Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-15
BY w. X. WILLIAMS

BY w. X. WILLIAMS
Special to The Herald.
SACRAMENTO, May 4.-Wiliam M.
Herrin is still proprietor of the Re-
publican party of California by vote
of 351 to 270.
The Southern Pacific political bu-
reau dominated the Republican state
convention today by reason of the 300
delegates that subservient county COM
mittees named for Herrin's use.
The result of the valorous fight of
the Lincoln Roosevelt league may be
summed up briefly.
It's war forced Herrin to forego the
prerogative given this state machine
at SAINT. Cruz two years ago and to
let the organization of the convention
be settled on it's floor.
It's war forced Governor Gillett off
the slate of delegates at large, a big
gain for the freemen of the party.
It's war. under the most adverse con-
ditions against stacked cards and a
financial program, revealed a great
moral conquest that must grow and
triumph finally.
But the method of Republican party
politics must change to bring this
about.
Southern California played the two
most important roles in the conven-
ton One part of the delegates proved
the ruin of the emancipation, the other
tits most vigorous defender.
Los Angeles welded the shield and
the knife.
When the roll call on the choice be-
tween George A. Knight and w. r.
Davis reached Kings county the vote
stood ZIG for Knight and 21S for Davis.
When all the southern districts had
voted 1876 delegates bowed before Wal
ter Parker and sixty-two asserted in
dependence of the mercenary boss. The
appointed delegates of the machine
gave the death blows to free party
control.
The contest for control was short
decisive, foreordained, theatrical. 1t
was not dramatic, for it was without
emotion. Knowing it's strength, the
machine conceded to public sentiment.
Dust for UnsophIsticated
These things were dust for the eyes
of the unsophisticated Putting on the
cloak of fairness, the machine sent
George Knight out to below that he
would not accept the chairmanship ex-
cept by vote of the delegates, 300 of
whom, nearly half the convention, were
named by the Herrin servants. Then
the executive committee, dominated by
Walter Parker, abandoned the despot-
ism authorized by the Santa Cruz con-
vetnion and permitted sure thing to
go on the floor of the convention.
This was to "harmonize" the long
haired" whose votes may be wanted
badly in November.
The result of these transparent the
atricals has been to stimulate the
league to renewed purpose. Its moral
victory is not to be measured by the
votes on the roll call, and yet that
roll call showed that it carried forty
four assembly districts.
Devln Summarizes
It's victory is summarized by Presi-
dent Frank Devln thus: "The great
moral victory that has been forced
from the machine means continu-
ance of the leagues work with re-
doubled energy We have shown that
San Francisco may be depended on
to send it's delegations against the ma
chine and that Los Angeles may be
counted against the machine in the
next contest. We deemed the San
Francisco victory necessary piece of
strategy tending to make organization
In the country districts easier 1t will
have this effect. We will go into every
nook and corner of the state with Or
ganized effort.
"The war has only begun. We have
had the best of this first skirmish,
handicapped as we were, but the cam
paign for the August primaries Will
be real war;
Lee C. Gates of the Los Angeles
league delegation presented the case of
the league to the convention He fol-
lowed ]. l.. McNab of Humboldt, who
boasted that George Knight was the
friend of Mckinley Roosevelt and
Taft in his nominating speech. Ac-
cording to McNab, Knight was the
propeller for all good enterprises. for
| twenty years. He knows no master
and is subservient to no boss" said
McNab.
Davis Wears No Collar
Mr. Gates in speaking for Davis de-
clared that he wore no collar on his
neck. and no brand on his forehead
Davis had been for twenty years the
champion of free speech and political
freedom, and had, after thirteen years
of battle, successfully defended Oak
lands harbor rights.
1--WE are standing for the liberation
of the Republican party from corpo-
rate influences. We are thankful that
the Santa Cruz rule has been set aside
the men who proposed 1t wouldn't dare
enforce it. We find all the Southern
Pacific workers are against our candi-
date. and thank God for 1t"
This was one of Mr.. Gates most ef-
fective periods. He alluded to the
San Francisco Chronicle editorial, and
declared that 1t represented a purpose
to send an uninstructed delegation to
| Chicago.
The league demanded the support for
Roosevelt and his politics. After D.