The San Francisco call., 1908-05-16
MACHINE FEARS
/ FUTURE FIGHTS
WITH LEAGUERS
LincOln-RooseveIt Republicans
Plan Campaign for War
in August
Elated With Strength Shown al
Sacramento, They See
Victory Ahead
Convention Tactics of Railroad
Ring Arouse Disgust /.
of Public

All the active members of the Linz
coln-Roosevelt republican league who
participated in the battle in the state
convention remained over in Sacra-
mento for meeting of the state
executive committee yesterday, at
which preliminary plans were made
for the campaign of the August pri-
maries- Instead of being disheartened
the leaguers are full of new en-
thusiasm as a result of the showing
they made They gained many re-
cruits from the delegations of outly-
ing counties and they believe that an
excellent beginning has been made in
the struggle TO drive the Southern Pa
ciic company from political power
The leaguers were in session during
the forenoon and for part OF the aft
ernoon. There was an enthusiastic de-
termination TO wage the war for clean
politics with renewed vigor. The state
headquarters in San Francisco are to
be better equipped for the work Of the
movement and the lessons learned from
experience in the initial campaign are
to be turned to the leagues advantage.
A proclamation declaring the leagues
purpose to continue the fight until the
machine power is broken was issued
lover the signature OF President Frank
r. Devlin.
The acknowledgements league dera-
onstrated in the convention that it has
the ability and earnestness in it's ranks
that cannot be stayed in its demands
for clean government in California
said State President DevIin. "On every
hand the expression is coming from
the league forces that we must press
on in our war. We developed on the
floor of the convention the ablest kind
can feel secure under such leadership.
The spirit that pervades the ranks OF
the league today is remarkable.
have not heard one word of disappoint-
ment. Everybody wants TO go on with
the fight more vigorously than ever,
and that is what we will do"
MACHINE Is JOYLESs
The railroad politicians are not at all
enthusiastic over the results Their
Homecoming yesterday utterly lacked
the oIdtime demonstrations OF joy.
They sat apart in the trains. weary
and grave, and the conviviality In the
barroom of the Solano that has been
customary after victory was cut out OF
the program entirely. Jake Steppacher
/
stead and the transfer steamer pIowed
across the straits without a single
shout Such distinguished raiIroadmen
as Lieutenant Governor Porter. United
States District Attorney Robert T. Dew
lin and Charley Hardy. for example.
were in different coaches as the South
ern Pacific hauled them slowly San
Franciscoward. They were seeing ths
handwriting on the wall that had ap-
peared so clearly in the convention and
they were not happy.
The showing Of the Lincoln -RoOss-
Welt league in the convention has taken
the steam out of the railroad politi-
clans. They will not admit 1t in terms.
but the absence OF the usual sxulta-
tion is Indicative OF misgivings for the
future. They are genuinely scared as
to the prospects OF the future, as tAaG
have good reason to be.
FEAR PUBLIC OPINION
The Herrin men have a wholesoma
fear Of public opinion and they realize
\ fully that the high handed applications
of gag methods. which were necessary
. I
sive assault Of the leaguers. Is sure ta
have a bad effect. They appreciats
that the record OF the "organization'se
fight in the contest Just closed is odor~
Gus. beginning with Warren Porter'a
dfsgraceful actions at the primary elees
tion at Watsonviile and primary in
SIskiyou. which the machine spokss-
man on the floor OF the convention ad-
mitted to have been fraudulent. Then
came the assembling OF all the railroad
bosses and politicians in the state tn
put through the program Of Herria In
the convention. The outrageous use OF
the gag by General Stone and Chair
man knight. which reached its climax
when an effort was made TO INTRODUCES
a plank In the platform declaring
against railroad dominance In caIifor-
MIA republicanisn. added greatly to
the fires that the agitation Of the Lin
coin Roosevelt league has started.
DEVOID OF ENTHUSIASM
The convention was wholly devoid OF
enthusiasm as far as the machine men
were concerned. The bands played in
vain. the marching Of delegates with
flags fell nat and the desperate forcing
lof the program. including NJ H. do