The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-09-14
CALIFORNIA; Orphan Votes
May Determine Covernorship
Sinclair Situation Now
Causing Much Specula-
ton As To Future Ac-
tivities.
By w. A. WELLS
(nx Associated Presal

By w. A. WELLS
Cny Associated Press)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. IA
In the lulI following a primary
election battle in which California
contributed to the years quota of
political uphesvals, voters of the
state have paused TO take stock of
the evea more intensive electoral
combat which lies ahead.
Is It to be a turn to the left be-
hind the leadership of Upton Sim
clair, erusading writer of books
who has laid out a line of march
which he asserts leads to
poverty-lcss commonwealth?
More than 100000 registered
voters in a state which hasn't
elected a democratic governor
since 1894 have designated him as
their choice.
lie got many thousands more
votes than were pOlled by Acting
Governor Frank +. Merriam, re-
publican candidate who led his
nearest contender by around 10O,-
600 ballots.
Many Stayed Away
Only an approximate 81 per
cent Of the registered voters
troubled 10 go 10 the polls at all.
OF those who did more than
100000 didn't vote for either of
the major party nominees. Neither
primary winner carried even close
Co half of the counties of the
state.
These 100000 ballots and APP
proximately q million and half
Inore that weren't cast in the pri-
mary rcsaain 20 be wooed by the
three outstanding candidates at
the general election.
Distribution of these "orphan"
ballots apparently will determine
who the next governor of the
Golden State is 20 be.
viii Il be the author Sinclair.
who first wrote a book outlining
q suppositious candidacy that ter
minated in his eonquering thu
state via the ballot box and then
proceeding 10 humble capitalism
by taxation and otherwise, until
upon retiring from the governor
ship be delivered speech in
which he said only one poor per-
son could be found in California,
"a religious hermit who lived in a
cave"
Of Frank Merriam. republican
Incumbent, or Raymond l..
HalRht. commonwealth nominee
whose campaign featured an at
tack pn the power trust?
Opening Genes True
Laying aside has socialist label,
Slneair made at east the open
inR chapters OF has book come true
~ winning the democratic guber-
Material nomination.
Although he abandoned a first
Intention Of sponsoring a $780,
600. 900 bond issue 90 finance ac-
QUESTION of idle factories aud
properties Tor the benefit of the
unemployed he still retains most
81 his original planks, including
The pardoning of Tom Mooney;
establishment Of state land col
onies where the unemployed might
BE- self.sustaining; operation Of
factories: repeal Of the sales tax
In favor Of a state income tax;
exempting from taxation homes
and farms worth less than $4,000;
Institution Of pensions for the
aged. the blind and ineapaeitated
and widows with dependent chill
dren, aud letting farmers apply
their surplus products toward pay
ment ~ taxes.
'insxperisRse' Deeried
herriam's appeal for election
counters the END Poverty in!
California" slogan Of his demo-
cratic rival with the cry "This is
no time 10 experiment with in
experience, Tie stands for re-
lief II unemployment; removal of
burdens from taxpayers; the
saodeFnization Of CALIFORNIA; con-
atitution; pledges himself to fight
communism and readjust labor
hours: aid 30 owners Of mortgaged
property; help 10 agriculture and
ere canning Of surplus food; reg
ulation Of oil production; institu-
ton Of a comprehensive public
werks program, and the "spend- !
ing Of public funds sanely."