The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-30
MERRIAM TURNS
TO LEFT, TALKS
AS NEW-DEALER
G. o. P. Candidate, Backed
by Old Guard, Acts
Like Liberal.
BY MAX STERN
Times Special Writer

SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. 30-Act-
ing Governor Frank Finley Merriam,
whom chance and leaderless q.
o. p. have set up as symbol Of the
established order in California, is
talking Ike a New Dealer.
For twenty years, this transplant
ed Iowa politician has served in the
vineyards Of privilege. His public
record as aSsemblyman, speaker,
and Lieutenant Governor up to last
September had been so hostile to
the workers that the California
State Federation Of Labor broke its
nonpartisan tradition by coming
out against him in favor OF ex-SO-
cialist Sinclair.
His two closest advisers are reaC-
tionary Ex-Governor Richardson and
Herbert Hoover. Yet no Californian
swears more Loyalty by Franklin
Roosevelt and few talk the language
Of liberalism more glibly.
Whether his is a case Of "the
devil was sick, the devil a monk
would be-" or whether ne and his
advisers now realize that the rights
Of hundreds Of thousands Of poor
and iODless embattled under the
pennants Of Sinclairism must be re-
cognized only the future viii tell.
Two Acts Liberal
But Of his three important pub
lie acts since he became acting
Governor last June two have been
liberal He called the troops to
quell the general strike disorders,
named an old Hiram Johnson Pro-
gressive as member Of the railroad
commission, called a special session
to adopt a s24000,00O relief pro-
gram.
What" he was asked, do you
think OF Franklin ROOSEVELT" 4
think" he replied feryently, that
Providence has raised up the proper
man to meet a situation, and that
he is doing it magnificently."
If elected what VIII you do for
the unemplOycd?"
L have in mind the calling Of
conference Of California leaders in
labor, agriculture. business, other
interests and working out a pro-
gram. I favor the 3O-hour week.
old age pensions. unemployment in
surance. These things, of course,
must be worked out in cooperation
with the federal government. No
state can do them alone"
To Consider Mooney Case
do you favor a state income tax
and higher inheritance taXes2"
Il haven't decided on either. They
viii be studied. I consider the three
big issues here are unemployment,
taxation and education"
DO you favor the encouragement
of barter groups, like those in
OhiO?"
I'm willing to Go anything sound
TO help the jobless and taxpayers. |
I'll take whatever of the Sinclair
program that Will work. The lead
ership must come from Washing
ton"
Would YOU pardon MONEY!"
i've never read the records. If
think Mr.. Mooney entitled to par
don I shall pardon him. His case
Will be considered at the earliest
opportunity. In view of the fact
that four Governors and the supreme
court have acted adversely I do not
consider his an emergency case"
Sinclair Chaos Is Feared
Liberals in his camp, whether
Roosevelt Democrats or Hiram
johnson Republicans do not under
write this man They are asking
their followers to vote for him only
because they fear chaos under Sin
Clairsm. They hope he Will hear
the thunder on the left The in
telligent craftsmanship and SYM
pathy he lacks they pray Will be
supplied by new advisers when, or
it. he is elected.
This hope is shared by many OF
the conservatives around him. The
regular G. Q. p. Chronicle, that
supported Merriam from the first,
declares that victory over Sinclair
must be not for the Old Guard, but
for the new day
For the conservative business in
terests of California to take this
victory as a license to revive the
explorations of the Old Deal. in
either business or government,
would be a suicide so stupid as to
be deserved" wrote Editor Chester
Roweu Of the Chronicle.
Those who once were cOnServa-
tive should join now with those who
were always progressive in realizing
that the world has moved and that
they must move with it."
Today on the eve Of last weeks
bitter campaigning. 1t appeared