Evening star., 1954-06-10
The Political Mil
California BolIotinq
Went as Expected
Roosevelt and Condor
Win Despite Mitchell
The Political Min

Roosevelt and Condor
Win Despite Mitchell
By Gould Lincoln
California's primary elections pco-
duced the expected results 20 far a
James Roosevelt. eldest son Of the late
President Franklin D. Roosevelt. and
Representative Richard L. Condor.
Democrats both. are concerned. Both
won their party's nominations for seats
in the House Of Representatives, not.
withstanding the fact Democratic Ma.
tional Chairman Stephen A. Mitchell
has said the national organisation
could not and would not support them.
And the executive committee Of the
Democratic National Committee has
backed up Mr.. Mitchell on this issue.
Chairman Mitchell is not, 1t was said,
changing his position, despite the
Roosevelt and Condor victories.
The swing Of the pendulum makes
James Roosevelt. who four years ago
was Democratic candidate for Cover
nor. Q candidate next November for
the House. and his younger brother.
Franklin d. Roosevelt. jr., who won re-
election to the House in 1850, the prob.
able Democratic nominee for Governor
Of New York. James Roosevelt is run
ming in an overwhelmingly Democratic
congressional diStrict-a district that
gave Adlai Stevenson q Al, 900 lead over
President Eisenhower two years ago.
1t looks as though it would take a
political miracle to defeat him. Frank
lin Roosevelt has represented an over
whelmingly Democratic district in New
York. Whether he can make the step
up the political ladder which James at
tempted ana failed remains to be seen.
Suit Brought on Opposition.
The opposition of Chairman Mitchell
to Mr.. Roosevelt grew out of the widely
publicized charges of adultery brought
by Mr.. Roosevelt's wife in a suit against
James Roosevelt. Mr.. Mitchell's op-
position to Representative Condor was
based on the fact that Mr.. Condor was
denied clearance to observe atomic
bomb experiments on the grounds of
past Communist associations These
charges have been denied by both men.
Mr.. Roosevelt won his Democratic
nomination by q wide margin-but he
failed to win the Republican nomina-
ton. too. although he filed for it. Mr..
Condor has the Democratic nomina-
tion, but will be opposed by John Bald
win. Republican, whom. he narrowly
defeated in 1852.
The primary elections virtually re-
established the two-party political
system in California, after 40 years of
the hybrid system of cross filing, under
which Republicans sought Democratic
nominations and Democrats sought Re-
publican nominations. Under the new
law. cross filing is still permitted. but
the candidates must place their party
afiliation after their names.
The results in the primary, with few
exceptions. found Democrats winning
Democratic nominations and Repub-
lcanS, Republican nominations. In the
past. Republicans have won both party
nominations. and Democrats have done
the same. It looks now as though even
the modified cross filing allowed under
present law will be thrown in the ash
can.
Edge to Two Republicans.
Results of the balloting in the
primary appear to give the Republican
nominees for Governor and Senator the
edge in the November general election.
Available figures show that Senator
Kuchel, Republican, had q combined
total vote on the Republican and Demo-
cratic tickets much In excess Of the
combined total vote Of Representative
Yorty. Democrat. who was the Demo-
Gratis choice for Senator. Gov. Good
win J. Knight, who succeeded Chief
Justice Warren when the latter stepped
out to accept appointment to the Su-
preme Court. was also far ahead in
the combined vote of Richard p.
Graves, a former Republican who won
the Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor. AS Of today, the Republicans
hold 10 Of California's seats in the
House and the Democrats, IL. The Re-
publicanS hope to retain the seats they
now have, pick up the Condor seat
and will make a desperate effort to
defeat James Roosevelt. They were
pleased that Mr.. Roosevelt was not able
to win the Republican nomination as
well as the Democratic, in that over
whelmingly strong Democratic district.
The Republican nominee, Theodore
Owings, city clerk Of Culver City. hopes
to be rallying post for Roosevelt
Democrats and to nose out James
Roosevelt in the fall
Democrats in California lead Re-
publicans in registration by more than
753,000. A few years ago. they led by
million or more. Much will depend in
the coming elections on how strong the
party urge turns out to be. Under the
%
was three times elected Governor, the
in general elections, Notwithstanding
the Democratic registration. Gen.
Eisenhower carried 1t by 100000 over
Mr.. Stevenson in 1852.