The San Francisco call., 1907-02-26
First Battle in Campaign to Wrest Control of
Nominations From Bosses Is Won by the People
Direct Primary Amend
ment Is Ready for
the Governor

edvise the Senate that he believed the
direct primary movement the very
worst thing that had ever come before
the Legislature. Moreover. the direct
primary was not what the people
wanted nor yet what they should have.
He pointed out, with real feeling IN
his voice. how he and his fellow legis-
lators had labored for. 10, these years
10 give the people of California the
magnificent Intermediary primary law
they then had. yet they were not salts
fed: still they would charge public
servants with being dominated by
bosses and railroads and might even
bring other unpleasant charges against
public servants who. in fine unselhsh-
ness. had spent years in building up a
system a benighted proletariat declined
to appreciate at the value given it by
the statesman from Los Angeles.
Then il was that Carter unmasked his
last redoubt, declsiming loudly that the
enactment Of direct primary laws would
give to the press Of California boss
ism over the politics Of California so
baneful that ali decent people would be
sorry for their rash insistence upon a
departure frem the tried and entirely
satisfactory railroad boss system
Carter pointed out that under the
present system Q candidate went into
the field backed with the solid support
ef His party organization, while with
direct primary system a candidate
1ulisr go before the people solely on his
personal political WORTH II was tell
fng truth If it did not appeal to Carter
as II had appealed 10 the people.
Through all his speech stalked the hor-
rid newspaper specter. The press
feered az the Los Angeles man from
behind the corners Of sharp epigrams
ard angular phrases and in conclusion
he let loose another evident truth when
he feelingly exclaimed: I would rather
be dominated. by the boss Of any po-
litical party or organization than be
BroWbeaUen by the press. Pass this
measure and the press will be the boss
hereafter"
Curtin admitted that the people had
Hnteni nigence to- govern themselves prop
arly under proper guidance, he said.
The. Intelligence Of all the ages had
proven the wisdom and worth Of po-
ltical conventions.
Senator Wolfe was inclined to believe
a-ldirect primary law would work well
tn. the interest Of the rich candidates,
but, he said, bound by the pledge Of
has party, he.Would vote for the amend
-Eienc and II IN the next Senate do
-es-erything in his power TO secure the
.enactment Of a direct primary law.
In conclusion the President pro tenn.
paid tribute to The Call. to which
paper he said the credit for the plat
form pledge belonged.
Senator Anthony's speech contained
more OF the meat Of the nut than any
Of the finer Oratorical efforts. Anthony
is square-toed direct primary advo-
cate He announced that he was heart
lily tired Of lighting stew buns and
eN-conVicts as candidates for Office and
manipulators Of affairs political. The
81 - L.
impossible IS dominating political fac
tors.
Senator Beavitt who has been of in
estimable assistance to Senator Wright,
produced. the unanswerable argument
in favor. Of the measure when he de-
manded on what ground the Senators
could oppose a measure they had once
unanimously adopted.
- Senator Savage recorded the one
negative vote. Senators Rambo and
Iy1sh were absent. The Senators vot-
ling for the amendment, and who by
their votes sent the proposition to the
people. were:
Anderson. Anthony, Bates. Bell Bel
shaw. Black. Boyington. Broughton,
Fasninetti. Carter, Cartwright, Curtin,
Greepwell. Hartman, Irish. Keane. Ken
nedy. Leavitt. Lukens, Lynch, Markey,
Mattos. Mccartney. Mckee, Miller, Muen-
ter, Nelson. Price, Rambo. Reilly, Rolley,
Rash, Sanford Walker, Weed, WEIGH
Wallis, Wolfe Wright-37.
The direct primary amendment will
go or the general ballot, to be voted
on at the general election in 1908 in
the form of a proposition. Under its
terms, II it receives majority of the
votes cast upon il. the Legislature
which meets in January, 1903 will have
the authority to enact direct primary
Jaws, and, further so far as. it is in the
power Of the people to bind the Legis-
lature, il is bound TO enact such laws.