Evening star., 1934-10-14
BY w. A. WELLS,
Associated Press STAFF Writer.

- AN FRANCISCO. = California's
election campaign is fast devel-
oping into a battle of book
~ reviewers.
The literary critics art got
its political baptism with the pub
lication of Il, Governor Of Cali
fornia," in which Upton Sinclair,
twice defeated as Socialist candidate
for Governor, acquired the Democrat
ic nomination, seated himself in the
chief executives chair at Sacramento
and subsequently abolished poverty
from the Golden State. (Sinclair's
program was embodied under the let
tiers z. P. I. c., standing for "end
poverty in California;
Next came Epic Answers" IN
which the same author went into
more detail regarding the E. P. I. G.
plan and related his conceptions as
to how it would affect the various
classes of people, from school teacher
to banker.
Then followed Immediate Epic"
with the result that, with the ballot
ing less than a month away, perusal
of the three publications has elevated
book reviewing to new heights OF
practical politics.
Criticism Aids Revision.
Between st, Governor" and Elm
mediate Epic" there is more OF a
spread than merely elapsed time.
There have been numerous modif1-
cations of doctrine which the author
admits with the explanation "the
E. P. I. c. plan has been revised In
the light of a full years criticism.
We Have learned from our friends
how to improve the plan and from
our eremies how to present 1t more
effectively"
In the meantime, to add to the
complexities, the States Democracy,
whose gubernatorial nominee Sinclair
is, adopted a platform. The law makes
this the official statement Of party
principles, but otherwise gives 1t no
vital force. A candidate is privileged
to abide by it to the letter or disre-
gard it at will.
In, st, Governor" the author said,
regarding the plan, that he expected
to put it all through in the hrSt year.
As he further stated, "the plan comes
first and party comes second" there
is a disposition to wage the battle on
the candidates official publication OF
principles and base the arguments, pro
and con, on Interpretation of the sue
cessive publications rather than upon
the platform, which is not binding
upon the nominee.
Bank Crusade" Omitted.
In the latest publication there is
no mention of an intention to insti-
tute a crusade to persuade the people
to withdraw their savings from private
banks and turn them over to the State
to be used for the development of
State system of industrial production"
The author formerly had said, 1T
would not be very long, I think, be-
fore the private bankers would be beg
ging the State to buy their beautiful
marble palaces at cost, and we should
put an end to the private control OF
credit, ETC."
But the bankers, in the newest book,
are told bluntly that no "Sabotaging"
of the plan will be tolerated. I'VE
have to make it plain that efforts at
sabotage will not frighten us, and
that if we cannot find anybody else
to tax we will tax the banks" I'm
mediate Epic" relates.
Two of the chief policies, establish
ment of State-fostered manufacturing,
whereby the unemployed would pro-
duce their own goods, and the coloni-
zation of land by unemployed are re-
tanned.
Instead of issuing bonds of $780,
000, 900 to finance the State produc-
ton campaign and other costs of the
plan, however, E. P. !. c. will now de-
pend on getting money from Federal
grants or through other sources and
by new forms of taxation and will rent
instead q buy factories at cost.
Pension Plan Deferred.
The pension plan for the aged and
incapacitated who have lived in Cali
fornia for three years has been de-
ferred until it is seen whether the
national administration will assume
this burden.
AS exemption of small homes and
farms from taxation would require a
constitutional amendment and it is de-
sired to avoid delay, this will not be
q part of the immediate program as
at first announced. g.o
Immediate repeal of the sales tax
as at first announced also. will not be
undertaken Il the E.zsLG. plauissaaa1
y -