Under New Management

The departure of Governor Earl Warren from the California political landscape two months ago to become U.S. Chief Justice opened up three big California questions: 1) What kind of governor would Warren's successor, Goodwin Jess Knight, make? 2) Would the tightly knit band of Warrenites who had run the state for ten years continue to run California Republicanism? 3) Would the G.O.P. be able to stay in power in the absence of Warren's bipartisan appeal?

By this week some of the answers were shaping up. At a recent political dinner in his honor, "Goody" Knight set forth his credo: "I propose to take sides and to make decisions . . . There is a special place in hell for those who, confronted with a real moral crisis, insist on remaining neutral. I have no ambition to achieve such a special place." Afterward the governor's daughter Marilyn, 26, said that she was awed by the crowd's size. Explained the governor: "They didn't come to see us, honey; they came to see the movie stars."

Earl's Shadow. While he was still lieutenant governor, Knight was tagged a far-right conservative, mainly because he had the backing of some big businessmen who could not stand Earl Warren. "Where do they get this stuff about me being such a reactionary?" Knight now asks. "I don't know what a liberal is exactly. Sometimes he's just a fellow who is liberal with other people's money." The energy with which Knight has jumped into his new job has surprised some of his best friends. But still hanging over the State Capitol's shiny executive wing is the shadow of Earl Warren. "Californians have practically forgotten," says Governor Knight, "that someone else can be a good governor, too."

Knight's supporters have formed a political coalition with those of Vice President Richard Nixon, who has a devoted following of "Young Turks." Though Governor Knight has moved cautiously in replacing Warrenites with his own men, the coalition has become California's dominant political force. Warrenites are still in technical control of the party machinery at the state level, but a revolt of Nixon-Knight county chairmen has been gathering steam. These men are determined either to take over the state committee, or to cripple it by cutting off the money they raise for it. To such moves, some Warrenites respond by joining the Nixon-Knight coalition; others, like National Committeewoman Marjorie Benedict, threaten to make a fight.

Crushing Handshake. If one man is the heir apparent to the Warren mantle, he is William Knowland, party majority leader of the U.S. Senate. But there was no Warren "machine" which Knowland could take over lock, stock and precinct. Knowland does not inspire a dedicated allegiance as does Nixon. And he lacks the potent leverage Knight enjoys in the state's top office. Bill Knowland can probably be California's Senator indefinitely if he makes his mark in Washington and travels the luncheon club circuit, as he did last week, dispensing his crushing handshake, delivering his well-reasoned, well-written speeches and flashing his impersonal smile. But if he bids for control of the 1956 Republican convention delegation, he will be fighting against the odds. Fortunately for "Goody" Knight, California Democrats are divided and leaderless. Three likely candidates to oppose Knight's bid for a full term in next year's election have lost interest in the race after deciding that Knight looked unexpectedly strong. Knight himself is grateful to the Democrats for another reason. Says he: "The Democratic Party in California has a strong radical stamp on it. As long as [it has], we Republicans have a lot easier job beating them. If the conservative Democrats ever took control, I don't know what we'd do."

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