Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-18
STATE SENATE
THROWN INTO
PANDFMONIU
WILD CONFUSION MARKS THE
NOCTURNAL SESSION
INDEPENDENT REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS ABSENT
officer Is Sent in Carriage to Round
Up Missing soIons-Action on
Direct Primary Election
Bill Postponed
Especial to The Herald. ]

NACRAMENTO March 17.-Consider
alton of the question of whether
~ or not to indorse the district OF
state at large plan of direct primary
for the election of United States sena-
tors was postponed by the state senate
tonight after two hours behind locked
doors, with sergeants at arms securing
the city for absent members, ana the
leaders of the two factions endeaVor-
ing to get the better of a SITUATION OF
great moment to both
Lieutenant Governor Porter sent an
officer in his own carriage to look for
absentees. During the long wait be-
tween s and 10 o'clock the senate cham
ber was the scene of wild confusion.
The regular Republicans charged
that some of the Democrats and some
of the independent" Republicans had
remained away in order to break the
deadlock that existed on the direct
primary bill The Democrats declared
it was up to the majority party to Sc
cure d. full attendance OF members.
The independent Republicans de-
clared their innocence of doing Demo-
cratic politics.
The trouble began shortly after the
night session was called to order.
Frank w. Leavitt of Oakland, one of
the leaders of the proponents or the
district plan, asked for call or the
senate in order to force the attendance
of absent members.
Walkers Motion Defeated
Senator Walker of Santa Clara, an
opposition Republican, Immediately
moved the call be dispensed with,
which motion was voted down by the
following vote:
Ayes-Bell. Caminetti, Campbell, Cur
tin. Cutten, Miller, Rosebery, Rush,
cso
Nays-Bates, Bills, Burnett, Hare,
Hurd, Kennedy. Leavitt, Lewis, Nc
Cartney, Price, Reilly, Savage, Weed,
Wolfe, Wright-15.
This roll call revealed the absence of
fourteen senator's as follows:
Anthony, Birdsall, Black, Boynton'
Cartwright, Estudillo, Finn, Hartman,
Holohan, Martinelli, Stetson, Stro-
bridge, Welch, Willis.
Before the call of the house was final
ly dispensed with all except Stetson
Anthony, Birdsall, Holohan, Black and
Cartwright were arrested and escorted
to their seats. The others could not
be found.
Shortly after 10 o'clock the doors
were unlocked and Senator Wolfe of
San Francisco moved that further con-
sideration of the question be postponed
until tomorrow night at o'clock.
An hours debate followed, during
which Wolfe declared that no matter
how Ill he might be. if such momen-
tous subject were under discussion in
the senate, he would appear to vote,
even if 1t were necessary to carry him
into the chamber.
He remarked that several members
OF the Republican as we'll as of the
Democratic party were absent, and
while he did not charge any one with
bad faith or dereliction of duty, the
ahsenteeS were fully informed of the
fact that the direct primary bill was
to be called up as a special order to-
night.
Deny FiIibustering
Senators Sanford and Curtin, Demo-
Gratis, replied they were not aware of
any filibuster among the minority
members
They declared they stood with some
of the Republicans for a good square
primary election law" and were ready
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