Evening star., 1934-08-31
SINCLAIR VICTORY
SHOWS NEW LINES
aI2 --
Historic Party Division Now
Is 0vershadoWed by
s--.z-
Z Another.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.


The winning of the Democratic
nomination for Governor of Califor-
mia by Socialist, Upton Sinclair, has
national importance as a stimulant to
public awareness of the new lineup OF
American politics. 1t would not be
true to say that the terms Demo-
craft and Republican" have ceased
to have meaning. The clear present
fact, however, Is that this historic
lineup is now overshadowed by an
either. The true politics of the United
States today can be described as
tiig-of war between two groups Of men
and forces. One group tries to hold
America to its traditional principles OF
O representative form of government
and the familiar organization of So
ciety which gives the maximum Of
liberty and rights to the individual
The other group pulls America toward
o form of society and government
which cannot readily be named with
o word, but which is essentially social
istic in its direction.
n What Mr.. Sinclair,s success does is
conspicuously to call attention to this
new lineup. The entire conservative
body of thought in the country is
likely to shiver little It will make
both Democrats and Republicans
aware that as individual voters they
must take their positions on which,
ever side of the new question their
convictions and interests lie.
m New Lineup Recognized.
u The public over a period of several
months has come gradually to realize
that the new lineup and the new
issue is upon the country. This
public consciousness was increased
last week by the formation of the
American Liberty League, sponsored
by leading members of both parties
for the preservation of the historic
American idea. The nearness in time
of the California incident to the
formation of the Liberty League in
creases the effectiveness of both in
calling attention to the new trend of
lTational politics. The seizure by MIR.
Sinclair of the Democratic nomina-
ton for the governorShip of one Of
the largest States is SO dramatic and
unprecedented that. it must make
the whole country fully aware of the
new question and the new lineup.
The division of the country between
conservatives and radicals is greatly
accelerated.
For the Democrats, Mr.. Sinclair's
success raises special question. They
mush accept the interloping philosophy
or reject 1t. The episode in California
will necessarily call attention to the
accusation-it is now practically an
accepted fact-that the Democratic
administration at Washington has
been going in the direction Il the
philosophy Of government which Mr..
Sinclair represents Democratic leaders
everywhere must decide whether they
are willing TO let their party 90
further along that path. Democratic
rank and file must decide whether,
If their party is going in that direc-
ton. they want to go with it.
G. O. P. VIII Benefit.
Specifically and Immediately 1t seems
likely that MIR. Sinclair's success in
California will work to the advantage
of the Republicans in the November
congressional elections, both in Cali
fornia and throughout the country.
Great numbers of Democratic voters,
an immense majority of them, are, on
the issue Mr.. Sinclair represents,
strongly conservative, strongly anti
Socialist. These will at once wonder
uneasily whether their party as a ma
tional organization is headed in the
direction Mr.. Sinclair typifies. They
will wonder whether they can continue
to vote as Democrats or had better
cast their ballots where they viii count
for conservatism.
Conceivably the national leaders of
the Democrats could offset this. 1t
would not be enough, however, for
them merely to disavow Mr.. Sinclair.
The feeling that the new deal admin