The San Francisco call., 1908-03-22
.TAFT'S STRENGTH
SCARES MACHINE
Driven to Corner, Herrin Ma
chine Admits California Is
for War Secretary
Walter Parker, After Having
Marched Up Hill, Forced to
March Down Again
BY George A. Van Smith

phelming Taft sentiment crystaliized
bv and given expression through the
Lincoln Roosevelt league. Herrin's re-
publican state central committee has
aha ndoned its scheme for film fam. IN
official primaries on May >, through
which il hoped TO prevent the election
Of delegation 10 the Chicago conven-
lion instructed for Taft
The UNOFFICIAL primaries for securing
sn expression Of popular choice among
republicans for president viii be held
Oh May 5. simultaneously with the Of
fetal primaries for election of delegates
10 the state convention. The unofficial
polls viii be open from o'clock in the
morning until s O'Clock in the evening.
instead OF from y o'clock noon until
o'clock IN the evening. IS proposed by
the original call authorizing the a0sn-
doned pea and shell game.
The machine cspituisted yesterday. 1t
was not 8 mastery retreat Ii was
rgther a forlorn attempt TO save the
face OF the political strstegist who
marched the committee Up the hill and
ihen marched il down again. Herrin's
chief lieutenant. Walter Parker. pulled
down the pirate black flag and hcisted
the rag OF surrender last week. General
George stone chairman de fscto Of the
state central committee. leo the retreat
yesterday after Parker had given the
command to march. Neither Parker nor
.Tece Burke remained 10 see the shat
tered columns OF Herrin's army pass in
review. Everything was intrusted to
stone who rose msgnifcentiy TO the
task imposed upon him.
GIVE Up LITTLE JOB
Chairman George Stone. Secretary
Jake Steppscher and nine members OF
the executive committe met at the st.
,.
AL apparent seriousness. went through
the wholly superfuous form Of rescind
ing the action whereby the now you
see il. now you don't" unofficial May
primaries We're authorized.
stone. as befitted his station. was
the whole show after the meeting con-
Nened Parker and Burke retired be-
fore the gathering was called to order.
stone introduced a resolution provid-
ing FOR unofrcial primaries in connec-
tion with official primaries on May ..
lie made a speech. in which he char
acterized the Lincoln Roosevelt league
as mischievous. Finally he displayed
letter from Secretary Taft. written be-
fore Taft discovered how the cards
were stacked in California. and the
committee departed. feeling that it had
fully vindicsted Itself.
II was nice meeting: also en-
couraging, since il demonstrated that
The Herrin machine had at last been
forced 10 take public sentiment into
account II still purposes 70 parade
wholly extra legal primaries as con-
cessiou TO the direct primary election
sentiment, but recognizing its inability
10 prevent the election OF an instructed
delegation for Taft il has given up the
little Job designed TO put California in
5 The Nevada column.
In an interview given out last week.
Walter Parker. chief whipperin for
Herrin and boss OF the committee.
forecast the action OF the committee
and incidentally confirmed all the
Charges OF double dealing brought
gainSt the committee
There seems no reason for the unofi-
cisl primary at this time said Parker.
Taft seems to have the support OF the
vepublicans Of the state, and that
makes the first primary unnecessary.
A Csll was issued for an unofficial pri-
mary on MAY > At that time there
was a sentiment on the committee in
favor Of Hughes I viii not say that IL
The Hughes managers had come into
California earlier in the game and made
an aggressive campaign the unofficial
primary might not have bten neces-
sary. No aggressive campaign was
made I believe now that the general
sentiment among the republican voters
of California is for Taft. and ! can see
no reason for spending money for this
unofficial primary when there is no
contest"
HAD KNIFE FOR BOTH
Parker was. with the necessary quail
ifications. quite correct. When the
state central committee met 10 issue
the call for the state convention there
WAS some Hughes sentiment on the
committee II was the same kind of
Hughes sentiment that Hartman in
5ecteo into the state central committee
in his other pocket borough-Ne~ads.
What Parker did not think il necessary
10 tell the interviewer was that be was
the chief representative OF that
hughes sentiment which was s
blind TO hide the stab Harrina n
had aimed At the administration
Parker knew then that the people OF
California were for Taft He knew
then. as he knows now. that Hartman
wants Hughes as little as he wants
Taft He knew then. as the people
fully realize. that Hartman wanted 6
hughes delegation from California that
could be swung 10 a safe and sane can
cidate Of the Fairbanks or Cannon type
after & perfunctory ballot or two for
the New York man
He knows now that the Lincoln-R -Roose.
Nett 1e4Eue. the nrSt and only organlzS-
ton in California TO declare for Taft
has organized the Taft sentiment and
shat through the Lincoln Roosevelt
league Is expressed that sentiment all
Tor Taft which removes California from
the doubtful column and spoils neai
machine Job. The Taft sentiment has
been in California all the time Thank.
10 the Lincoln Roosevelt league, ths
machine is unable 10 stife that sen
ument or 10 render IL sbortive
That General Stone fully recognized
the same unwelccme fact was made
apparent by The little speech viii
which he submitted tne resolution.
giving formal effect the earlier declara.
lions OF SUBJ Boss Parker. After an.
noUncing 10 the few committeemer
who thought IL good form TO be in a.
the death that the meeting was callec
principally 10 consider the advisabilits
~ changing the date for the unoticia
primaries Stone presented q mild de
tense for the original scheme. Hs
said
II has been charged that this was Z
Job put up for some dark purpose
prepared the resolution calling for ths
unofficial primaries on May and il
never left my hand until il was pre-
} sented 70 the committee. and, he added
1fr-a1r~ r,ra~,c s,e7 g.