Evening star., 1960-07-10
Virginia Girds for Fight
Under Johnson's CoIors

Los ANGELES, July 9 (AP).
Virginia delegates to the
Democratic convention arrived
In substantial force tonight
prepared to man the Southern
rampartS for Senator johnson.
From their delegation chair
man. Gov. j. Lindsay Almond,
jr.S who has been here for sew
eral days, they had the word
that Senator johnson is in an
uphill fight against Senator
Kennedy.
The Virginia governor gave
Senator johnson a fighting
chance" to emerge from the
political smog Of the conven-
ton next week with the party
nomination. He saw the Senate
0rtv leader gaining with
a strength of some 500 votes on
the first ballot when the con-
vention gets to the showdown
st8ge the latter part Of the
week.
Undel: Unit Rule
The Virginians are under in
structions of their State con-
vention to work for the nomi-
nation of Senator johnson
presumably as long as the
Texans name is before the
convention or until he releases
them.
Where the delegation-vhich
votes under the unit rule-will
turn then is a matter of con-
lecture. Senator Symington of
Missouri has strong backing
from the 9th District ana Sem
ator Kennedy and Adlai
Stevenson have their devotees
in the delegation.
If Senator johnson can't
make it, Gov. Almond said it
would be up to the delegation
to caucus and chart its own
new course.
Some rather important State
Democrats aren't expected to
be on hand.
Moore STAYS Away
Virginia House Speaker E.
Blackburn Moore of Berryville,
who has tilted politically with
Gov. Almond in recent years,
disclosed before the delegation
departed from Virginia he
would not attend. He desig-
mated Alternate Frank C.
Switzer of Harrisonbmg as his
stand-in.
Senator Harry F. Byrd, leader
of the State Democratic organ
ization, repeatedly was skipping
the convention also. but pre-
departure attempts to reach
Senator Byrd for confirmation
of the decision were msuccess-
fuI,
Former Gov. Thomas B.
Stanley also was on the missing
list. He was reported hunting
in Canada and to have desig-
mated Alternate Preston Moore
of Madison County to stand-in
for him.
Senator Byrd. Mr.. Moore and
Mr.. Stanley were among those
elected as delegates at large
at the recent Virginia Beach
State convention. This conven-
tion also gave the delegates the
right to designate their stand
ins.
No Bolt Expected
Gov. Almond said he looked
for Virginia to return to the
Democratic fold in the Novem-
ber election. 1t went for Pres
ident Eisenhower and the Re-
publicanS in 1852 and 1856. T.
He felt the return would be
more enthusiastic if Senator
johnson is at the top of the
ticket. He thought Senator Sy-
mington and Senator Kennedy |
could turn the trick, but the
job would be tough-especially
with Senator Kennedy.
On a side issue, Gov. Almond
took a dim view of the action
by a member of the straight
ticket Democratic organization
in his State in challenging the
right of Frank c. Vaughan of
Richmond to sit in the conven-
ton. Mr.. Vaughan, who sup
ported Mr.. Eisenhower in 1856,
was challenged before the
credentials committee by Vir-
gil Goode of Franklin county.
The committee is expected to
decide the issue Monday.
He indicated the action was
taken with no prior consulta-
ton with him.
Gov. Almond plans to call
the Virginia delegates into
their first caucus Monday
morning and, as necessary,
thereafter.