The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-01-11
Gives Assurance to People
of His Help to Have
Amendment Submitted
SAYS PARTY MUST
KEEP ITS PLEDGE
Safeguards Suggested Are
Unnecessary, as Has Been
Proven in Other States
BY George A. Van Smith

CALL HEADQUARTERS.
1907 EIGHTH STREET, SAC
RAMENTO, Jan. 1O.-Governor
Gillett declares that the people of
California may rely upon him to
assist them in securing the sub
mission of a constitutional amend
ment that will permit of the en-
actment of an adequate and
proper direct primary law. A re-
newal of the assurances made in
his inaugural message was given
to The Call this afternoon.
Governor Gillett does not wish
to be understood as promising
that he will attempt to coerce the
Legislature into submitting a
proposition for direct primary
amendment to the constitution,
or, for that matter, for any other
law. He says very frankly that
he would be very reluctant to in
terfere in any way with the legis-
lative branch of government. But
he adds that he is committed to
the direct primary idea, which he
believes in and which he advo-
Gated during his campaign, and
that he feels that it is up to the
Legislature to redeem the pledge
made by the Republican State
convention.
AS made plain in his message,
Governor Gillett believes that a
constitutional amendment is pre-
requisite to the enactment of
proper direct primary election law.
In this view he is unquestion-
ably correct, and while it might
be possible to correct some of the
minor evils of the present primary
system by amendments to the
law. nothing in the way OF real direct
primary reform can be accomplished
until after the constitution is amended.
The constitution empowers the Legis-
lature to enact laws favoring the cleo
tion of delegates to conventions OF po-
litical parties. There IT stops. And
there it not only commits the State to
the convention system, but makes d.
rect primary election legislation i'm
possible.
PARTY MUST KEEP PLEDGE
Governor Gillett today said:
You may say to the people OF Cali
fornia that they may rely upon me to
assist them in securing a constitutional
amendment that will permit of the en-
actment Of a proper and adequate d.
rect primary election law I advocated
the direct primary election law In my
campaign. I have recommended TO the
Legislature that 1t submit a constitu-
tional amendment. and. while ! do not
wish to be understood as disposed to
attempt 10 COCECc the 1cSAoAdluIc IN
this or any other matter feel that Il
Is up to the Legislature to redeem the
party pledge.
'As to the framing OF a proper law
after a constitutional amendment-that
is a subject that must receive the most
careful consideration. There should be
some provision that will preserve party
integrity without assuming the risk of
a judicial reputation on the ground
of Acknowledgement OF the voter. There
must also be found a way to prevent
the capture of all the Offices by the ma
chine under the direct primary system,
which seems to OFFER unusual advan-
cages for the burial OF unknown men"
The fears expressed by Governor Gil
lett are the fears entertained by many
perfectly honest men unacquainted with
the practical workings Of direct pri-
mary election systems The first in
wolves a real objection to one OF the
best direct primary systems enacted
and in force-the wisconsin system
In Wisconsin a straight-lac party
preservation feature was omitted from
the law. because La Toilette was IN
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