Rumblings from the West

The Republican Party in California is divided into three factions. On top is the machine run by Senator William F. Knowland and Governor Earl Warren. In opposition are 1) a conservative wing led by Lieutenant Governor Goodwin J. ("Goody") Knight; 2) the Young Turks, who more or less look upon Richard Nixon as their leader. Nixonites and Knowland-Warrenites got especially sore at each other during last year's presidential campaign. Never enthusiastic about Nixon's vice-presidential candidacy, Warrenites failed to come to his support when the "Nixon fund" squall broke. Then, after the election, Knowland took over control of Republican patronage in California. Since then, Senate Republican Policy Chairman Knowland has channeled into federal jobs several Californians who are in the bad books of Nixon's followers.

When Knowland last week recommended Laughlin E. Waters, chairman of the California Republican Party's central committee, for appointment as U.S. attorney for Southern California, some California Republicans predicted a hot war between Nixonites and Knowlandites. Waters is especially displeasing to Nixon, who accuses him of sitting on his hands during the campaign. But, both future presidential possibilities, Nixon and Knowland want to avoid an open break. Public squabbles would do neither man any good and might damage the Republican Party --not only in California but nationally. The two men stay on good terms outwardly, try to keep their rivalry behind the scenes as much as possible. At week's end, as if to show that the Waters recommendation had created no hard feelings, Senator Knowland announced that he had recommended two California Republicans for appointment as customs collectors, "after consultation with Republican Party leaders in California and with Vice President Richard M. Nixon."

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