Evening star., 1954-10-09
The Political Mill
California Republicans
Maybe in for Big Fight
KnowIund and Nixon Would
Provide q Bottle of Tituns
By Gould Lincoln


SAN FRANCISCO-In the two States
with the greatest population. New York
and California the dominant leaders
of the Republican Party have stepped
aside-Dewey and Warren respectively.
Neither would run for fourth term as
Governor of his State. Gov. Warren was
the first to step aside, and he was
promptly picked by President Elsen-
hover for Chief Justice. Gov. Dewey
is going into the private practice OF
law
The Republicans in California had
become used to Gov. Warren as their
top man. He was, in fact, tower OF
strength for the G. o. P, although ne
was never an Old Guardsman. From
the time he was first elected Governor
in 1912. a Moses leading the Repuoh-
cans of California out of the wilderness,
until he quit to go to the supreme
Court, he was relied upon to hold the
line And he did, Today, three OF the
men whose political advancement to
high Office was in some measure due
to the commanding strength Gov.
Warren gave the Republicans are can
didates for this party leadership-Vlce
President Nixon, Senator Knowland and
Gov. Knight.
Building Fences.
Already each is building up his fences
and there has been preliminary maneu-
vering. Obviously they must SUCK
together for Republican victory at the
polls in November or their own preStige
will be lowered If California elects
Mr.. Knight Governor, as it is expected
to do, and elects the Junior Senator,
Kuchel, and holds nearly all OF its
Republican seats in the House, tne
stage will be set for real triangular
tussle. Mr.. Knight as Governor Will
WELD great power within the State. Mr..
Nixon because of his place in this ma
tional Government which names him an
understudy for the President, and
Senator Knowland by virtue OF his
leadership of the Republicans in the
Senate will remain important figures
in the State.
Whatever the ambitions OF MI.
Knight-what Governor OF a great
State does not have presidential pee
buzzine in his ear?-it is regarded as
ouite certain that Mr.. Nixon and SEN
of CALIFORNIA; Republican delegation
to the G. o. P. National Convention OF
1856 for a presidential nomination, IL
Gen. Eisenhower should decline to run
again.
Big Scrap Possible.
If that situation arises, 1t Will be
major political scrap. MI, Nixon halls
from the populous southern part OF
California He has following That Is
almost fanatical Senator KnoWland,
from Oakland in the north, has cel-
tain seniority, having been a Senator
since his appointment in 1916 10 MI
a vacancy caused by the death OF the
late Hiram Johnson. Mr.. Nixon was
elected to the House a few monthS
later and did not become Senator until
after his election in 1850. Senator
Knowland may have the support OF
Warren followers to a greater extent
than Mr.. Nixon, though that is prob
lematical He was firm for Mr.. War;
ren's nomination for President two years
ago, while MI Nixon was ready at all
times to go to the Eisenhower camp.
Republican politicians here with
whom l have talked say that it is too
early to predict who is to be the Re-
publican top dog. 1t is not matter,
however, that will wait much longer
than the coming election. Gov Knight
is the only one of the three who is
running for Office this year.
Victory Would Count.
A defeat would put him out Of the
picture. But if he should win by a
substantial majority, he would be a
man to reckon with. Senator Know
land and Mr.. Nixon both faced the
voters in 1882 Senator KnoWland was
reelected with big margin of victory
and MI. Nixon, running with Gen. Eli
senhower, was assured victory. Mr.
Nixon has made his mark as a travel
ing salesman for the Eisenhower ad-
miniStration, both at home and abroad
Indeed, he has been called upon by Gen
Eisenhower to play such part often
At present, he is engaged in an inten-
sive campaign to elect Republican
Congress to help the President put
across the rest of his program in the
84th Congress.
Senator Knowland was the selection
of the late Senator Bob Taft to take
up the Republican leadership of the
Senate, when Senator Taft laid it aside
He has a record of real accomplish
ment. He has demonstrated he is an
indefatigable worker with courage tc
stick by his guns in a Senate fight
Aside from too great willingness tc
express himself on foreign policy, he
has been a real asset to the Eisenhower
administration. If he and Mr. NiXor
should lock horns in California it viii
be battle. For the good Of the G. o. P
the longer such a battle is delayed the
better.