sequences in 1972, this year they are obviously opting

sequences in 1972, this year they are obviously opting for the latter.

But in so opting, the matter has been handled in so ham-handed a way that it could backfire grievously not only at the national convention in San Francisco in July, but more immediately, at the party’s state convention in Norfolk’s Scope in May.

The concern about Jackson’s national convention activities surfaced last week when a memorandum from Dolan to the governors came to light. In a copyrighted stdry in the Richmond News Leader, reporter Tyler Whitley released the details of the memorandum, which contained not only a statement of the concerns about Jackson, but also an outline of the steps which might be taken to contain any damage which might be done by his expected efforts to rally the super-liberal groups.

The result was instant consternation at the state party headquarters in Richmond. There was anger that the memorandum had been written at all, understandable worry that it had become public knowledge, and an immediate hunt for the scalp of the person who leaked it to the press. (That leak, it now appears, took place in the governor’s office.)

Gov. Chuck Robb, who happens to be chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, played down the importance of the memorandum. He called it “fairly innocuous” and certainly not anti-Jackson. Indeed, in its wording it was not. It’s thrust, however, was clearly designed to damp down Jackson’s influence on the convention.

This would be done, according to the memo, by the 27 Democratic governors attending the convention, as well as such public officials as mayors, senators and congressmen, speaking with a unified voice for a responsible platform which would have a broad appeal to the American people. They would rely on their leadership among the delegates to prevent the feared stampede to the adoption of far-out platform resolutions.