The San Francisco call., 1908-07-15
HENEY PLEADS FOR
PRIMARY ELECTIONS
Graft Prosecutor Points to Work
in Other States for Gov
ernment by People
Attorney Urges Vigilance in
Choosing Legislators to
Garry Needed Reforms
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

SAN DIEGO, July lift we believe
in the American form of government,
why not get back to it? If we think
the people capable of. governing them
selves, why not frame laws that shall
permit them to govern themselves?"
These were the questions with which
Francis j. Heney electrified his audi
ence of 1000 people this evening at
the close of his address on San Fran
cisco graft and modern politics, in
which he advocated the strongest kind
of a direct primary law in the state of
California.
The meeting was held under the aus
pices of the Lincoln Roosevelt club of
San Diego, and Germania hall was filled
to overhowing fully half an hour be-
fore the time scheduled for the address
to begin.
Judge w. A. Sloan called the meeting
to order, and Rev. w. B. Hinson in
troduced Heney as fire fighter who
sets us all brilliant example of civic
righteousness" Heney said in part:
"Why not say to the men of Abe
Ruefs stamp that he can retire from
business? Why not say to Herrin
that the railroad business alone should
keep him busy? Why not say to
Charles Hardy, we need no middleman
in our politics; you may retire to at
tend to your we'll established meat con-
Germ? They are doing this thing in
Oregon, they are doing it in South
Dakota, they are doing it in Wisconsin,
and we want to do it in this state.
FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS
when our constitution was made
they thought 1t best that the people
should not vote directly for the presl-
dent and we don't in fact, though we
do in effect and always have done so
since there was a president to elect.
We can do the same thing as to the
United States senator, and we must do
something of this kind or the power
that now buys a Legislature to elect a
senator will IN time attempt to bribe
an electoral college to select presl-
dent other than the one named by the
people who elected the college.
I'VE have a new primary law to be
passed at the next legislature and that
primary law will be framed as the ma
chine wants it or 1t will be framed as
the people want it. Be careful that
the legislators you send to Sacramento
are men pledged to give you peoples
primary so that we may get back to the
government by the people. There will
be primary law of that class before
the Legislature and it will be prepared
by the Lincoln Roosevelt league of the
state and if you want a direct primary
law that shall be of and for the people
see that your members of the legisla-
ture are pledged to support 1t.
1--WE want a primary law in the state
so that judges and other officials will
seek to please the people in order to
be retained in office rather than to
please the bosses for the same pur-
pose"
WOULD TAKE HOLD AFRESH
In the earlier portion of this address,
which was continued for more than two
hours and quarter Heney told OF the
graft prosecution in San Francisco, it's
trials and successes, incidentally say
ing plainly that if any one would help
him to let go of the tail of that bear
honorably he would take a new hold.
He was unstinting in his praise of
Roosevelt and his policies for the pres
ervation OF the resources of the country
which had been squandered, unknow-
ingly, possibly, but squandered never
theless, and secured by those who
knew what they Were doing to concen-
trate wealth in their own hands.
Neither did he spare the San Diego
senator, L. A. Wright, nor the assem-
blymen who voted for Herrin and the
machine every time there was a call
to vote for or against the railroad in
terests.
After pointing out the means through
which the power of wealth had grown
beyond all reason, Heney suggested
that he be permitted to retire, but the
people cried for him to proceed. He
will leave here for Long Beach tomor-
row to speak at the California Chau-
tauqua-