Evening star., 1954-06-09
Democrats Surprise
By Supporting Own
California Ticket
By the Associoisd Press

Sd1A4OA LAC AAA4AAN AAA SAA viva
tickets political system was
shaken by a surprising Demo-
cratic vote in yesterdays pr1-
mary election.
The Democratic surge over
rode national party criticism of
James Roosevelt and helped the
eldest son of the late New Deal
President win nomination for
Congress from heavily Demo-
cratic Los Angeles. He'll oppose
Republican Theodore (Ted)
Owings in November.
Similarly, Representative Rob-
ert L. Condor, Democrat. also
renounced by Democratic Ma
tional Chairman Stephen Mitch
ell. was renominated and will
face John F. Baldwin, jr., the
Republican he defeated in 1852.
Contrast to Other Elections.
And right on down the line,
Democrats nominated Demo-
Gratis for national and State Of
f1ces-in sharp contrast to pre-
vious elections when many Re-
publicanS, filing on both tickets,
won both nominations and thus
were elected in the primary.
Democratic voters obviously
paid no heed to charges of in
fidelity against Mr.. Roosevelt by
his estranged wife and to the
listing of Mr.. Condor as a Sc
curity risk by the Atomic Ener-
gy Commission. Mr.. Roosevelt
called his wife's accusations un-
true. Mr.. Condor testified he
was never a Communist member
or sympathizer.
In Washington, Mr.. Condor
said the vote clearly demon
strates the confidence that the
people of my area have in my
integrity and ability" He said
the result showed the voters
'are satisfied that my represen-
tation has been effective and in
accord with their political think
ing"
Knight Easy Winner.
Gov. Goodwin j. Knight easily
won his own Republican nomi-
nation for that Office, but trailed
Richard P. Graves on the Demo-
cratic ticket. A registered Re-
publican until December, Mr..
Graves, AZ, was a political un-
known until he entered the cam
paign. Gov. Knight, 81, twice
was elected Lieutenant Governor.
He succeeded Chief Justice Earl
Warren as Governor last fall.
Representative Samuel w.
Yorty. Democrat, whom Mr..
Roosevelt seeks to succeed in the
House. maintained a 2-to-1
Democratic lead over Senator
Thomas H. Kuchel, Republican.
Mr.. Warren appointed Mr.. Ku-
chel when California's Richard
M. Nixon became Vice President.
Gov. Knight and Senator
Kuchel built huge majorities for
their own Republican nomina-
tionS Veteran Republican State
officials, consistent two-party
winners in the past, also were
foced into runoffs.
The returns all added up to a
reputation of the double nom
ination tradition in California
and a reawakening of partisan
voting. And three little letters
probably had a lot to do with it.
Identified by Party.
The Democratic trend came in
an election in which candidates
continued the crossfiling system
of running on both tickets. But
for the first time in 40 years
the ballot identified them by
party. The abbreviation, DEN"
or REP" followed the names.
The Democrats for years have
outnumbered Republicans - by
100000 for yesterdays election
but under the crossfiling with
out party labels Republican in
cumbents usually won in both
tickets.
Only Attorney General Ed
mund G. Brown among State Of
f1cials was assured of election.
And he is the only Democrat
holding a statewide job. He
defeated former Republican At
torney General Fred N. HowSer
Of Los Angeles on the G. o. P.
ticket by a lopsided vote.
Mr.. Graves, for 20 years ex-
ecutive director of the League of
California Cities and once Mr..
Warren's civil defense chief,
claimed victory on the Demo-
cratic ticket in a statement de-
claring Knight has shot his
bolt"
Latest figures:
For governor: Democratic,
7,188 of 22,524 precincts; Gov.
163.361; Mr.. Graves,
1858; Republican, 6,883 pre-
cincts: Gov. Knight, 256,O78;
Mr.. Graves. 26,610.
United States Senate: Demo-
cratic. 7.245 precincts: Senator
99.431; Mr.. Yorty, 1872
400: Republican, 1924 precincts:
Senator, Kuchel, 210,051; Mr..
Yorty, 22,339.
Two years ago, prior to the
ballot designation, Senator Will
liam F. Knowland, Republican,
and IA of 80 congressman won
both nominations.
Tenney Apparent Loser
In Los Angeles Vote
LOS ANGELES .June o (P-