POLITICAL NOTES: California’s Division

Three California Republicans stridently contested their great state’s gubernatorial primary election this year—Governor Clement Calhoun Young, Mayor James (“Sunny Jim”) Rolph Jr. of San Francisco, District Attorney Buron Fitts of Los Angeles County. Excitement was heightened by the Republicans’ virtual knowledge that their nominee would be California’s next Governor after an easy victory in November over Milton K. Young, Democrat.

Prohibition was a prime issue. Governor Young was backed by the Anti-Saloon League. District Attorney Fitts claimed he was no less Dry than the Governor. These two did a lot of their campaigning from church pulpits, led prayer meetings, spoke on “Christian Statesmanship.” Mayor Rolph, a West-Coast counterpart of Manhattan’s Mayor James John (“Jimmy”) Walker, would not declare himself beyond the joshing statement: “Why, I’m not a Wet. I’ve been on the water wagon for two years!”

Last week, while Governor Young and Mr. Fitts were dividing the Dry votes, the Wets turned solidly to Mayor Rolph, nominated him by 24,000 plurality, Governor Young finishing second. Old is North v. South political antagonism in California. Some observers even predict that this ‘rivalry between San Francisco and Los Angeles will eventually overwhelm state pride and cause California to divide into two States. The sectional issue was raised by Southern California in behalf of Candidate Fitts. The Los Angeles Times on the eve of the primary blurted some comparisons: Registered votes. Northern California, 1,066,927; Southern California, 1,120,547. Taxable Wealth. Northern California, $4,292,676,584; Southern California, $5,593,226,600. Contribution to Cost of State Government. Northern California, 40%; Southern California 60%. High State and U. S. officeholders. Northern California, 130; Southern California, 57. Governor Young started the campaign with the support of Senator Hiram Johnson. He claimed credit (with the Senator) for Boulder Dam. Candidate Fitts taunted Governor Young with reminders of the anti-Hoover attitude of Senator Johnson, insisted that he (Fitts) was the only “100% Hoover man” in the race. This caused Governor Young to declare for President Hoover’s renomination in 1932. Whereupon the Johnson forces promptly turned cold to him. On a platform of “Live & Let Live,” Mayor Rolph stumped the State by airplane, kissed babies, milked cows, told funny stories, drew great crowds, saw his campaign posters and stickers everywhere. San Francisco gave its Mayor a record vote despite the fact that every newspaper was against him. Even Los Angeles, won by Fitts, preferred Mayor Rolph to Governor Young. (Perhaps Mayor Rolph’s foresight in getting the job of Grand Marshal in the Tournament of Roses [Pasadena] last winter had something to do with the result.) Wets claimed their votes nominated Mayor Rolph. Drys busily explained that the combined Young-Fitts vote, a majority, showed California’s faith in Prohibition.

* Exclusive of President Hoover and Secretary of the Interior Wilbur.