Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-20
GILLFTT WILL
NOT DISCUSS
REBATE CASES
WON'T EXPLAIN WHY S. P. Is
IMMUNE
SAYS HE'S HERE TO HELP ELECT
Mr.. TAFT
Governor of California Absolutely De-
cInes to Tell Why Railroad
Prosecution Was Not
Instituted

CE0ovERNoR GILLETT, as chief
tT executive of the state of Cali
W fornia did you make any effort
to force Attorney General Webb and the
state railway commission to prosecute
the Southern Pacific railway for rebat-
ing after the disclosures pade by Frnk-
lin X. Lane of the interstate commerce
commission?"
"I refuse to answer that question.
will not touch upon state matters. was
the sharp reply Of the governor Wnen
questioned by a Herald representative
at Long Beach last night.
Governor Gillett had minute previ-
ously been suave. smiling and genial
When the question was propOunded he
turned sharply upon his questioner, his
eyes narrowed down to fine focusing
point, his mouth hardened to a straight
line AS the governor eyed the reporter
closely his mind seemed to be running
back to a scene enacted in his office at
Sacrmento several months ego.
At the Sacramento interview his queS-
toner had broached the same subject,
hut at that time when the chief execu-
tive was asked what steps he was going
to take in the rebating matter the gov
ernor flew into passion and denounced
the enemies of the Southern Pacific,
saying he would not be forced into ac-
ton. He declared he would not be CO.
creed into demanding the resignation OF
Wilson, the self-confessed boodler, then
on the railway commission.
Governor on Defensive
Recalling the former scene the gov
ernor went at once on the defensive.
81 would not answer, If you asked my
age" he contiued in tones low and
tense, evidently under great repression.
at am not making answers to questions;
am simply making speeches for Mr..
Taft"
"Why were the rebating cases gainst
the Southern Pacific allowed to go by
default under the statute of limita-
tions?"
81 am not touching on state matters
at all. l have nothing to say to you on
these subjects. All am going to say
will be from the platform in the course
of my regular address"
what win you discuss from the plat
form?"
"Purely national issues" replied the
governor. Then he added. sonaeNhaf
bitterly, "Your questions will go da-
answered"
But, governor, the people of South
ern California are deeply interested in
these affairs. They want to know why
the laws of their state are not enforced
against the railways"
Not a word more. 1 will not reply.
/ am discussing national issues only"
and the governor walked away.
Frosty Reception
Governor Gillett received somewhat
of a frost on his visit to Southern Cali
forni yesterday.
His coming had been heralded by the
machine Republicans and a public re-
ception was dreamed of by the machine
leaders.
Governor GilIett remained about the
lobby of the Alexandria hotel for an
hour at noon yesterday to greet the
legions who were to come, but less than
two score in all went to see the execu-
tive, and some of these were old time
friends and appointees.
After the governor waited in vain for
handshaking crowd to appear at the
hotel, he made his way to the Jonathan
club where the members of the Busi-
ness Mems Taft club rendered him a
banquet.
He was then whisked in an auto to
Watts, and then to Compton, to talk
to the people there.
If the governor has read the newspa
pers lately his mind doubtless was
troubled by visions of the skeleton at
the Hartman feast dragged out when
he was nominated for governor year
in advance at the Washington banquet
At o'clock last night salute to the
governor was fired from the foot of
American avenue in Long Beach. The
high school Republican club Joined in
the parade to the auditorium. A band
was hired to play and red fire was con-
sumed.
]. e. DAILY presided over the meeting
at the auditorium, where a medium
sized crowd listened to the political
speeches. A number seemed curious
just to see the governor. A large list of
vice presidents had been selected.