The San Francisco call., 1908-04-04
SUPPORT BATTLE
AGAINST MACHINE
LincOln-ROOseveEt League Gets
Encouragement From
Many Sources
Heavy Registration Indicates a
Record Breaking Vote
in November

assurances Of support in their fight
against the Herrin political machine
are being conveyed to the leaders of
The Lincoln Roosevelt league from ali
quarters Of the city and from men in
al walks OF life. According TO Byron
Mauzy. vice president of the league in
TINS city. messages of encoura cement
and promises OF practical assistance
are coming every day from sources
not usually looked 10 in political cam
paigns
The aims OF the league said
nauzy Yesterday. appeal 10 many
men who have not hitherto taken any
active interest in politics. These men
have been aroused TO their responsi-
bilties and they are going 10 help
us materially in our fight"
The work OF organizing Lincoln
Roosevelt clubs in the IS assembly
districts Is well under way. The
names Of men known to be antagonis-
tic 10 the Herrin machine and in sym
pathy with the work Of the league
are now being sent by the district
committeeman TO the executive com
ilitree Tor approval. and as soon as
they have been passed upon the dis
trict clubs viii be organized. The
officers OF each district club will con-
sist OF q president. three vice presi-
dents and secretary treasurer.
moon meeting Of the executive commit
ice viii be held on Monday
While the league men are confident
of victory i'm the primaries. they are
prepared 10 struggle planfullv for
their success. They expect some hard
battles from the railroad men. who
are getting ready 10 make bitter con-
tests in certain districts but rely on
better organization. Joined 10 the
strength OF their platform 10 insure
their winning.
MACHINE MEN BUSY
The machine men are already get
sing ready for the fray in some of the
districts. A Herrin club was organ
ized in the thirty eighth district nearly
q month ago and another has Just
been launched in the fOrtieth. This
latter bears the imposing name of the
Regular Republican Taft Club of the
Fortieth Assembly District" and IT is
sponsored by Hamilton Bauer. spokes-
man or the machine in the county
committee; Oscar Greenebsum Ed
Kelly and Milton Schmitt. These
men are preparing to make the fight
against the Lincoln Roosevelt league
club in the fortieth. Among others
whom they claim as members of their
club is Walter j. Dyer. Dyer is the
district committeeman for the fortieth
IN the Lincoln Roosevelt league and
he viii have TO decide on which side
OF the fence he intends TO keep, as
the league cannot harboT him If he
stays in the Herrin club. Besides Dyer,
the men to whom the fight against the
machine is intrusted in the forteth
are Charles L Field. president of the
Independent republican club: George
Uhl. vice president Of the Good Gov
ernment league and Ralph l. Ha-
thorn. a member Of the county COM
fnittee Having recognized the claims
Of all the anti-railroad elements in
the district. the league expects to carry
the fortieth without too much trouble
This bids fair to be a record year in
registration. Already there are nearly
$4,000 new names on the rolls. and the
crowds Of men who seek the Office Of
the registrar of voters are growing
bigger every day. More than zoo aftida
Wits were made yesterday record
breaking number for this year, but
one which the registrar expects to see
left far behind before the registration
closes on April 10
Two-THIRDs REPUBLICAN
Of the 1890 odd voters who have
registered since January 2 two-thirds
have announced their party politics
republican. while the remaining third
have confessed to democratic aff1lia-
tions. From this third must be sub
tracted. however. a modest 200 plus %
who have sturdily declared themselves
pensed by the Independence league
So large is the volume of work at the
REGISTRARS Office that 40 clerks are kept
busy there, whereas in the same months
Of former years in which new regis
tratior was begun eight or ten clerks
suficed.
AS there are 1851 names on the
great register for 1906 and 1907, and
as the new registration will total at
least $4,000, It is estimated by Daniel
Gordon, statistician for the board of
election commissioners, that between
SO, ,OO0 and $4,000 citizens will be en-
titled to vote at the primaries and at
the bond election next month.
This unusual figure is accounted for
In VARIOUS ways. but the principal ex-
plantations are that this is a presiden-
tial year, and that the citizens of this
city are being aroused to a sense of
their civic responsibilities as they have
never been aroused before.
Another unusual campaign feature
this year is found in the number of
men who have made application for
positions as election officers. Ordi-
narily the registrar Of voters expe-
riences the greatest difficulty in obtain
ing the proper sort OF men for this
work All sorts Of excuses are made
by business and professional men, as
well as by clerks and laborers, in the
effort to avoid serving in the booths.
MANY APPLICATIONS
But this year the conditions are re-
versed. Many men are out of work and
anxious to make little money by act
ing as election clerks. Between 400 and
500 have enrolled their names with the
registrar and will be given the prefer
ence. provided they are found TO be
qualified for the work, when the boards
for the various districts are made UP.
A great deal OF uncertainty exists
among voters as to the necessity of reg
istering before April Is. For the bene-
Gt Of these Registrar Harry Zemansky
yesterday made the following explana-
tiOn:
All those who registered during 1906
or 1907 and who still retain the resi-
oence which they had at the time of
registering are entitled TO vote at the
primary election on May 5 and at the