The San Francisco call., 1907-01-12
In Party Platforms 1t Is
Regarded Good, but Not
So in Form Of a Law
USUAL TACTICS TO
DEFEAT MEASURE
Enemies Of Movement En-
plov Trust Methods Used
by Eastern Corporations
CALL HEADQUARTERS,
1907 EIGHTH STREET.

1907 ElUbIb SIhEEIs
SACRAMENTO, Jan. H.
The friends of direct primary cleo
ton reform are to meet with or
ganized opposition to their efforts
to secure the submission of a
proposition for clear, unequivo-
cal constitutional amendment that
will permit of the enactment of a
direct primary law.
Word has been definitely passed
from headquarters that a direct
primary law plank secured under
duress is not an unacceptable or
nament to a party platform, but
that a real direct primary election
law is quite another thing and in
no wise desirable. The fight
against the reform the people have
been promised is to be fight of
indirection. The forecasted tao
tics are not unlike those employed
unsuccessfully in Minnesota and
Wisconsin by the railroads. and
with a considerable degree of sue
cess in Michigan, Illinois and
North Dakota by the same self
sacrificing public service corpora
tions.
The Leeds bin. providing for the on
actment Of direct primary law with
out the preliminary amendment Of the
constitution. will be introduced on Mon
day Since both Governor Psrdee in
his farewell message and Governor
Gillett in his inaugural message stated
uneouivocally that a constitutional
amendment was prerequisite TO the en-
actment Of q valid direct primary law,
and something more than one-third Of
the members Of the Assembly and Sen
ste are committed to the same belief
and have pledged themselves to vote
for the submission Of a proposition for
an amendment. bills Of the character of
the Leeds measure cannot furnish the
ultimate hanger for the organization
blanket
Time will be frittered away with al
legged attempts 10 amend the Political
Code. Direct primary reform will be
condemned as revolutionary. Its ac-
complishment by gradual steps will be
practically advocated. and finally an at
tempt viii be made to push the whole
matter into premature grave, buried
under a multiplicity Of schemes for con-
stitutionaI amendments. none Of them
clear, unambiguous or designed to
make redemption OF the platform
pledges possible.
The efforts Of well l-intentioned per-
sons to secure some immediate relief,
laudable as they are in themselves. are
already showing their effect on the dis
position Of the Legislature. There is
considerable faction IN the Legislature.
and it is not composed entirely Of the
men who are interested in the political
fortunes or misfortunes Of George c.
Psrdee. that wants 10 give the people
p voice in the next election OF a United
States Senator.
They believe that this can be accom-
plished through an amendment TO the
Political Code, which can be secured
81 the present session. and that such
amendment viii not interfere with the
submission OF a proposition for an
amendment which will make direct
primary laws possible. Their under
taking is no simple task An amend
ment to the code such as they desire
will be difficult tc frame. More diff-
cult 10 pass. II they manage to frame
one that would stand up under an at
tack on its constitutionality.
Admitting that they can frame such
an amendment and that they can pass
IT. they viii have accomplished moth
ing for direct primary election reform
and their efforts may be reasonably
expected to precipitate fight in the
committee on elections and election
laws. which viii consume time and
energy and lessen the chances Of get
ting out for the consideration OF the
Assembly and Senate a carefully con-
sidered. properly drawn direct primary
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