Evening star., 1932-05-03
CALIFORNIA VOTING
WATCHED TODAY AS
DEMOCRATIC PIVOT
Influence of Party'S Choice
for President Seen in
States Primary.
HOOVER TRIUMPHS OVER
FRANCE IN MARYLAND
Rhode Island Goes to Smith-0dds
Are Favoring Ex-Governor
in Connecticut.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The eyes of the political world turn
westward today to California, where
Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt of New
York, former Gov. Alfred E. Smith,
also Of New York, and Speaker John
N. Garner are seeking the presidential
preference vote of the Democrats in a
Statewide primary.
Claims of victory are made by the
supporters of all three of these candi-
dates for the Democratic nomination for
President. Some of the Republican
members of Congress from California
in Washington today gave Roosevelt the
edge, but generally it was considered a
guessing contest to pick the winner in
this three e-cornered race.
The California primary, however
may play an important part in the
Democratic presidential situation. The
opponents of Gov. RooveSelt insisted to-
day that if he failed to win in Cali
fornia his political goose was cooked
California has big block of delegates
fin the coming Democratic ma
tional convention. But even more i'm
DDlIdllb IIld1l IllG llulllDCI VI dClCSabCo
it was said, would be the psychological
effect of Roosevelt defeat in the West,
where he has been reported to be par
ticularly strong.
Would Bolster Position.
On the other hand while a victory
in California might not cinch the pres
idential nomination for the New York
Governor, such victory undoubtedly
would react strongly in favor of Roose-
velt Roosevelt lost the Massachusetts,
primary to Smith, and although he won
the presidential preference primary in
Pennsylvania. Smith picked up some OF
the delegates in the keystone State.
Furthermore, Rhode Island. holding its
Democratic State convention yesterday,
vent strongly for smith and instructed
its 10 delegates to the national can
vention to vote for him. In Connec-
ticut. the odds appear to favor Smith
strongly. 1t behooves the Roosevelt
forces, therefore, to step out and win
a victory in California today II their
candidate is to continue to hold the
dominating position he has occupied in
the preconvention race UP until
recently.
President Hoover is an unopposed
candidate in the preference primary IN
the solid Republican delegation to the
G. o. P. National Convention. Senator
Hiram Johnson Of California was urged
By many of his Progressive friends to
enter the lists against Mr.. Hoover, but
the California Senator could not be
budged from his position that he was
not a candidate for the nomination.
Hoover Wins Maryland.
The President yesterday won the
preferential primary in Maryland,
where he opposed former Senator
Joseph L France Of that State. The
vote. which was light, showed the
President about 10000 votes ahead OF
Mr.. France This was the only State
in which Mr.. Hoover has entered the
primaries against Mr.. France, and 1t
was said by Republicans today that
the President took this action merely
because he desired TO meet Mr.. France
in Frances own home State. He has
ignored the challenge of France in
other primary States like Illinois, Penn
sylvania and North Dakota.
The Hoover supporters in Maryland
said today the returns indicated they
had elected 1913 of the 148 delegates 10
the Republican State Convention. which
is to select and instruct the delegates
to the Republican National Convention.
The count of the Hoover delegates to
the etate Convention may be still
further increased, it was said, by later
returns.
The President made no campaign in
Maryland. although his opponent, Mr.
France, stumped the State vigorously
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