The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
MACHINE FEARS
AND REFORMERS
WANT ". DAVIS
LincOIn-ROOseveIt League Lead
ers Seek Oakland Man as
GubernatOriaI Candidate
Herrin Gang Afraid Former May
or Will Run; May Persist
in Refusal
By GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

The hopes and the fears of both the
Lincoln Roosevelt league republicans
and the followers of the organization
are oentered largely in one man. The
leaguers hope he viii consent TO run
for governor, but fear that he Will per
sist in his refusal. The organization
men hope he will not become a can
didate for governor, but fear that the
pressure OF the leaguers viii be strong
enough to force him into the race. That
man is william r. Davis. formerly
mayor of Oakland, and one of the vice
presidents of the Lincoln-Roosevelt
league Of republican clubs
Thanks 10 the expressed opinions
of a few prominent leaguers from
southern California, there has gone
abroad an Impression that the Lincoln
Roosevelt leagues first choice for the
gubernatorial nomination was Francis
j. Heney.
The editorial denunciation of the
Herrin machine by the Hayes brothers
through their San Jose Mercury served
10 convince some OF the political fore
casters that the leaguers had traded
upon Black" Hayes adult ambition
10 become governor and that the edi
tOrisl revolt of the Mercury was ad
vance notice that the Lincoln -Roose-
velt league would be behind the bru-
nette Hayes assault on the republican
nomination.
Many politicians and some newspaper
writer's have been impressed with the
idea that Charlie Belshaws official con-
nection with the league and his CUB
ernatOrfal ambitions might result in
his selection as the candidate Of the
anti-machine organizatio Some of
the professional prognosticators have
attempted TO make the public believe
that Chester II. 'ROwell, president of
the league. sought its Endorsement for
governor Hiram W. Johnson, the en-
3nent san Francisco attorney. has also
come in for his share of honorable
mention and Marshall Hale has been
advertised as the under cover dark
horse candidate of The leaguers.
WORKING FOR DAVIS
While the newspapers and public
have amused themselves and each
other with their discussions of the
identity of the Lincoln Roosevelt
leagues candidate, the leaguers them
selves have been digging with might
and main to undermine the .defenses
Davis has thrown up and to force him
into running.
Several Of the candidates mentioned
for indOrsefnent by the Lincoln -Roose-
welt lesguers may safely be counted as
outside the field of possibility The
first two are Heney and Roweu.
Neither wants the Endorsement of the
league nor an opportunity to run for
governor. Neither has been seriously
considered, save possibly by a few
And that few has received no encour-
agement either from the men it would
make candidates or the friends of those
men, Hiram W. Johnson does not
want an Endorsement for governor. nor
anything else from the league. save an
opportunity 10 help make a fight for
candidate In whose ability to win he
has confidence.
Belshaw wants the encouragement"
of the league rather than its indorse-.
ment. So far the indications that he
would receive either have been neither
audible nor visible. Perhaps Hayes NAV
hope for the Lincoln Roosevelt leagues
Endorsement for governor. AS to that
] have neither information nor opinion.
But j do know that he has made no
bargain with the Lincoln Roosevelt
lesguers.