Goodie for Governor

California GOPoliticians have for weeks been hoping that Governor Goodwin J. Knight would forgo a try at re-election next year, instead take over (in a sure walk) the Senate seat of retiring William Fife Knowland. Reason: Bill Knowland is certain to announce soon that he himself is a candidate for governor, and every Republican--as well as every hand-rubbing Democrat--knows that a Knight-Knowland primary battle would create one of the ding-dongest political fights in California's history, all to the detriment of the Republican Party. Beyond that, as they all know as well, the statehouse is a good stump from which Governor Bill Knowland could lay his plans to fight Californian Dick Nixon for the 1960 presidential nomination.*

But Goodie Knight is having none of this. In a statement drafted this week, Knight announced with finality that he will campaign for another term. Forswearing any presidential ambitions of his own, he added a well-placed kick at Knowland's shins. Said Knight: "The Republican Party in California has two potential contenders for the presidency of the U.S. in 1960, both able and distinguished men. The governor's office is far too important to the welfare of the people of this state to be allowed to become a pawn in the presidential contest. No candidate should be pressed by his political advisers to seek the governorship of California for temporary use as an interim steppingstone to any other office."

*Last week the Gallup poll reported that Republican voters list their presidential preferences thus:

Dick Nixon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48%

Bill Knowland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12%

Harold Stassen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7%

Henry Cabot Lodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6%

Christian Herter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4%

Goodwin Knight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3%

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