Cynthia Zimmerman OF
Mclean. national committee
woman.
The State G. o. p. leaders
were cheered by a telegram from
President Eisenhower and other
wires from Leonard Hall, Repub-
lican national chairman. and
Richard M. Simpson. chairman
of the National Campaign Com
mittee.
Mr.. Eisenhower asked that his
congratulations be given TO all
congressional candidates for
their efforts this year" and he
added he was "heartened by
your determination to carry for-
ward our cause. and Join you
a