The Tribune

Negro Vote Could Decide Virginia's
Gubernatorial Election This Fall

By Randolph L. White

The Old Dominion is faced with what promises to be the most significant gubernatorial contest between Democratic and Republican candidates that has been experienced during the past half century.

Last year, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia's leading daily, endorsed General Eisenhower's candidacy for the president of the United States, and for the first time since 1929, the state went Republican by a smashing majority.

This year, the GOP in the Old Dominion, has nominated three top-flight Republicans, one each for the offices of governor, lieutenant-governor and attorney-general. They are campaigners of no mean ability, an even, if not overmatched trio for their Democratic opponents.

Already, judging by the noise coming from the Democratic camp, the Democrats are not underestimating their adversaries and seem to be preparing for an all-out fight this November.

While the Democrats and Republicans are leveling charges and counter-charges against each other as the campaign progresses, it will be the duty of all those Democrats who went "Eisenhower" last fall, to solve the problem now facing them; that is, whether or not it is consistent to elect a Republican president and then fail to support him on the State level when the opportunity come their way, by electing Democrats for the governorship and other state offices.

There is also another aspect to this problem--the Democrats dilemna--there is a sizeable Negro vote in the Old Dominion that is slated to play an important role in this year's battle of the ballots.

Unlike some writers who have lauded the Negro in Virginia for having been aligned with the winning party, we believe that thinking Negroes are not concerned over being aligned with the winner, but with whom they believe are best for the people as a whole. As the old saying goes-"A dead dog can float with the tide, but it takes a live one to swim upstream." And Negroes are becoming more alive, politically as the years go by.

Yes, the Negro vote will be sought in the Old Dominion as never before ere this year's election campaign closes. But after all of the issues have been thoroughly aired, we venture the opinion that the Negro vote will be thrown behind the right man. The answer will be available on the morning of November 4th.