The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-06-10
GiIIett's Personal Politics Taints
Administration of University
of California
Fletcher Cutler, Governors For
mer Law Partner, Elected
Counsel of Board in Stead
Prominence of Victim of Mean
Job in LincOIn=ROOseveIt
League Inspires Revenge

At the instance of Governor James
N. Gillett, who made it a personal
matter, Fletcher Cutler, former law
partner of the governor, was elected
as their counsel yesterday by the re-
gents of the University of California,
vice Charles E. Shook, z Pardee ap-
pointee and prominent member of
the Lincoln-Roosevelt league.
GiIlett secured the dismissal Of
Shook and the election of his per-
sonal friend and former partner by
vote of nine to seven, only after a
careful rounding up all the machine
politicians who are ex officIo members
Of the board Of regents for regular
monthly meeting which only the ma
chine members knew was loaded with
personal politics.
IN personal POLITICS
California is again treated to the
edifying spectacle Of its chief execu-
tive indulging himself in personal poll
tics, and incidentally taking a spiteiul
slap at the republicans who are try
ing TO free their state and party from
the corrupt domination of the Southern
Pacific companys political bureau. The
job is doubly humilitating since 1t
demonstrates that not even the state
university is immune from the prac-
tice OF machine and personal politics
Those members OF the board of re-
gents not admitted TO the secrets OF
the political cabal were surprised yes
terday when all the machine politi-
clans. ex-oficiO members of the board,
l.. Ia -
meeting. IL had not been customary
for Gillett. Lieutenant Governor War
rem r. Porter, Speaker Of the Assembly
r. J. Besrdslee. Senator Ben Rush.
who is q regent by virtue Of his presi-
dency Of the state agricultural society.
ard State Superintendent OF Public
Schools Edward Hyatt, 10 attend lou
tine meetings Of the board in a body.
Their suspicious were not aroused, how
ever. until after the routine business
had been disposed of and an executive
session proposed. With Gillett in the
chair. Warren Porter, TO whom is as
signed a large portion of the machines
unpleasant work, moved that Fletcher
Cutler be elected counsel, vice Shook
Porter's motion explained not only
the gathering Of the eX-officio clans,
but also the presence at an unimport-
ant meeting Of Judge J. W. Mckinley
Of Los Angeles, Southern Pacific at
tornev and politician Members OF the
board are extremely reticent about the
discussion, but it was admitted iast
night that the governor was frank
enough 70 inform the regents that the
ousting of Shook was a personal
political matter"
MACHINEMEN ALIGN
Porter's motion, which was unaccom-
panied by any explanations by the
ported by Porter, Beardslee, Hyatt,
Rush. Gillett, p. C. Yorke, Judge ]. w.
Mckinley and William H. Crocker and
r. s. Johnson, Gilletts latest ap-
pointees, the latter Of whom is said
to be relative of the governor.
President Benjamin Ide Wheeler, Mrs.
Phoebe A Hearst, A w. Foster, F. W.
Dohrmsnn, r J. Taussig, Guy c. Earle
and John A Britton voted against the
machine Job. The board extended a
vote OF thanks for faithful services to
Shook and the personal politicaI'
coup was completed.
Fletcher. who succeeds Shook, has
recently removed to San Francisco from
Humboldt county, where he was for
merly the governors law partner. The
job presented TO him yesterday by his
friend and former partner carries a
salary OF $2.4OO a year.
Shook who was ousted to make room
on the payroll for Gillett's friend, was
appointed by Pardee five years ago.
He was opposed to the nomination of
Gillett two years ago and since the
organization of the Lincoln Roosevelt
league OF republican clubs has taken
an active part in the league work in
the fftieth assembly district, where he
resides. He was responsible in large
degree for the defeat Of the machine
IN bis district at the May primary cleo
tions.
Governor Giilett returned to Sacra-
mento Immediately after his friend had
been taken care of and his political
enemy punished. Shook declined last
night 10 discuss the reasons for his
displacement in favor of Cutler. He
said
i have nothing to say concerning
my removal by the board of regents,
other than that the boards action evil
oently was at the instance or desire
OF Governor Giilett, who IL would ap-
pear wanted his law partner Mr.. Cut
Ter. TO have the position During the
several years that I have been the Of
neial representative of the board of
regents. they and the University of
California have had the best services
j could give them. The regents have
placed in their official record unanf-
nous vote OF thanks to me for my
services. ] rest on that action