The San Francisco call., 1907-01-06

l have no fixed plan, but | favor
law similar to the Wisconsin law"
Senator George S. Walker, San
Jose, does not believe a direct pr1-
mary election law will afford the de-
sired relief. He thinks the State
and county machine candidates will
be able to get the nominations as
they do now. He bases his opinions
on what he has read about the Wis
consin, Oregon and Michigan laws,
but he says:
II will support any constitutional
amendment which would make a dl-
rect primary law in the fullest sense.
Senator j. B. Sanford of Mendocino
comes out sQuare-toed and Hat
footed in favor of the direct primary,
pledging himself unequivocally to the
submission of the necessary amend
ment, and adding:
II am in favor of direct primary
law and will vote for whatever leg1s-
lation is necessary in order to secure
it. Bring the government as near the
people as possible. As the people
foot the bills they should be given
direct control of the affairs of State
and nation
DEvLIN'S CONCISE VIEWS
Frank R. Devlin of Vallejo is one
of the Assemblymen-elect who be-
lieves in the submission of a constr
tutional amendment and who has
some definite and concise views as
to the character of legislation de-
sired after the constitutional way is
paved for such enactment. He says
a primary election law should re-
strict the right to participate in pri-
maries TO the bona fde members of
the respective parties. He would
insure the preservation of party lines
by having the voter declare at the
time of registration the name of the
party he proposes to vote with at the
ensuing primary elections and until a
subsequent registration, and limit the
voters right to participation in pri-
mary elections to his registered dec
laration. In other words, he sub
scribes to the New York and Oregon
registration policies.
Assemblyman elect Frank Otis,
Alameda: Il am in favor of the sub
mission of a constitutional amend
ment The people of California
should profit by the experience of
Minnesota, where direct primary
election law is in force and has been
tried The good features of that law
should be retained and those that
have proved bad should be eliminated
or modified California should in the
main follow the lines of the Mime
sofa statute
AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY
Assemblyman w. D. l.. Held,
Ukial1: In my. opinion a constitu-
tional amendment is necessary-per-
mitting the Legislature to provide for
a direct primary law, and | am hearth
ly in favor of suitable amendment
The change required would seem to
me to be slight one"
Assemblyman-elect J. o. Davis,
Hollister: am in favor of the sub
mission of a constitutional amend
ment. The State greatly needs a
strong and effective primary law. Any
aspirant for public office from United
States Senator to constable ought to
be willing to carry his case to the
people"
Assemblyman-e Grove L. John
son, Sacramento: II am in favor of
direct primary election law If upon
careful examination of the question it
is deemed necessary to have a consti-
tutional amendment in order to Sc
cure such law / am in favor of one.
| will do what lies in my power TO
carry into full effect the promise in
this regard made to the people by the
Republican party.
LEEDS PREPARES BILL
Assernblyman4elect W. R. Leeds of
Los Angeles is one of the new legis-