Evening star., 1938-11-09
California Democrats
Push Far Ahead;
Pension Plan Losino
Porty Elects Its First
Governor in AZ Years:
Union Curbs Falling
BY the Associated Press.

SAN FRANCISCO, NOV. ~
California Democrats today retained
their one seat in the Senate, in q
campaign revolving around unique
scrip pension plan, and for the first
time in A. years elected Governor.
The double triumph was slightly
dimmed by the loss of two House
seats to Republicans, and by a
nip-and-tu race for Lieutenant
Governor.
Sheridan Downey, Democratic
supporter Of the "30-every Thurs
day" pension plan, polled $50, 1892
votes for Senator in 9,174 of the
12,472 precincts, to 457, 1877 for Philip
Bancroft, critic of the pension plan
and of President Roosevelt.
In 1878 precincts State Senator
Culbert Olson, former Utah legis-
lator, was given 583,310 votes to
SOL 1888 for Republican Gov. Frank
Merriam.
The "ham-and-egg" pension plan
which Mr.. Downey supported, and
q stringent anti-picketing initiative,
were headed for defeat. Both were
running behind by a four -to-three
count.
G. O. p. Gets 6 Seats.
Republicans, who had held only
four of California's 20 House seats,
captured at least six. Democrats
were victorious in eight.
The only Democratic Representa-
tive to be defeated. however, was
John j. McGrath, who lost the 9th
district to John Anderson.
Il do not consider this a personal
victory" said Mr. Downey, but one
for liberalism and social security for
our senior citizens"
Mr.. Olson promised "a State gov
ernment in sympathy with the prin-
ciples and policies of the New Deal
Of the Roosevelt administration"
Gov. Merriam also had condemned
the pension proposal, on which Mr..
Olson for the most part kept silent
In closing campaign speech he
said: "Of course, those supporting
the $30-every- Thursday plan would
be supporting the Democratic party"
President Phones Downey.
President Roosevelt himself disap-
proved Of the proposal under which
all unemployed persons over so
would receive $50 in scrip every
Thursday A stamp tax on the scrip.
proponents said. would provide real
money necessary to keep the plan
working.
The same votes which appeared to
be junking the pension plan and
union curbs also pointed toward de-
feat OF an initiative measure to re-
peal the State sales tax in favor of a
single tax" upon land.
In 6.675 precincts the scrip pro-
posal had 284,282 favorable votes
and 349 ,l83 unfavorable. Los Angeles
County. where the idea originated,
rejected the plan in incomplete re-
turns.
AS returns poured in last night,
President Roosevelt telephoned Mr..
Downey at his Atherton residence
to ask How things were going" the
candidate reported.
Merriam Doesn't Concede.
II said the early returns were en-
couraging and that we hoped to win
by majority of 300 900 to 400 600, -
said Mr.. Downey.
Il am happy for the expression
OF liberalism the vote seems to be
giving and again 1 want to say l
shall vigorously campaign in the
Senate. If the final result sends me
there, for a national pension plan
for our senior citizens"
Mr.. Olson, whose election was
asked by Thomas Mooney, Cali
fornia's convicted 1916 parade
bomber, said he would give the
State "a new political, social and in
dustrial era
Mr.. Mooney. who has battled
nearly half his life for freedom from
San Quentin Prison, said Mr.. Olson
would give him pardon if elected
although Mr.. Olson himself kept
silent.
Union Curbs Losing.
The prisoner always has contended
he was convicted through perjury
because OF his activities as a labor
organizer.
A heavy mo" vote piled up against
an initiative measure designed to
limit picketing and otherwise re-
strict the activities of unions on
strike. In 6,993 precincts it received
$50 favorable and 378,763 un-
favorable votes. Unions and educa-
tors attacked it as a threat to free
speech.
The makings of a landslide ap-
peared against an initiative pro-
posal to abolish the sales and other
consumer" taxes and establish q
single tax system which would
put the main burden of State
revenues upon land alone. In 5,707