The San Francisco call., 1907-02-05
CLEAR ROAD FOR
THE PRIMARY
MEASURE
Railroad Interests, for Rea-
sons of Their Own, Not
Opposing at This Session
POLL SHOWS VOTES
ENOUGH TO CARRY
Amendment to Be Called
Tomorrow, When Nearly
Every Seat Will Be Filled
BY George A. Van Smith
CALL HEADQUARTERS,
10l7 Eighth STREET

CAIL HEAUQUAkIERS.
1907 EIGHTH STREET.
SACRAMENTO, Feb. 4.-Un-
less some unforeseen power strong
enough to make men repudiate
their personal as we'll as party
pledges can be brought to bear
within forty-eight hours the SEN
ate will pass the Held Wright
direct primary constitutional
amendment. That there will be
any attempt to exercise any such
pernicious power is not to be
feared. The people of California
are to be given an opportunity to
direct formally that the next
Legislature enact comprehensive
and adequate direct primary laws
by the adoption of a constitu-
tional amendment making it possible
for the Legislature to enact such laws.
An incomplete poll of the Senate
shows no definite opposition to the
Held-Wright amendment as reported
by the Senate committee on elections
and election laws. The same incom-
plete poll shows thirty-two votes for
the amendment. The required two
thirds is but twenty-seven votes. Sem
ator Belshaw, who fathered the Com
monwealth Club amendment says that
he is willing to support the Held
Wright amendment. Belshaw wants
a direct primary law. He was one of
the original supporters of the propo-
sition.
COMES UP TOMORROW
As to the effect of the Held Wright
amendment, he differed, and certainly
with honesty, with the lawyers who
supported that measure. Senator
Leavitt also differed with the legal au-
thorities, but not to the same length.
nor as to all the particulars in which
Senator Belshaw failed to agree The
adoption of the proviso saving the
present primary law in the event a sub
sequent Legislature fails to enact q
direct primary law, satisfied Leavj...
and he says there will be no fight
on the measure. To the legal men the
proviso means nothing, in that it adds
nothing, either in fact or in law. to
the amendment as it passed the AS
sembly. 1t simply expresses in words
what the amendment provided in law.
The amendment would have passed
the Senate this morning had Senator
Wright been present. 1t is probable
that the San Diego Senator will prefar
to wait until Wednesday morning
when virtually the entire Senate will
answer the roll call and have an on
portunity of going on record on the
platform pledge of the parties.
Quite regardless of their reasons. the
railroad interests are not fighting the
submission of the amendment. This
need not be taken to mean that these
interests favor direct primary legis1a-
tfon. It may mean that they believe II
the better part of wisdom not to oppose
the amendment. Two years is a long
time. 1t is not incumbent upon them
to fight or advocate a direct primary
law at this session. 1t is barely possi-
BILE that they are willing to permit the
people to divert themselves a bit bv
voting on proposition which means
nothing until law passed under the
provisions of the amended section is
written on the statute books. That is
a matter to be disposed of by another
Legislature. Why borrow trouble for
tomorrow?
CoALINGA FEUD GROWS
The Fresno Kings County division of
the fight has taken the center of the
stage and with flourish easily dis
counting the noise made by any other
pending legislation. Virtually every
Senator and Assemblyman has been
forced to take an interest in this scrap,
and not a few of them to their disgust
The measures of every Senator who re-
fuses to vote for the segregation of the
Coalinga district is threatened with the
adverse vote of the MCGUIRE Miller fac
tion, while, on the otheg hand, any leg
-