The San Francisco call., 1907-01-25

Aonunue0 from EAEt -
with the hone OF having il enacted as
with the belief that II viii result IN
intelligent discussion and assist in an
ultimate settlement Of the direct prl-
mary question II is a makeshift that
could undoubtedly be enacted under the
present legislative provisions proNld-
ing the Lucas bill were first made
law. II would meet the approval OF
those men who honestly, and some
who not so honestly, are opposed 20
real direct primary elections on the
ground that the abolition OF the dele
gate system is too radical. II is the
radicalism OF the real direct primary
system that proves its consistency
, The Wisconsin, Minnesota and OreeoL
laws were radical enactments. None
is perfect. None could be repealed
QUESTION OF COMPROMISE
In either Of these three real direct
primary States IL were toolhardy
politician who would openly advocate
the abolition or modification OF the ol-
3 rect primary laws That any one OF
the three can be improved by sections
borrowed from the others is true
enough. II is equally true that CALI
fornia VIII be. II the thirty-seVenth
session submits an adequate constitu-
tional amendment, in a position 10 Dor
row the best portions OF these three
best laws and give 10 the United States
q model direct primary law.
There is a real danger 10 ultimate
success Of real direct primary reform
in the adoption 0f the system proposed
by Assemblyman StetsOn. The evils
iof the Illinois system have been point
ed out by The Call frequently and at
length. There can be no real wedding
OF the delegate convention and direct
urinary systems The StetsOn bill, like
the Illinois law. Is q step In the right
direction But the Illinois law is the
result OF compromise ii has not yet
been demonstrated that compromise is
necessary in California The nomina-
tion Of a United States Senator two
years hence is, Il is true, important.
u is not so important TO the people
Of California as is the accomplishment
Of a real election reform, comprehen-
sive and adequate. II the Legislature
wants to give the people voice IN the
selection Of the successor TO Perkins,
which il does not, let II pass the Lucas
bill and so much Of the StetsOn bill
as applies 10 the nomination of Sena-
tors. Then submit constitutional
amendment and go home, there TO pre-
pare the law which the people viii at
the next general election authorize
them to enact.
FLUSH OF ECONOMY FEVER
When it comes to a matter Of deal
ing with newspaper men who willfully
misrepresent its members, the Assem-
bly, has the Senate beat an easy length.
Yesterday the Senate, by an over
Whelming majority vote, which only
two Of its members were able TO dodge,
excluded from the floor and the build
ing an offending correspondent To-Day
the Assembly. by much more de-
cisive vote, went the upper House one
better by excluding not only the Of
tending correspondent, but ali other
representatives Of the San Francisco
paper employing him. This ban is to
extend 10 the termination Of the
session.
A fever Of economy, not, however, Of
q virulent type has infected the Sen
ate. The FIRST symptoms OF the new
disease appeared in faint, hectic
.blotches this morning, manifested by a
row over the purchase Of $500 worth or
annotated codes for the use OF the ju-
dietary committee. Senator Caminetti
was willing to support a resolution
calling for the purchase Of twenty sets
OF codes at $40 a set, but he wanted
the resolution TO carry a rider maxim 8
the books the property OF the State
Anderson chipped in with an Objec-
tion to wasting the States money in
the purchase Of more than six sets.
That many, he thought would be IN
the way. Whereupon Curtin announced
himself as Unalterably opposed TO the
purchase Of any codes. Wright who
had introduced the resolution for the
judiciary committee, insisted that il
was as sensible TO expect a contractor
to build a house with jackknife as
10 expect the judiciary committee 70
consider bills without codes. Wolfe
accused Caminetti Indirectly OF favor
ing the resolution in committee and
then making a grand stand economy
play on the floor. just 10 show Can't
netti the station his ticket was punched
for. Wolfe announced that he was go
ing in for economy himself and de-
manded that the resolution be sent
back 70 The judiciary committee. when
il is quite probable Il viii emerge sans
the codes clause. Before the economy
flush had entirely subsided il was whis-