The Bismarck tribune., 1934-10-27
DEMOCRATIC front
IN CALIFORNIA IS
SPLIT wide OPEN
CreeI Withdraws Support Of
Epic Candidate After
White House Visit
FLAYs END POVERTY PLAN
Former Socialist Strikes Back,
Declaring Primary oppon-
ent Broke Faith

Washington, Oct. T.-Rl-Ihe
Roosevelt administration, 1t developed
Saturday, has quietly turned thumbs
down on Upton Sinclair. Whereupon
a violent quarrel shook California
Democracy and dealt what many con-
sidered q severe blow to the former
Socialists bid for the sovernorship.
George Creel, wartime chief Of pub
l;city, and Sinclair, the author who
captured the Democratic nomination
from Creel in . sensational lend pow
erty" campaign, fell to hammerins
away at each other, their ostensible
united front split wide open.
The shooting began Friday when
Creel, who recently visited President
Roosevelt, withdrew his support from
Sinclair. In . letter which he said
was dated Oct. l8, he accused Sinclair
Of breaking faith with the Democratic
state platform. He said Sinclair's
''epic" plan was 'unsound, unwork-
able and un-American" and that his
promise to end poverty in California
within four years was optimism car
ried to the point Of delirium."
Sinclair Hits Back
Sinclair struck back. Denying he
would withdraw from the campaign
under any circumstances whatever .
he dispatched wire late Friday night
from San Francisco to New York.
where Creel Is.
Il have loyalty kept every agree
ment with you," It said. u have
travelled up and down the state read
ing passages from the Democratic
platform to audiences and praising 1t
to them. I have urged them to vote
the Democratic ticket. I have even
gone so far as to urge them not to
vote for me unless they vote the DEM
ocratic ticket straight.
'You now publicly charge me with
breaking faith. It Is you who have
broken faith with the Democratic
party Of California and with the New
Deal, which we support. You have
done all In your power to elect . re-
acticnary Republican. Goodbye"
The Republican he referred to Is
Acting Gov. Frank +. Merriam, lead
ing strenuous campaign to turn back
the Sinclair bid. His supporters were
said to be jubilant over developments.
Although the White House officially
maintained its "hands off" policy, an
unmistakable impression went abroad
that high officials do not care to see
Sinclair elected. It was bolstered BY
these developments:
Quick Developments Noted
/. When Creel visited the White
House recently, he carried in his
pocket copy Of the letter denouncing
Sinclair.
2. A letter from Democratic head
quarters, advocating the election Of
Sinclair and bearing the rubber stamp
signature Of Postmaster General Far.
ley in the well known green ink that
he likes. was termed mistake. In
the confusion Of sending form letters
to many states, it was said, minor
employe sent this one TO Sinclair
supporter through IN error.
3. Requests for administration
speakers to participate in the Sinclair
campaign have met no response.
4. Senator McAdoo Of California,
Roosevelt supporter, said he would not
be able to make speeches for SIN
clair.
Creel insisted his withdrawal from
Sinclair did not result from confer
ences with President Roosevelt and
other high Democrats. President
Roosevelt. he said, Is having moth.
Ing to do with the California fight.
The president. in his press conference
Friday, also reiterated he was keep
ing hands off state contests.