The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-29
UPTON SINCLAIR SCORES
SWEEPING VICTORY IN
PRIMARY RACE ON COAST
CruSading Novelist Piles Up
137,579-Vot Plurality
in Contest.
CREEL is FAR BEHIND
Merriam Wins Governor
Nomination, Will Face
Former Socialist.
By United Press

By United Press
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20.
= Upton Sinclair, crusading
novelist and former militant
Socialist, in yesterdays pri-
mary attained one of the most
sweeping victories ever ac-
corded a member of his party
in this state when he won the
Democratic nomination for
Governor.
Not only did he gain nomination
for himself with what may prove
the largest vote ever polled by a
Democratic candidate in a primary,
but he carried Sheridan Downey,
Sacramento attorney, into the NOM
ination for Lieutenant-G Governor as
his running mate.
Thus, in a sharp swing to the left,
the party has placed at the head
Of its ticket two men seeing eye-to-
eye on an advanced program of
economic reform. Seldom in Cali
fornia political history has a gu
bernatorial candidate on either
major ticket been able to choose his
own running mate.
The count of 8,247 of the states
10,703 precincts gave:
For Governor, Democratic: Sinclair,
1889; George Creel, 173, $40; Justus
Wardell, 34052; Sinclair'S plurality,
1859.
For Governor, Republican: Frank
F. Merriam, 237,297; C. c. Young,
133,957; John R. Quinn, 70 POI; Ray
mond Haight, 65,712; Merriam's
plurality, 103,340.
Johnson Is Nominated
Not only did the Democrats
choose Mr.. Sinclair as their candi-
date for Governor, but they gave to
Hiram w. Johnson, officially a Re-
publican, the Democratic nominal
ton for the United States senate.
The sensational swing to Mr. Sin
clair was the second phase of g.
revolution in California politics.
The first came when registration
figures showed that for the first
time in recent history Democratic
registration exceeded Republican by
small margin.
Mr.. Sinclair's success placed the
administration in different posi-
ton but it was met by statement
from Postmaster General James A.
Farley to the effect that the party
organization would support the
nominee and extend to Mr.. SIM
clair its congratulations
Mooney Is Jubilant
Mr.. Sinclair gladly accepted the
promise of a blessing from the adj
ministration. He said that he was
a true representative of the New
Deal, only he would carry it farther
than has Mr.. Roosevelt.
His so-called "epic plan" forms
the basis of his platform. END
poverty in California" according TO
Mr.. Sinclair, will be his purpose if
elected.
One of the persons who rejoiced
most in the Sinclair victory was
Tom Mooney, serving a life sentence
in San Quentin prison for partici-
patton in the San Francisco Pre-
paredness day bombing Of 1916.
Mr.. Sinclair said in his campaign
that his first official act if he is
elected Governor will be to grant
Mooney full pardon.
First Wrote "The Jungle"
Mr.. Sinclair first gained national
fame when he published The
Jungle" a novel describing condi-
lions in the Chicago stockyards 1t
led to governmental investigation
and sweeping reforms Later he
castigated the kept press" in the
Brass Check; the universities in
The Goose STEP" and aroused
conservative New England with
Boston"
He is small, wiry, gray, speaks
with amazing fuency and clarity
and is tirelessly energetic.
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