Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-30
ROOSEVELT LEAGUE
SCORES CAUCUSES
GIVES REASONS WHY METHOD
Is WRONG
Are Easily Manipulated and Are
Effective Means in Promoting
Boss Rule and Bad
Government

The Lincoln Roosevelt Republican
league in defending its attituue in ig-
norIng the caucuSeS called by the Re-
publican county central committee, has
issued a statement of reasons. The
document is addressed to the "Repub-
lican voters of Los Angeles" and is
signed by Sidney A. Butler, chairman
of the Lincoln Roosevelt county COM
mittee. The reasons given follow:
"1-Caucuses particularly in the city
of Los Angeles) do not and cannot
express the wishes or desires of the
rank and file of Republican voters.
'3-The caucus, because of the ease
and none of the safeguards of the law
surround it.
"3-The caucus, because of the case
with which it may be manipulated by
tricky or designing persons, is an ef-
fective means in promoting boss rule
and bad government.
"4-Frequently caucuses are design
edly held at times and places that rem
der it impossible for voters to take
part in the proceedings. A fair ex-
preston OF the Republican voters OF
the precinct is not wanted at such
gatherings. Usually a few men meet
in some out-of-the-way place; put in
nomination a set Of delegates previous
ly selected by the local boss and ad-
journ before the real voters of the pre-
cinct appear.
"5-Particularly in the large cities,
where the voters are not personally
known to each other, and because OF
the further fact that no protection OF
law is thrown around them, caucuSeS
give opportunity for all sorts of chican-
cry and fraud. 1t is not infrequent
that gangs of men not living in the
precinct and having no right to vote
there attend the caucuses and nominate
the tickets.
"6-In order to win at the caucuses
the Roosevelt Republican
league would be compelled to resort to
the same tricky methods employed by
the Southern Pacific machine gang.
1t cannot do so. 1t believes in the
principle of the square deal To re-
sort to the skulduggery of packing
caucuses would be to forfeit the con-
fidence of the people.
Opposed to Caucuses
"7-As an organization the Lincoln
Roosevelt Republican league is opposed
to the caucus and convention system.
1t believes party nominations never
will become true expressions of party
choice until each member of the party
is given an opportunity to express at
the polls his preference for each can
didate to be nominated. To this end
the Lincoln Roosevelt Republican
league is pledged TO support a Qlrect
primary law, which will require that
every candidate for office, either in
city, county or state, submit his claims
to be voted upon by every member Of
the party.
THE Lincoln-Roosevelt Republican
league through the various clubs in
each assembly district has placed in
nomination for delegates to the Repub-
lican state convention tickets COM
posed of sterling Republicans affiliated
with the Lincoln Roosevelt Republican
league, and who can be depended upon
to carry into effect the principles upon
which the league is founded.
"These tickets will be submitted di-
rectly to the Republican voters of the
various assembly districts at the pri-
maries to be held May 5. All Repub-
| licans who are tired of boss rule for
the benefit of a mercenary railroad
corporation, and who believe in the
principles enunciated in the platform
of the Lincoln Roosevelt Republican
league, are urged to go to the polls
May and cast a ballot for their own
interests by voting the league ticket.
TT is for self-respecting Republicans
to determine whether they will send
to the state convention at Sacramento
delegates named by the Southern Pa
cif1c machine to perpetuate boss rule,
or delegates pledged to oppose and
destroy the machine which has been
the prolific source of bad government
and misrule. The issue is clear. 1t is
for you to decide"