Evening star., 1934-08-19
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

TIME most pertinent development
that could occur in national
politics just now would be
Il real lineup between those who
favor the new deal and those
who regard 1t as having dangerous
for the future. The line
up we are accustomed to. Republicans
versus Democrats, means little, be-
cause the issues are utterly different
from the former issues between these
two old parties, and because very
many Democrats do not believe in the
new deal.
Progress toward a logical lineup
may arise out of an event which is to
take place in California August 28. In
that State the leading Socialist in the
United States, Upton Sinclair, is run
ming for the Democratic nomination
for Governor. OF Sinclairs chances to
succeed have no direct information
or judgment, but competent observers
in the State say he has an excellent
chance to win-some, not friendly to
Sinclair, say he is quite likely to win.
If this happens some other develop
ments should follow pretty promptly.
That Sinclair is not a Democrat he
would himself be the first to declare
he would shout 1t to the California
skies. He Is more thorough-going
Socialist than Norman Thomas, who
had the last Socialist nomination for
the presidency, and Sinclair is very
much better known as a Socialist
than Thomas. Consequently Sinclair'S
winning the Democratic nomination
would be case of the Socialists taking
over the Democratic party in that
State.
What About McAdoo?
If that happens, what will the real
Democrats in California do, especially
the leaders? What will Senator Will
liam G. McAdoo do-go along under
the party label and support Sinclair?
And if not that, what? What will the
Democratic members of Congress from
California do?
Will the local Democratic leaders in
California consult the national lead
ers, President Roosevelt and Post
master General Farley? If they do
consult Washington what advice will
be given them?
What will be the effect on Demo-
cratic thought throughout the Nation?
Will the conservative Democrats in
the East and South go along in double
harness with this avowedland aggres-
sive Socialist in California? Is it con-
ceivable that one party can contain
Sinclair running for Governor of Cali
fornia-and also such Eastern Demo-
Gratis as Gov. Ely of Massachusetts,,
ex-Gov. "Al" Smith of New York,
Senator Byrd of Virginia?
May Clarity Situation.
Superficially, Socialist Sinclair win
ming the Democratic nomination in
California might seem to add to the
current chaos Of our politics. Actually
it might result in long step toward
clarif1cation. Surely no one will deny
that the clarification is desirable, that
the voters in the coming November
election ought to know clearly what
they are doing.
That there is cleavage, or at least
lack of complete identity, between the
Democratic party and the new deal
party is as clear as anything that
ever happened in American politics.
The cleavage has not yet appeared on
the surface, but beneath, as respects
principle, it is as wide as the difference
between black and white.
The cleavage is just emerging so as
to be visible to the public. When Mr.
Roosevelt made his journey from
Portland, Greg, east to Washing
ton newspaper correspondents on the
train observed and wrote that in his
occasional speeches he never used the
word Democrat" but often the
phrase new deal" They observed
that in Wisconsin he made a speech
of which the presumed purpose and
certain effect was to help re-elect
Progressive Senator Robert M. La
Toilette, as against a Democratic can
didate for the Senate who preSum-
ably will be nominated by the Demo-
Gratis of the State at the primaries on
Is. They observed that in
Mr.. Roosevelt invited to
his train the Farmer-Labor candidate
for reelection, Henrik Shipstead,
the newspaper men thought
they observed-the Democratic candi-
date appeared in the train unlimited
and received less attention than the
Farmer-Labor one.
Not Democratic Platform.
All these appearances and develop
ments are combinations of reality
The new deal is not the Democratic
platform of 1882 or of any preceding
year. The new deal, with its strong
trend against the individuality of the
States and against individuansm as a
of society, runs more di-
rectly contrary to Democratic princi-
Piles and traditions than to Repub-
lican ones.
Assuming Socialist Upton Sinclair
wins the Democratic nomination for
Governor in California, and assuming
the national Democratic leaders take
no action about it, what will be the
effect on voters generally throughout
the country? viii it startle the coun-
try? I suspect it will. And the spec
tacular quality of the event, If it hap
pens, will be in proportion to its bear
ing on Americas future. If Sin
clair wins, managing editors who
know their function will call for
seven-column headlines in the morn
ing papers of August 20.
Will Sinclair'S winning, If 1t hap
pens, cause the country to realize
what many have already sensed,
that a fundamental conflict
is under way of which the outcome
will determine whether America is to
keep its present form of government
and social organization-or go toward
one form or another of Socialism?
And if the country comes to feel this,
what will happen? One possibility !
have suggested-Democratic national
leaders may disavow the Socialist who