The San Francisco call., 1908-08-15
LEAGUE WILL KEEP
Up REFORM FIGHT
Intends to Enter Heart and
Soul Into Campaign for
Taft and Sherman
Leaders Say All Differences
Will Be Forgotten in Battle
for Republican Ticket


Undismayed by the partial setback
sustained in Tuesdays primary, the
leaders of the Lincoln Roosevelt league
are unanimous in declaring that they
will keep up the fight against the rail-
party.
While the league did not win as
great victory as was expected by
most of the leaders there is no dis
couragement over the result The
leagues gains are definite and import
ant, and the returns indicate that 1t
will have a decisive influence on iegis-
lation.
Now that the primary election is over
the league throughout the state is
ready to enter heart and soul into the
campaign for Taft and Sherman. The
following statements by league lead
ers make it plain that all differences
will be forgotten in the fight for the
republican ticket:
BY FRANK n. DEvLIN, state presi-
dent of the Ieague-The result of the
primary election SO far as San Fran
cisco is concerned is, of course, dis
appointing to the league. That disap-
pointment is not to be construed, now
ever, as encouragement. The deter
mfnatfon of purpose shown by the
thousands of republicans throughout
the state to accomplish the work that
the Lincoln Roosevelt league has set
out to do, makes ultimate success GER
tain, whether it be in one year, two
years or five years. The primary fight
is over, however, and 1 nope that all
republicans will now work together TO
roll up handsome majority for Taft
and Sherman and the whole republican
ticket as nominated.
BY CHESTER HI. ROwELL. state
organizer of the Iengue-As I figure it
t5 t5e embeTr af league will have
in the assembly and 1S in the senate
The machine will have A and the demo-
Gratis 4 in the assembly. In the senate
the machine will have 21 and the
democrats 6. If there is any increase
in the democratic representation it will
be at the expense of the republican
machine. One more democrat in the
senate and four more in the assembly
would reduce the machine below a ma
Jority in each house. Consequently the
margin Of control by the machine is
narrow at best, while the league
though not in control, will be a very
important and on many issues a DOM
inant element in the legislature. 1
think the next legislature will be the
most decent California has had for
many years and that it can be trusted
to pass a direct primary law which will
guarantee, two years later, a reform
governor and Legislature. Altogether
the practical results attained by this
primary are far from insignificant.
But the long step forward toward ulti-
mate victory is even more important
than these practical results. Final
victory of the people over the railroad
machine is as inevitable as the victory
of summer sun over winter snow, and
the idea of turning back or growing
discouraged because the whole victory
was not won at the first trial has not
occurred to anybody. The same fight
has been fought in other states-in
Pennsylvania, New York. WISCONSIN,
Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Texas and
Oregon, and the complete victory was
never won on the first contest. Cali
fornia is the last and hardest battle
ground of all and it may take time to
win. Personally 1 am in this fight to
continue it without compromise or
flinching, whether 1T takes six months
or 20 years. I am sure all the others
who have been active in the work feel
the same way. A meeting of the execu-
tive committee of the league will be
called at once and plans for the cam
paign of 1910 will begin right now. as
well as plans for the present passage
of the direct primary law by which the
victory will then be gained. The league
began the campaign in California for
the nomination of Taft and will con-
tinue actively in the campaign for his
election. / anticipate a Taft majority
nearly as great as that secured by
Roosevelt.
ByTSIEYER LISSNER, chairman of
the league executive committee of Los
AngeIes-We had hard fight and the
machine was too much for us this time
Our intention is to keep our organiza-
tion intact. Our people are more thor
oughly determined than ever to keen
up the fight until the machine is de-
stroyed. 1 believe we will be able to
influence better nominations in many
districts won by the organization.