The San Francisco call., 1907-02-17
CALL HEADQUARTERS.
1907 EIGHTH STREET.

SACRAMENTO. Feb. 1e.-Merit, party
pledges, reform and the viii of the
people as touching direct primary re-
form have all been lost sight Of in a
Nsctional night TO advance the political
Rtrcunes Of George c. Pardee on the one
stoe and sQuelch the Ex-Governor on the
brher. The Senate as g whole is against
anything that Pardee or Pardees
Friends want for Pardee. A majority of
the Assembly is In the same interest
ing frame OF mind. but IN the lower
house there is a minority that wants
anything Pardee wants. This minority
has managed to instill IN the minds of
2 few legislators, wholly unprejudiced
20 Tar as Pardee IS concerned. but al
ways ready to listen 70 tales Of the
houbie dealing propenstties OF the SEN
ete, false fear Of the Held-Wright
amendment as amended and passed by
the Senate.
That the whole question OF the Diff
ference between Senate and Assembly
Is a talse-alarm bugaboo is beside the
Question since IL IS this very bugaboo
that threatens to set at naught the viii
o< the people and to prevent redemption
bf the party platform pledges. The fact
remains that II the Held Wright amend
ment as Il originally passed the As
tenbly were adopted by both houses IL
would IA no wise enhance the oppor-
tunities OF the Ex-Governor TO go be-
fore the people as a candidate for the
United States Senate against Perkins.
NO HOPE FOR sTETsoN BILL
The only pending bill that provides
Tor the direct nomination Of United
States Senators prior to the adoption
bf a constitutional amendment and the
enactment Of comprehensive direct pri-
tnary election laws is the Stetson bill.
OF the Assembly substitute for the
Stetson bill. which is only more
carefully drawn edition of the measure
lItroduced by the Oakland man. This
might pass the Assembly. and as
= special order for Thursday afternoon
may. The chances are against even
that. however. so closely is the anti
Pardee movement organized. Should ii
pass the Assembly. 1t would go straight
to an early grave in the Senate COM
haittee on elections and election laws.
The whole situation boiled down is,
VIII the people of California have an
opportunity 70 vote on the Held Wright
amendment or Is the whole question Of
street primary reform postponed two
years and direct primary legislation for
four years?
Probably for the first and the last
time the organization and the reform
ers are agreed on a proposition which
means ultimate defeat for the machine.
The machine is prepared TO consent to
the submission of an amendment which
has no tinge Of Pardeeism. The friends
bf primary reform care neither for
Pardee's candidacy nor the political
fortunes Of any other individual They
want the people given the selection Of
their public servants. The Held
Wright amendment will accomplish
that purpose and satisfactorily. It is
proposition which, if adopted by the
people, win leave no room for lodging.
The machine has taken, quite regard
less Of its motives, the peoples end of
the controversy, because to defeat the
Held Wright amendment means de-
teat, temporary, If not ultimate, for di-
rect primary legislation.
SICK MAN MAKES QUORUM
While thirty-nine members of the
Assembly pursued the even tenor of
their several ways on pleasure or pri-
Dc business today, one sick old man
rs forced TO remain in his seat to en-
able the lower house to transact any
business. A half-hour sl1irnish this
morning resulted in rounding up bare
quorum OF the Assembly. One Of the
teouired forty-one was Assemblyman
Finney, who has been i'll for several
Rays
A poll disclosed the fact that thirty
hine Assemblymen had either been ex-
FUSED for the day on account of Junkets
Dr. had put themselves out Of reach
Df the sergeant at arms and a speak
er's warrant Finney. barely able to
hrag himself to his feet, asked to be
Excused and was informed that he was
but Of order from a legislative stand
boint. even II his physical welfare had
70 be sacrificed on the altar of his col
leagues pleasure A little later Finney
dragged himself out OF the chamber and
the Assembly spent an hour and
half on the second reading Of the file,
with about twenty members present
during a major portion of the session.
Grove Johnson's bill providing for