Evening star., 1948-10-04
California Division
In House Expected 10
Remain About Same
By Gould Lincoln
Stor Stof Correspondent


LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4.-Cali-
fornia's block of % House men,
bers, now divided, IA Republi-
cans to 8 Democrats, probably
will show little proportionate
change when the election is
over. A Dewey-Warren sweep
in the State of huge proportions,
should it develop, might result in
the Republicans gaining a couple
of House seats.
Because of CALIFORNIA; system OF
cross-filing in the primary elections,
IL of the Congressional districts are
without serious contests. In these
the Republican or the Democratic
incumbent won both party nomina-
tions. In the 10th district Repre-
sentative Elliott, Republican, is re-
firing and Republican, Thomas II.
Werdel, won both nominations.
There are half a dozen sharp
fights in the remaining II districts.
The Democrats may lose the first
district, represented for many
years by Representative Lea. They
also may lose the fourth now held
by Representative Havenner.
Gearheart Has Hard Fight.
On the other hand, the Democrats
have good chances of knocking of
Representative Paulson, in the 18th,
and Representative Fletcher in the
23d district.
Representative Gearheart, Repub-
lican, has a real fight to retain his
Ninth District seat. His opponent
is Cecil F. White, Democrat, who, in
the total primary vote of both par
ties. topped Mr.. Gearheart by about
10000. Mr.. Gearheart, however, has
been in hard battles in the past and
has pulled through.
Representative Havenner, a vet
eran Progressive Democrat, one
time supporter of Hiram johnson
Is opposed by William S. Mailliard
Republican. The latter is youth
full war veteran, son Of a reputedly
wealthy father who has taken q
prominent part in politics in the
past.
An Independent Progressive (Wal-
lace) candidate is in the race, too
but today the Progressives are
throwing in the sponge and declar-
ing their support of Mr.. Havsaner
This Is in line with Henry A. Wal
lace's action In Los Angeles, when
he, to all intents and purposes,
withdrew the Progressive candi-
dates In Representative Helen Ga
hagan Douglas Fourteenth District
and In that Of Representative Holi-
field, the Nineteenth.
May Help Own Ticket.
Mr.. wallace, in making these
gestures, may help his own ticket.
Whether he will help those OF the
Democratic Congressional candi-
dates he is now supporting remains
to be seen. Mrs. Douglas and Mr..
Honfield both have stated publicly
they do not want the support Of Mr..
Wallace and his progressives. Both
seem sure Of winning in any event,
but the Communist smear which
has been attached to Mr.. Wallace
and the Progressives might come
of on them, If they welcomed this
new support.
Mrs. Douglas, the glamour girl OF
the Democratic Party in California,
and, indeed, the only glamorous flg-
ure of either sex in the party-wlth
perhaps the exception OF James
Roosevelt, son OF the late President,
was drastic in her rejection of third
party aid. Il did not seek the in
dorsement Of the third party and do
not desire it," she said.
In the 1st Congressional district
the Republicans are making q des-
perate bid to win Hubert B. Scud-
der Is their candidate, and his
Democratic opponent, who also has
the Progressive nomination, Is Ster-
ling j. Norgard.
Progressives in Slump.
When Mr.. Wallace came into
Los Angeles Friday, to campaign
throughout the State, the Progress
sive Party and its leaders were in
slump. It may be that Mr.. Wallace
will give them a lift, although the
crowd he drew in Gilmore Stadium
Saturday night was estimated at
10000 to the $4,000 he got here
earlier in the year. The Wallace
ties, however. take pleasure in the
thought that Mr.. Wallace drew per-
haps a couple of thousand more to
his meeting than did President Tru-
man in his recent appearance in the
same stadium.
This southern california section
has a greater leaning toward Mr..
Wallace than the northern half OF
the State. He must roll up votes
in southern California If he is to
make a respectable showing in the
election. At the Los Angeles Wal
lace meeting Robert w. Kenny,
former attorney general of the
State, came out of his shell and
introduced Mr.. Wallace. Mr. Kenny,
who was an enthusiastic Wallace
for-president man last year, wanted
Mr.. Wallace to run In the Demo-
cratic primary for the presidential
nomination, declaring that he could
beat President Truman. When Mr..
Wallace decided to head a third
party, Mr.. Kenny cooled of. He
is now heading the Democrats-for-
Wallace in the State.
In his introduction of Mr.. Wal
lace, Mr.. Kenny let of a little
steam saying; "the nomination of
Harry Truman Thy the Democrats)
was about as good away to throw
an election as has ever been rigged
up in the annals Of American poll
tics"
Split Troubles Democrats.
President Truman would have a
better chance in California If the
Democratic leaders had not split so
vigorously over his nomination.
James Roosevelt. then State chair
man and now Democratic national
committeeman for the State, did
his best to ditch the President. He
is In the Truman camp now, and
will be used as a speaker for him.