Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-29
QUIET IN CALIFORNIA
Hardly an Indication Of an
Approaching Election.
REPUBLICANS CERTAIN
THAT THEY WILL ELECT THE
STATE TICKET.
Some Uneasiness, However, is Felt in
at Least Three Of the Con-
gressional Districts.


California is passing through one of the
quietest political campaigns in the history
of the state, and were 1t not for the news
paper reports Of the various meetings a
stranger would not know that an election
was at hand. But notwithstanding this
Quletness and lack of enthusiastic rallies
there will be sufficient interest to bring out
the heaviest vote in the history of the
state. This seeming paradox is accounted
for by the great increase in population dur
ing the past four years, which has given
at least 25,0O0 new voters since the last
gubernatorial election.
1t is estimated by those versed in po-
Htical computations that the ordinary le-
publican majority for governor will be
slightly increased. and that DR.. George c.
Pardee, republican nominee, will receive
about 10000 more votes than Franklin K
Lane. democratic candidate. There is a
complication, however, which may almos,
double this majority, and it is giving the
democratic managers much worry.
Troubles Of the Democrats.
When the labor union party was formed
something more than a year ago, and de-
feated both Of the old parties by the cleo
ton of Eugene e. Schmitz as mayor of
San Francisco. 1t was predicted that the
democratic party would be the ultimate suf-
ferer from the new issue With this pre-
diction in mind both republican and demo-
cratic conventions made special plays for
the labor vote In the hope that the labor
union party would keep hands off in the
state campaign. The democrats were espe-
cially solicitous and, in order to throw a
sop to the new party, postponed nominations
for Congress in the fourth and fifth con-
g:essional (San Francisco) districts, hoping
thereby to induce the union laborites to
| indorse Lane and the full state ticket.
The scheme worked well so far as the
union labor party was concerned, but It
left the democrats in a bad plight The
union labor people waited so long before
making their nominations that the statutory
time limit was taken up and then they de-
clined to make the requested Endorsement
This action left the democrats in the air SO
far as the two congressional nominations
were concerned. The union labor party
nominated E. ]. Livernash in the fourth
and William ]. Wynn in the fifth district
Tor congress, and the democrats were COM
PEELED to fndorse these candidates or dis
band their organization in the districts.
But the present election law of California
presented new difficulty, and the demo-
Gratis found themselves in another dilemma
ihey We're virtually without either candi-
date or district organization in the two dis
tricts named According to the state law a
candldate's name may appear but once on
the omcial ballot, and where man is the
nominee OF two political parties he must
eject which one shall have the honor of
placing his name on it's ticket According
TO the same law, any political party must
nave cast not less than per cent of the
vote cast at the previous election in order
TO nave the right Of recognition on the Of
fetal ballot VI
Both Livernash and Wynn chose to have
tnelr names on the union labor ticket and
as 1t was too late for the democrats to
make a nomination there was grave danger
that the party would go out of existence in
the two San Francisco districts concerned.
AS II TO accentuate their position in the
matter. both Livernash and Wynn made
public speeches denouncing the democratic
party. =
Supreme Court Interferes.
The democrats, however with an eye to
the possible future dangers, went to the
state supreme court asked for a writ of
mandate, compelling the secretary of state
to place the names of Livernash and WYNN
on the democratic ballot. This was granted
and the names so placed, the ballots now
having the same nominees on the two tick
ets. Under the election law every ballot
SO printed must be thrown out and If the
election judges so determine Kahn and I,oud
may be returned to Congress by seemingly
unanimous vote. 1t Is probable that the
matter will not be settled until the Con-
gress itself has a chance to pass on the
election law OF California, unless the repub-
lican vote is greater than the combined vote
OF both Of the other parties
The action Of the democrats in HAVING
the supreme court to interfere has had the
further effect Of antagonizing the union
labor leaders, and the latter are retaliating
on the state ticket, and aave gone to sucb
lengths in their bitterness that thew have
forbidden the mention of Lanes name at
any or the congressional meetings and ali
SPEAKERS are pledged to refrain from men
tloning the name Of the head of the demo-
cratic ticket before they are permitted to
ADDRESS labor union meeting
II IS possible that this trouble will have
IN the S enec1 OF throwing the city and county
OF San Francisco into the republican col
umn and materially Increasing the renub-
iican majority in the state At present
II looks as If Pardee would receive a ma
mountains. $1,000 north of the monnta ins
outside OF the city and county of San
francisco, with a possibility of a slight
majority IN the city, which usually gives
democratic majoriy of $1,000 for gov
ernor Late reports from the interior of
the state indicate that the entire Republican
ticket Will be elected by more than its
usual majority, as the democrats have
failed to make specific stand on the cues
| ton of tariff, except to say that PROTECTION
was responsible for the trusts California
is strong protection state and the repub-
lican managers are making their fight on
national issues, with the effect that thew
are winning many votes confidently count
| ed on by the democrats. The work of Rem
resentative Littlefield Of Maine, who has
| been on the stump in California for the
past four weeks, has had great effect and
the democrats have placed no one in the
HELD to meet him or attempt REPUTATION
OF his arguments The unfortunate split in
the democratic party over the gubernat to-
rial nomination has caused Ex-Governor
Budd, the strongest campaign orator of the
party, to take trip to New York for the
| purpose OF working for the election of w.
r. Hearst in that city. The Budd wing is
| composed of the best speakers and the
strongest financial men of the party, and
they are loosening neither their tongues nor
| their purse strings to help out the state
| ticket
The republicans have no party troubles
this year. This, possibly may account for
| the seeming apathy noticed in the cam
paign. With an ordinary election the state
gives big republican majority, but this
year the indications are that the full re-
publican strength will be augmented by
many disgruntled democrats
The Congressional Contests
While the conditions FOR the election of
| the republican state ticket are good, all is
| not so serene in the congressional contests
California now has republican delegation
| in Washington hut thera is a noscihilitv