Evening star., 1934-08-26

Washington political followers join
with State leaders in expressing con-
Germ over a new element, Upton Sim
clair, former Socialist, who turned
Democrat with promises to relieve the
epression-ridden groups through his
"epic" plan of government if elected
Governor.
The Democrats cry during the
campaign has been beat Sinclair"
Whether it was Smclair's influence
or just the inevitable trend of the day
the fact remains that for the first
time in rs years California went
Democratic in its registration for the
coming election.
Secretary of State Frank Jordan re-
ported total registration of 3,062.-
3l7, the Democrats numbering l,
494,11l, and Republicans, l,4l8,826,
Democratic lead of 1925. In the
previous gubernatorial election Q930)
the Republicans led the Democrats
by 1,l49,589.
Los Angeles County. long regarded
as the candidates cream pot, register
ed l ,301 ,093, the largest on record, for
the coming election. There the Demo-
Gratis exceed Republicans by 1929.
In the 1880 gubernatorial primary
registration Los Angeles showed $685.
TAG Republicans and 1921 Demo-
Gratis.
Eight Parties Qualified.
Eight parties have qualified for
Tuesdays election. Besides the Demo-
Gratis and Republicans there are the
Socialist with 1902 registration, Pro-
hibition, 9,443; Progressive, 4,l2S:
Commonwealth, 3,0l6; Communist,
1857, and Liberty, 977.
With a ballot for each party and
769 candidates running on one or
more tickets for nomination to 140
State or congressional Offices, not
mentioning the non-partisan judicial
Offices, election officials In the l0,7O3
precincts throughout the State are
expected to struggle many tedious
hours before determining final re-
suits.
This is primarily a gubernatorial
election and practically all lines OF
interest converge upon that race In
which are qualified Is candidates.
washington observers are reported
to profess more than usual interest In
the California gubernatorial campaign
for the sole reason that If Upton Sin
clair runs away with sthe Democratic
nomination they fear many Of the
voters not in sympathy with his epic
program may desert the ranks ana
vote Republican.
Among those opposing Sinclair for
the Democratic nomination are George
-Creel, who headed the Woodrow VIII
son Committee on Public Information
during the World War and was West
ern N. r. A. administrator for the
Roosevelt administration; Justus S.
Wardell, district public works ad-
wiser and party leader; Milton K.
Young, Democratic gubernatorial
nominee in 1880, and DR.. z. T. Malaby
of Pasadena, former Democratic State
chairman.
On Republican List.
The Republican list includes acting
Gov Frank F. Merriam. c. c Young,
former Governor; Raymond L. Haight.
former State official, who likewise filed
IOT IIlc TTOBTtoSlNC dllO NOAA4A4OhA-
wealth party nominations, and John
r. Quinn, chairman Of the Los Angeles
County Board of Supervisors.
Many Democrats predict that Sem
ator Hiram w. johnson will be re-
elected for a fourth term. The Sem
atOr is credited with having executed
q good maneuver when he announced,
on the final day for candidates to de-
clare themselves, that he sought nomi-
nations Of the Democratic, Progressive
and Commonwealth parties as we'll as
Republican support.
In anticipation that the Senator
would bolt the Republican ranks, as
he did in 1882 to support Roosevelt
against Herbert Hoover, Johnson's
California friends formed the Progress
Sive party as his personal vehicle. But
the Senator declined to change his
registration. He declared that recov-
cry and relief concerned him more
than did politics.