Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-24

irrespective of party lines.
Southern California Governors
The first man who filled the executive
office from Southern California was
John G.. Downey. At that time very
little importance was attached to this
section, as was indeed the case for
many years after. Neither was Downey
himself man of any note at that
time.
When Milton S. Latham was nomi-
mated for governor by the Democrats
they put on John G.. for lieutenant
governor. There had been some agi-
tation about that time for division
of the state and the formation of a
state of South California, and the
Democrats threw in this sop for
| Cerberus.
Downey himself would never have
been considered for the principal Of
fee, but it so happened that Latham,
man of overwhelming popularity in
all lines, was elected to the senate of
the United States, and of course the
| lieutenant governor came to the front.
AS a matter of fact he rendered one
great office to the state and to the
| city of San Francisco. A clique had
arranged to steal the harbor front of
San Francisco and Downey vetoed the
bill. He never could grow out of the
stature assigned to him by Tom Fitch
of his Little ex-accidency," and dis
appeared from public life. A man who
| loaned money at 12 IL per cent
month and who collected it inexorably,
was not calculated to fire the popular
heart.
The next Angeleno who was governor
of California was Gen. George Stone
man. He had been cavalry leader on
the Union side during the late I'M
pleasantness," and had been elected a
railway commissioner and in that po-
sition had introduced some snowy reso-
lutions which aimed to restrict the
powers of the railway company. AS
the majority of the railway commits
sioners were devoted to the corpor-
stand pat and bring up his resolution
every time this quite useless body met
to establish himself firmly with the
people, who do not always look below
the surface for things, and he became
exceedingly popular and the Demo-
cratic candidate for governor.
For time no one had an easier
game than Stoneman. He was the
popular idol and the railway company
] nominated him. The result was that
he received the largest majority ever
given to a man running for governor
in California. 1 use the word majority
advisedly. George C. Perkins received
larger plurality than Stoneman re-
ceived majority, but the latter holds
the record. / say the railway COM
pany nominated Stoneman and / say
that because | saw them do 1t.
Senator George Hearst, Ex-Governor
Jim Johnson and Gen. George Stone
man were candidates for governor at
the San Jose convention, which body
insisted on hearing them plead their
cause. They were "A trio of remarkably
fine looking men, six-footers and over,
every one. and all had big following
in the party. Stoneman was supported
warmly by Los Angeles and the south,
led by Steve White, a host in himself.
Hearst had the solid San Francisco
delegation and scattering of miners
from all parts of the state. The con-
test was doubtful for long time.
Johnson had lot of splendid old tim
ers from the Argonaut days and was
third on the list. l enjoyed an ex-
ceedingly agreeable acquaintance with
him-he was a newspaper man, by the
way-and was standing talking with
him in the gallery, accompanied by
common friend. when a ballot was
called out which showed substantially
the same result as the previous ones
Remarking that he had some business
to do, johnson left. remarked to my
friend that he would see stoneman
nominated on the next ballot. As /
supposed to be the case. Johnspp's