Evening star., 1938-07-24
CALIFORNIA FIGHT
IS NEW DEAL ROW
Issue IN Political Battle
Is McAdoo and Not
Roosevelt.
Ey the Associated Press,

nVOoCSCils
| By the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 23.-Sis
years ago q tall gray haired mar
stood before the Democratic National
Convention and tipped the balance In
favor OF Franklin D. Roosevelt for the
Democratic presidential nomination.
Ever since then this man, Senator
William Gibbs McAdoo, has gone
down the line" for President Roose-
welt except In q few scattered in
stances.
And now President Roosevelt has
gone down the line for Senator Nc
Adoo.
Coming personally into the range
Of party struggle even more com.
plicated than the memorable epic
battle involving Upton Sinclair ir
1884, the President reafhrmed hi,
Endorsement Of Senator McAdoo',
candidacy for reelection.
The situation bordered on the un.
usual even in the political present
because the struggle WAS an all-Nev
Deal affair. The main issue was Sen.
ator McAdoo. not President Roose.
welt or the New Deal
Dominated Federal Patronage.
As the Californian closest to the
White House, Senator McAdoo has
dominated Federal patronage and de.
spite hos New Deal record has turned
the cold shoulder upon some leaders OF
the relatively strong left-wing faction
in the State.
His course has given rise to charges
Of selfish acts not in the interest OF
the State, and to accusations which
caused his former law partner, Col
William H. Neblett, to name severa
Democratic figures in 4 $4,000, ,00t
libel suit.
Mr.. Roosevelts words, spoken few
hours before he boarded the cruiser
Houston at San Diego for his current
fishing cruise. were bitter medicine
not only for two other avowedly pro-
New Deal Democratic senatorial con-
tenders, but also for numerous party
leaders bent on crushing Senator
McAdoo.
Il wrote him letter" Mr.. Roose-
welt said of the 74-year-old California
Senator. "and told him I hoped very
definitely he would run for reelection
for the Senate. And might add that
I hoped Senator McAdoo would be re-
! elected, too"
| With that blessing Senator McAdoo
seemingly had everything he needed
all the heavy campaign artillery of
the State party organization, labor
Endorsements, Federal control of pat
ronage. certified New Deal record
in strong New Deal constituency
and divided opposition.
But the opposition insisted today
that it was giving Senator McAdoo the
fight of his life and was fully con-
fident of victory.
Downey Takes Consolation.
One of Senator McAdoo's most
powerful opponents. Sheridan Downey
who polled more than 100000 votes
four years ago as the running mate u
Mr.. Sinclair in the governorship race
took consolation in what he said wal
the failure of Mr.. Roosevelt specific.
ally to request California voters Il
support Senator McAdoo.
Mr.. Downey, who has the support
Of uncounted thousands Of pension
plan advocates for the Democratic
senatorial nomination, said the Presi.
dents statement supporting the Sen.
ator was "as weak as he possibly coulc
make 1t and still satisfy the insistent
demand from Senator McAdoo fol
the Endorsement"
John W. Preston. who left the Statt
Supreme Bench to take a Roosevelt
appointment as special counsel ane
win q $4,000, 900 victory for the Gov
ernment in the Elk Hills oil lease re.
covery case. likewise refused to re-
linquish hope Of winning the Demo
cratic senatorial nomination.
Mr. Preston charged and Senate
McAdoo vehemently denied that tn
Senator assessed Federal jobholders ii
California S per cent Of their annua
salaries for his campaign fund.
Mr.. Peirson Hall started to rul
against Senator McAdoo but withdrey
and took over direction of Mr.. Dow
ney's campaign.
Pension Elements in Race.
Various pension elements stand a
an unknown quantity in the senatorial
race. Mr.. Downey is backing tn
Townsend plan and its 2 per cen
transactions tax program
But still another pension idea ha
been snowballing into prominence IL
the Townsend stronghold.
It would give $50 in scrip weekly Il
every legal resident over so years o
age. The scrip would automaticall,
redeem itself At the end Of yea
through = 2-per cent weekly staml
tax
Political pulse feelers said the plal
drew great numbers of petition sign
ers. Should the August 80 primar.
votes Of these people 60 to Mr.. Dow
ney as 4 matter of sympathy the,
might exert a powerful influence.
A complicated battle for the Demo
cratic nomination for Governor ais
has added to the confusion within tn
majority party. The contenders IN
clude Representative John r. DOCK
weller, Culbert L. Olson. j. F. ]
O'Connor, Mr.. Roosevelt's former Con
troller OF the Currency; Col. Neblett
Daniel c. Murphy, San Francisc
sheriff: Herbert c. Legg. Los Angels
supervisor, and Raymond L. Haigf1s
primarily a Progressive.