Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-06
Shivers' Texas Rule
Broken BY johnson
Senator TuIIies
l,156 Votes to
Governors 317

OAILAO, May b (SunoayJ VHJs
Senate Majority Leader Lyn-
don johnson early today seized
the Texas Democratic Party
machinery from Gov. Allan
Shivers.
1t was one of the most over
Whelming victories in Senator
Johnson's career-A Al triumph
against man who boasted he
never had been beaten in q
political fight.
1t doomed Senator johnson
into an important dark horse
contender role for the national
Democratic presidential nominal
ton.
The victory also gave Mr..
johnson an almost automatic
designation as "favorite son"
presidential candidate from
Texas.
States Rights Chief Issue
Gov. ShiverS, one of the ma.
tional leaders for states rights,
made that the prime issue of
his campaign.
He said the Washington
crowd" was trying to force CEN
tralized government onto Texans
by their support of Senator john
son. He spoke particularly of
House Speaker Sam Rayburn,
Democrat Of Texas.
AT midnight, the Associated
Press tabulations of unofficial
and incomplete reports from the
conventions showed Senator
johnson with control of l,l56
delegates to the State Demo-
cratic convention May %. Gov.
Shivers' total was BIT.
A surge of power in the vote
rich Gulf Coast area turned
Harris County's 270 State con-
vention votes over to the senator,
who recovered from critical
heart attack TO make one of
Texas most-heated political
capgaigns in years.
ISL Delegates Needed
Senator johnson needed 9Si
delegates to win control of the
State convention.
Senator johnson claimed vic
tory as the first returns trickled
i'm. These results are amazing"
he said. The Shivers state house
machine is being whipped"
Senator johnson already has
gained support from some lead
ing Southerners and others for
the national party nomination for
President. Mr.. Rayburn, said
that with Senator Johnson's VIC
tory would come much greater
support throughout the Nation.
Gov. ShiverS in his campaign
claimed that vote for him was
a vote for States rights.
Senator johnson charged
throughout the campaign that
Gov. Shivers would bolt the ma
tional convention if he were to
win today's conventions.
The governor campaigned for
the Republican presidential slate
in 1852 and carried the State
along with him into the G. o. p.
column.
Rayburn Halls Victory
Mr.. Rayburn. who flew to
Texas yesterday from Washing.
ton for last-minute campaigns
ing for Senator johnson, to-
night called the precinct vote
IAN overwhelming victory for
the Democratic party" and said
1T looks like a landslide to me-"
The battle-ground today was
more than 5000 precinct con-
ventions. These determine the
makeup of 254 county conven-
tons which meet Tuesday. and
these elect delegates to the State
convention.
This convention will name the
delegation to the national con-
vention and select the State ex-
ecutive committee.
Governor Shivers had tight
control of the 1852 delegation to
the Democratic National Con-
vention and has dominated the
State executive committee for
years.
For Gov. Shivers, it was the
first defeat in brilliant politi-
cal career in which he won eight
straight major victories and
served longer than any other
Texas governor in history-ever
since he took over on July IL.
l949. on the death of Gov. Beau
fora Jester.
Gov. Shivers and Senator
johnson have disagreed politi-
cally at times but appeared to be
good personal friends until the
fight over the party machinery
erupted this year. They have
used bitter words about each
other in campaigning in recent
weeks.