Evening star., 1950-04-08
Downey Move Roises
California COP. Hopes
Porty Now Centered on Nixon
To Defect Ms. DouoIos
The Political MiH
By Gould Lincoln

oy Souto Lincoln
The recent withdrawal OF Senator
Sheridan Downey Of California. Demo-
crat. from the senatorial race has in
creased Republican hopes. California
Republicans worried more over Downey
candidacy than they do over meeting
Mrs. Helen Gshagan Douglas. who now
seems the likely winner of the Demo
cratic nomination for the Senate. The
COP Is placing all its eggs IN one
basket In this contest. with Represent
ative Richard NJ. Nixon carrying the
basket.
sMr. Nixon. q ST-year-old veteran Of
the Second World War-he served in the
Navy-twice has been elected to the
House and moved into the limelight as
q member of the Un-American Activities
Committee who had a good deal to do
with unearthing the case against Aleer
Hiss. A week ago Mr.. Nixon went TO
California to begin campaigning for the
Senate nomination. He plans q swing
throughout the State. by automobile,
which will keep him busy until June 6,
primary day. Mrs. Douglas has been in
that she has been making lot Of hay
with large and enthusiastic audiences
"Cross- File" in State.
In California candidates "cross-file'
and run in both the Democratic and
Republican primaries. So Mrs. Douglas
Is a candidate for the Republican noml-
nation as we'll as the Democratic. and
Mr.. Nixon Is seeking the Democratic
nomination as well as that Of his own
party. Under these circumstances, the
candidates quite naturally feel it Is nee
esSary to campaign vigorously. even II.
as in the case of Mr.. Nixon. a candidate
has merely nominal opposition IN his
own party primary. Albert Levitt. virtu-
ally unknown in California politics, Is
his only Republican opponent.
Mrs. Douglas will, however. have real
opposition in the person of Manchester
Boldly, publisher of the Los Angeles Daily
News. Mr.. Boldly has the support Of
Senator Downey and Of the conservative
wing of the party. He is a late entrant
in the race, however. and the odds favor
Mrs Douglas. Mrs. Douglas, a favorite
of the CIO. is expected to gather in
much of the labor support which in the
past has gone TO Senator Downey and
which he cannot transfer to MIR. Boldly.
In addition to his labor support, Sena-
tor Downey had been backed both by con-
servatve Democrats and the "ham-and-
eggers"-the radicals--in his past cam
palens While Mrs. Douglas will gain his
labor support and probably his radical
support, too. conservative Democrats will
not throw their hats in the air for her.
At least, this is what Republicans are
saying and some Democrats are admit
ting.
Mrs. Douglas, a former stage and
opera star. is a New Deal crusader, a
tremendous worker with charming
personality. She will be on the ticket.
If she wins nomination, with James
Roosevelt, son of the late President.
Mr.. Roosevelt has the benefit Of the
Roosevelt name-but he, like Mrs. Doug
las makes little appeal to the more con-
servative Democrats. Mr.. Nixon will be
on the Republican ticket with Earl War
ren who has twice been elected Governor
the last time with both the Democratic
and Republican nominations Indeed,
considerable number of Democrats have
fallen into the habit Of voting for Mr..
Warren for Governor.
Registration Figures.
The Democrats remember that Frank
lin D. Roosevelt carried California four
times in presidential races. and that
President Truman carried it. too, in
1948, though by scant $4,000 votes. In
registration, too, the Democrats have
che better Of the Republicans by nearly
a million potential voters. This they had.
however, when Gov. Warren carried the
State by 100000 on his first try. and
again In 1916 when he was elected by
tremendous vote.
Both James Roosevelt and Mrs. Doug
las, though they supported Mr.. Truman
vigorously during the 1948 campaign.
are old Roosevelt New Dealers. Mr..
Roosevelt two years ago Joined In a de-
mand that President Truman stand
aside and permit the Democratic Party
to nominate Gen. Eisenhower or Asso-
ciate Justice Douglas Of the Supreme
Court. How whole hearted will be the
support of Mr.. Truman for Roosevelt
in the coming campaign remains to be
seen. Further. victorious Roosevelt in
California next November might be q
serious obstacle to a Truman nomina-
ton in 1852, or to a candidate the Pres
ident preferred.
Decidedly. the California election this
year will have importance. 1t will de-
eide whether another Roosevelt is to
become a political power. 1t will decide
whether Gov. Warren is to remain a
factor in the Republican presidential
race in 1852. 1t will decide whether the
Democrats are to hold a California seat
in the Senate and whether another wom-
an is to take seat In the Upper House.