Evening star., 1932-05-03
ROOSEVELT POWER
IN BALANCE TODAY
Real Test Seen in Tri-C0r-
nered Fight in Cali
fornia.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

The California Democratic primary
today will CLARITY the race for the presi-
Dental nomination to a greater extent
than is measured by the number of
delegates involved. The Al votes out of
the 1l57 in the national convention
will be important, but even more vital
will be the effect of the California out
come on Gov. RooSevelt's prestige
Should Roosevelt win the California
primary, and especially if he should win
it decisively, it will be very difficult and
almost impossible for the Democratic
national leaders to withhold the presi-
dental nomination from him. If, how
ever, Roosevelt loses California, his op-
ponents will be encouraged to feel it is
safe to oppose him to the end.
RooSevelt'S opponents are saying that
the mass of his delegates have come to
him more or less by default as the re-
suit of unopposed and informal indorse-
ment of him by local leaders in many
States. They charge he has not proved
that he is strong vote-getter among
Democratic voters in contests against
other candidates. If Roosevelt carries
California this charge will be refuted.
California Is the first State in which
there has been vigorously fought con-
test with as many as three candidates
entered, Roosevelt, Smith and Garner.
The facts about Roosevelt'S fortunes
in contests against other aSpirants are
not conclusive. Roosevelt has fought
such contests in seven States. He won
overwhelmingly in North Dakota and
In Nebraska against Murray. He won
decisively in Wisconsin against Smith.
AS to these States, Roosevelts oppo-
nents say that Wisconsin and North
Dakota are Republican States, which
Will not go Democratic anyhow. Roose-
Velt won overwhelmingly in a not very
seriously staged contest in Georgia, but
that State is kind of foster-home to
Roosevelt. Roosevelt's opponents say
it will go Democratic in the election
regardless Of who is the presidential
candidate. Roosevelt won over Smith
In Pennsylvania and decisively over
Smith in New Hampshire. Roosevelt
can fairly point to these as signs of his
strength among Democratic voters in
Eastern States. Roosevelt was beaten
by Smith in Massachusetts,, but every
Democratic politician understands that
that was in large part a fight between
rival groups OF State leaders.
The outcome in California will SINH
larly be influenced by the lineup of
local State leaders. Garner is sup
ported by two such local influences as
William G. McAdoo and William r.
Hearst with his widely circulated Cali
fornia newspapers. Similar attach
ments of other local leaders to Smith
and to Roosevelt will influence the out
come. Nevertheless much significance
will be read into the relative votes
received by the three presidential aspi-
rants. The significance will be empha-
sized if the total vote is large The
Democratic registration in California
this year is exceptional, 47,482.
Roosevelt can lose California today
and still win the presidential nomina-
ton. To the group of national lead
ers opposing Roosevelt, however, Cali
fornia is a life-and-death matter. If
Roosevelt should come out of California
with really decisive victory, the talk
of withholding the nomination from
Roosevelt will have difficulty in sur
viving.
(Copyright, 1922