State delegation likely to split
Virginia Republicans will divide vote in Chicago
Chicago, Illinois (AP) –
Virginia’s position near the bottom of the roll call may have an important psychological bearing on the Old Dominion’s first ballot vote Wednesday at the Republican National Convention.
Some members, Dewey partisans by inclination, said today “as of now” the Virginia’s vote probably will divide about 50-50 between Dewey and Bricker. Bricker advocates claimed substantial Virginia strength.
Officially, Virginia has two votes pledged to Dewey, two to Bricker, 15 remaining unpledged.
Virginia will have “plenty of time to watch the trend,” some members said, and if it appears to be Dewey on the first ballot, the New York Governor will draw at least a substantial vote.
If, however, many small delegations choose to “pass” vote to watch the tide, leaving the issue far from settled, Virginia may itself choose to pass.
The Old Dominion’s delegation had nearly all arrived, but no call had been issued for a formal caucus.
National Committeeman Henry A. Wise said a meeting probably would be called late Monday. Members of an anti-Wise faction, headed by new state chairman Randolph Dovel, also arrived in Chicago today.
Still smarting under the Convention Committee’s rejections of their claim to the state’s four delegates-at-large, the anti-Wise group promised to renew its claim possibly Monday before the convention’s Credentials Committee.