Evening star., 1932-10-23
HIRAM JOF1NSON'S STATEMENT
OFFSET BY SWING AND GRAIL
California Progressive's S
Aides Fail to Follow Re-
fuSaI to Bolt Hoover.
ShuIer Appears to Have
Equal Chance Against
MCAdoo and Tubbs.
BY EDWARD c. KRAUSS.

Special Dispatch to The Star
LOS ANGELES, October Ex-senator
Hiram Johnson's blast at the Hoover
candidacy is still reverberating through
California politics, with the Roosevelt
supporters, and particularly the Hearst
papers, disposed to try to make the
most of it, and Republican and Hoover
supporters and papers trying to mini
mlZe it as much es possible That it
Will have some effect is unquestionable.
but there are certain offsets to be noted,
particularly that two men in Southern
California intimately connected with
the johnson organization have failed
to follow his lead.
These men are Representatives Phil
Swing and Joe Grail. Swing has been
for years Johnson's mouthpiece in the
Lower House, sponsor with him of the
Colorado River Dam bill and manager
of his political interests in Imperial
Valley. AS soon as Johnson's state
ment was issued, Swing came to the
Presidents defense, upheld him as a
true progressive, and pledged him full
support. Grail, who w2s very critical
of the President in the last congress
sional session ard persistently voted
with the insurgents, has already made
a number of speeches advocating
Hooveris reelection and will make
more.
Didn't Indorse Roosevelt.
Other offsets include the fact that
JohnsonS opposition to the President
is well known to have been of long
standing, and his statement-which de-
MED Hoover support, but did not sug-
gest Roosevelt as an alternative-con-
tanned nothing really new. Since
Johnson refrained from advising any,
body to vote the Democratic ticket, it
is argued. his statement will not have
much effect.
The closing Of registration and a
few announcements of results have
given some cheer to the Presidents sup
porters. Los Angeles County shows an
excess of Republican registration of
about 10000. and while this is small
compared with the $4,000 which was
the Republican margin here in 1928,
it is not. it is being pointed out, to be
sneezed at. Other counties of the
southern tier are more strongly Re
publican in proportion, and it is be-
lieved Hoover may nave a margin in
Southern California of near 100000,
besides a chance of capturing a fair
proportion of an independent vote esti-
mated at 100000.
Roosevelt is expected to carry North
ern California, but it seems likely that
If he does not come down to the
Tehachapi Mountains with at least
100000 plurality, Hoover will most prob
ably retain the State.
Shuler Given Chance.
The Senatorial battle continues lively,
and has now worked around to the
point where Rev. r. P. Shuler, pro-
hibitionist, is conceded nearly an even
chance of winning over William G..
McAdoo and State Senator Tallant
Tubbs, the Democratic and Republican
nominees. Schuler has earnestly been
canvassing the north and is said to
have surprisingly large audiences who
seem very enthusiastic.
Here again Senator JohnSon's inf1u-
ence may play part In his blast
against Hoover Senator johnson made
no reference whatever to the senatorial
fight, which is taken as an indication
that the projected alliance with McAdoo
which Hearst has been trying to bring
about has failed to be arranged. Tubbs'
wealth and business connections would
naturally put him in the conservative
camp opposed to Johnson, and it would
be easy for johnson not to support him
or even. as an avowed progressive, to
oppose him. That he has not done so
is regarded as significant.