The San Francisco call., 1908-04-12
LEAGUE LINES
|. Up FOR BATTLE
AGAINST BOSSES
Lincoln-Roosevelt Clubs Ready
for Initial Struggle With
Herrin Forces
Rapid Spread of Reform Move
ment Causes Terror to
Organization
Republicans Will Overthrow
Railroad Dominance in
California

The Lincoln Roosevelt republican
league, carried with splendid success
through its formative stage, is lining
up in formidable array for the three
weeks that remain of the initial strug-
gle against railroad dominance in Cali
fornia. It is now healthy and
sturdy movement by and in behalf of
the people. With the developments
of the last week there is ample occa-
sion for the terror that has filled the
hearts of the Herrin machine. From
the interior come most gratifying re-
ports as to the progress of the
leagues cause, and with highly sat
isfactory shaping of the situation in
this city and in Alameda county there
is good reason for the exultant spirit
manifested by the men who are striv-
ing valiantly to redeem the govern
ment of California for its people.
That there is dismay in the camp of
the organization" is no idle state
ment. Men who arc big cogs in the
powerful party men in Washington to
save them from the scorching. These
calls for help to the national capital
are almost frantic and every art of the
Organization" politician has been re-
sorted to in efforts to obtain "let
up" of the leagues aggressiveness, the
compromising of the candidacy of Sec
retary Taft being the favorite theme.
LEAGUE GIVES NO QUARTER
The league has been signally unwill-
ing to give any quarter and the far
cries to washington have been of no
avail.
These appeals for peace are signif1-
cant of what the machine men think of
the league They remove any suspicion
that the snti-Herrin men might be
exaggerating their success, for fear of
the enemy is the best sign of triumph.
1t has taken much effort to organize
the league in San Francisco and Oak
land, but all the difficulties have been
reform are working in harmony. The
formation of clubs in several districts
was accomplished during the week and
by the end of this week every district
in this city will have been organized.
In Alameda county Berkeley lays
the state. with a membership of $50.
Clubs have been formed in three offthe
four assembly districts of Oakland,
all with large and enthusiastic mem
berships. The fourth district has pre-
sented the least differences to contend
with and it was left over for organi-
zation this week In the city of Ala
media plans are afoot for the formation
of club. a surprising amount of fa-
vorable sentiment having been found
there. Alameda has been badly ma
chine ridden and it is also the home
of Congressman Knowland and it had
been thought that it would be one of
the most difficult communities in the
state for the league to invade.
TAKES NORTHWARD TREND
The leagues progress has had dis
tinctly a northward trend 1t grew
and fourished first in the south, where
it is very thoroughly organized and
where the machine is as good as com
pletely routed. So eminent an author
ity as Daniel NJ. Burns, who from com
plete retirement is viewing the pres
ent contest with the eye of - sea-
soned veteran, has spread the glad
word that the machine is down and
out and finished south of the Te-
hachapi
The next section to develop on a
large scale the public sentiment against
Southern Pacific bossism into organiza-
tions of the Lincoln Roosevelt league
was the San Joaquin valley. Active
workers from Fresno. particularly
George w Jones and Assemblyman
A. NJ Drew, have been chiefly instru-
mental in bringing about the extensive
formation Of clubs in the valley.
a strong club is actively promoting
the clean doctrines of republicanism
at Bakersfield Tulare county has two
clubs, at visalia and Tulare. hIngs
county is organized with clubs at Han
ford and Corcoran. In Fresno the pro-
paganda has been carried to all COR
ners of the county There is a large
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