Evening star., 1934-08-30
DEMOCRATS AGREE
TO HELP SINCLAIR
Size of Vote Causes Lead
erS TO MAKE Best of
Situation"
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Democratic leaders today were
catching their breath again after the
sensational victory of Upton Sinclair
in the gubernatorial primary in Gail
fornia. They are planning to make
the best they can Of the situation
created by the victory of the former
Socialist and the defeat Of George
Creel, Roosevelt and McAdoo man
and new. deal supporter.
Despite the demands of some of the
more conservative Democrats that the
national leadership and the Demo-
cratic leadership in California re
pudiate" Sinclair and his E. P. l. C.
lend Poverty in California; program,
there seems no prospect of any such
dramatic happening.
President Roosevelt, through his
secretary, has sent word to Sinclair
that he will be glad to see him if he
calls, but will not discuss politics and
his campaign. That seems to recon-
mend itself to the leaders here as a
safe and sane way of dealing with the
Sinclair nomination.
size VI NOtc II dctOTs
The Democrats have been impressed
with the size of the vote cast for Sim
clair, particularly as compared to the
other candidates. They are even to-
day hopeful that he may be elected,
Notwithstanding the attitude of some
of their conservative brethren in Cali
fornia. They do not believe that Sim
clair can put his Socialistic program
through even if he becomes Governor.
He would have to have a majority Of
the Legislature with him to pass the
needed laws, they point out. The La
Follettes have been elected Governors
of Wisconsin in the past, standing for
advanced and radical changes in gov
ernment, without ever having made
the Republican party take on a So
cialistic tinge.
While the Democrats are seeking
way out of their difficulties in Cali
fornia, the Republican leaders have
hurried to make the issue between the
radicals and the conservatives-in
California and elsewhere. They are
putting their nominee for Governor,
Frank F. Merriam, the incumbent. for
ward as a champion of American in
StitutionS against the SocialiSt-new
deal program of Upton Sinclair. And
If they can make it appear that the
Roosevelt new deal has gone Socialist
they will do so. Senator Hastings,
chairman of the Republican Senatorial
Committee, issued a statement in
which he said:
The new deal victory in the Cali
fornia primaries has elements of pub
lie interest quite aside from the fact
that it assures the Republican party
of great gains in the November cleo
tions.
"New Deal Socialist"
"a Socialist running on a Socialist
platform and heartily indorsing the
new deal defeated a Democrat for the
Democratic gubernatorial nomination,
although the Democrat also was an
ardent supporter of new deal policies.
"At last We are beginning to get
things straight. The people who la
bored under the misapprehension that
this Is Democratic administration
are given another opportunity to see
their mistake.
Some of us recall that Mr.. RooSe-
velt indorsed a platform drafted by
the Democratic party in the Summer
of 1882. The platform was last seen
about March, 1888. Since then there
hasn't been much evidence of the party
itself"
Farley Is Silent.
Postmaster General Farley. chair
man of the Democratic National Com
mittee, was silent regarding the Sin
clair nomination. He probably will
discuss it with the President. Mr..
Farley is in Pennsylvania today boost
ing Joseph w. Guffey, the Democratic
nominee for Senator, as an ardent
supporter of the new deal.
Out in California John B. Elliott.
vice chairman of the Democratic State
Committee, has said that party labels
mean nothing now" and that he would
support in November the candidates
he thinks best qualified for public
service. That is the kind of thing
for which the Republicans are hoping
in California.
At least one new deal official, Harry
L. Hopkins, Federal relief administra-
tor expressed his pleasure at the
nomination of Sinclair. He said he
wants to see Sinclair elected.
Representative Britten, Republican,
Of Illinois foresaw the election of
the complete Republican ticket in
California" but Representative Byrns,
Democrat, of Tennessee, House ma
jority leader, said "all Democratic
members of the House will be re-
turned"