Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-09
California Jockeying Gives
Knight q Chance to Perform
Special Dispatch 10 The star

= -
Special Dispatch TO The star
SACRAMENTO. Calf "a bitter
struggle Is shaping up between Gov.
Goodwin J. Knight and Vice Presi-
dent Richard NJ. Nixon for con-
troll Of the California delegation at
the 1856 Republican national con-
vention.
The Governor issued the chal-
lenge this week. when he an
nounced, in effect. he expects to
60 to the San Francisco convention
with the States 70-vote delegation.
next largest to New York. In his hip
pocket. In some quarters this is.
interpreted as the opening Of q
knight campaign for the presi-
Dental nomination.
Provided President Eisenhower
does not seek reelection. the Gov
ernor plans to head q favorite-
son ticket at the primary election
next June. Chief Justice Earl
Warren, Mr.. knights predecessor
as Governor, did this three times.
the last time as an avowed candi-
date.
Gov. Knight has made It clear
he win do this regardless Of any
White House ambitions Of Mr..
Nixon. thus bringing into focus .
feud between supporters Of the two
which started more than . year
ago.
The Governor says he Is unaware
Of any intention OF Senator William
F. Knowland. another California
Republican, to enter the June
primary. but has heard rumors of
Nixon ticket. Gov. knight and
Senator Knowland have been on
good terms,
No Coalition
The Governors adamant posi-
ton puts the Nixon forces in Q
precarious position. Until recently
they had been pitching for 3 coaii-
ton delegation. but Gov. knight
win have no part Of this.
He said he wants no delegation
split up like Q Chinese puzzle into
groups Of satellite, captive dele
gates, 20 many for knight. 20 many
for Knowland. 80 many for Nixon.
ETC."
ALI Of which leads many local
observers to the belief Gov. knight
himself has ambitions to Jump into
the national scene.
At this point the situation is
precarious for Mr.. Nixon. Al
Knight-Nixon popularity contest in
California might be bad medicine
for the Vice President.
But Mr.. Nixon must accept the
challenge. say his supporters, argu-
ing he cannot afford to 60 to San
Francisco without his home State
delegation. The BIG question then
Is: Can the Vice President rally
enough party support to overcome
Gov. Knights popularity by next
June?
It was In August. 1854. at the
State party conventions. that the
Knight-Nizpn rift FIRST came into
the open. Gov. Knight favored
Howard Ailmanson, wealthy South
ern Californian, for vice chairman
of the State Central Committee.
Members Of the nixon team, IS
Gov. knight labeled them, wanted
Ray Arbuthnot Of Los Angeles.
Congressman Pat Killings Of Cali
fornia and Murray Chotiner. Mr..
Nixon's campaign leader. were the
.spokesmen for the Vice President.
After two days Of name calling. the
Nixon forces saw the handwriting
and Gov. knights man was elected
unanimously, with big assist
from Senator Knowland.
Feud With Nixon Group
Later Killings added fuel when
he accused the Governor Of letting
down Republican candidates for
Congress in the 1884 election.
"A gratuitous insult" snapped
the Governor.
Meanwhile. on numerous occa-
sions Gov. Knight has refused to
indorse Mr.. Nixon for Vice Presi-
dent. Instead he told reporters
over and over he was for whomever
Eisenhower Is for.
Just this summer Gov. Knight
politely declined an invitation to
introduce Mr.. Nixon at . California
function. This prompted the pro-
Nixon San Francisco Examiner to
accuse the Governor Of killing the
dove Of peace.
Perhaps . secondary factor in
the split Is the party's Warren
faction. now mostly allied with Gov.
Knight. Warrenites contend, with
considerable bitterness, that Mr..
Nixon ran out on the Warren dele
cation In 1852 and Unanswered
himself into the vice presidential
spot.
Fifty eight year old Goodie