The San Francisco call., 1908-04-09
HERRIN'S MEN
BACKING DOWN
Stones Announcement Is Fol-
lowed by Declaration for
Primaries by Stafford
Organization Republicans Again
Run to Cover From Pub
lie Opinion

--C-AAA cAdNC 4CkAOA4C64
!s not standing by it's guns with all
the courage that railroad boss might
desire, according TO outward appear
ances. Having once backed down be-
fore the Lincoln Roosevelt league 1t
seems about 10 repeat the performance
II is exhibiting q strong tendency TO
run TO cover from public opinion. be-
ginning with the unofficial" primary
hasco and now being IN process of
backtracking on the proposition of
stealing the state by having 'organiza-
tion" committees in various districts
and counties arbitrarily appoint dele
gates 10 the convention.
Following the peculiar announce
ment Of Chairman George Stone that
he had called on the committees
throughout California to hold primaries
generally and let the people choose
the delegates to the state gathering.
came an emphatic declaration yester-
day from ". V. Stafford, president OF
the harbor board and member OF the
state committee. that primaries ought
10 be held everywhere. and that II
would be disastrous for the republican
party If any schemes were carried out
10 deny the people voice in the Sc
lection Of delegates
Stanord's statement gives g dignity
70 any expression from the state COM
mittee- OF General Stones surprising
attitude Chester 81. RoWell state or
ganizer OF the Lincoln Roosevelt
league. betrayed some misgivings yes
terdsy when he commented that 1t
was too good to be true
HARD DRIVEN BY LEAGUE
Stone has been hard driven by the
Lincoln -RooseVelters recently, even
having wept into his food about them.
That Z doughty warrior who is among
los o7cs ~n ha
the Dewey monument in Union square
should have 70 cave in" a second
time before the onslaught of those
reformers" must be a bitter dose. The
good machine men in the third con-
gressional district, men who always do
their politics under orders. had in
augurated 4 crooked scheme of ap-
pointing as many OF the delegates as
the law would permit in the discretion
ary authority It confers. and for Gen
eral Stone 10 come out and repudiate
their action and say that primaries
ought 10 be held can be interpreted
only as a fall down" on his part ac-
tuated by the fear of outraged public
sentiment.
Stafford must be given credit for
sanity and sincerity
The best politics that republicans
can do he said yesterday, lis TO give
the people z voice IN all party affairs.
The last state convention very strongly
committed itself TO the direct primary,
and in line with that principle all dele
gates in the coming campaign ought
10 be chosen at primaries I am tax
ing no active interest in the present
contest, but as z general proposition I
must insist that the state central com
mittee keep the party's pledge and
o5ev the national call and the call it
issued Itself some months ago, advis-
ing that primaries be held every
where"
MAY HALT THE MACHINE
With Stone and Stafford on record
as opposed 10 plots to steal delega-
tions IL is likely that there viii be q
halt on the part Of the machine over
Alameda county way
The Lincoln n-RooseveIters have been
planning 10 wage a redhot fight on the
machine IL il continues to refuse TO
call primary elections and are still
prepared for the struggle II need be.
Their only weapon is public opinion.
but the force of that has already
proved too much for the state chair
man at least. and the league evidently
has il available in abundant quantity
General Stone has installed a phan-
tom report service. by means OF which
he keeps in communication with all
.
that all Of northern California is still
with the organization" boldly imply
ing that the people there want a con
tinuance of Herrin rule. The generals
signal service must get mixed up with
the news service of the Calkins syn
dicate paper at Sacramento. however
for the fact Is that several county
committees in that section Of the state
have come out In open sffiliation with
the Lincoln Roosevelt league. pur-
thermore. Mayor Clinton White Of
Sacramento IS putting in telling licks
for the league just now, exerting him
self in his energetic way in behalf Of
general primary election.
NOTED MEN ARE ACTIVE
Such men as Mayor White. Judge
] ShiBn Robert Waring, Harold Power
/ Charles P Cutten and Colonel z. A.
Forbes are working quietly but very
actively there. and State Organizer
Roweu is trying ais best to arrange
I his itinerary SO that he can be in ali
! the places at once where they are In
sistently asking that he come forth
with and inaugurate the formation OF
clubs
/ General Stones phantom service is
! alleged TO be q great taxing enterprise
Z In any event not a single report il has
brought in has proved true. 1t seems