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By GEORGE BOWLES Rappahannock Nrw* Special Writer
Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr.'s comeback attempt, which was launched with such promise a fortnight ago, crashed and burned early last week.
It was brought down by a hail of flak from conservative editorial writers. Republican party leaders and frightened independents, all of whom, in the past, had been the most loyal of Byrd's supporters.
On May 28, former Governor Mills Godwin, former Congressman Watkins Abbitt, and former Delegate Roy Smith announced they were starting a petition drive urging Byrd to change his mind about retiring and seek another term in the U. S. Senate.
When they revealed they were doing this with Sen. Byrd's tacit approval, those of us who are supposed to be attuned to the nuances of Virginia politics exchanged knowing winks.
The fix was in, or so we thought. The proper gtoundwork had, in the Byrd manner, surely been laid.
After all. a Byrd doesn't take chances on things like this, and a Byrd doesn’t miscalculate.
Mr. Godwin. Mr. Abbitt and Mr. Smith would never crawl out on such a limb if there was the slightest chance it would be sawed off.
Signatures Obtained
Scores of workers, headed by financier Smith Ferebee of Richmond, rounded up 23,000 petition signatures in six days. That was more than twice the number Sen. Byrd needed to qualify as an independent candidate.
And so we waited for conservative editorial writers to swing into line behind Sen. Byrd as they always had, and for Byrdfearing Republicans to leave their apparent senatorial candidate. Rep. Paul Trible (R-lst), twisting slowly in the wind.
Well, as all the world knows, it didn't work out quite that way. It quickly became apparent Sen. Byrd had indeed miscalculated, and that his miscalculation was of epic - as well as historic - proportions.
The editorial writers, in effect, told Sen. Byrd to buzz off. They pointed out that his late-coming candidacy would split the conservative vote in the state and likely cost both Sen. Byrd and Rep. Trible the election. One major daily which has always supported Sen. Byrd savaged him, saying he lacked imagination, energy, interest in issues, and influence in the Senate.
Urging*, Plea*, Warning*
The Republican state convention, which met a week after Byrd's announcement, gave Rep. Trible the GOP nomination along with a thunderous demonstration of support. Sen. Byrd himself was reportedly bombarded with letters containing urgings, pleas and warnings to stay out of the race from Republican and independent leaders.
On top of all this, and contrary to Sen. Byrd’s and
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