The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
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! mighty interesting politics in
California. We about to ex-
! plore an unknown field of the
gay science because the opera
ton of the direct primary is vir-
! tually new business in this COM
: monweath-
c......4.....3 We had lesson in the uncer-
tainties and perple4ties of a three cornered fight
in the recent municipal election but with the direct
primary that variety of political conundrum may be
multiplied many times. Take for example, the mat
ter of choosing the republican nominee for gov
ernor.
THE LINEUP
Present indications are that Glett and Curry
will contend for the votes of the element that
with the machine. Against them will be arrayed
somebody chosen by the Lincoln Roosevelt republl-
cans and the reformers. / say this is the present
situation, but it obviously disaster for the
machine that to permit its continuance would be
grave tactical bunder. What follows? 1t follows
that either Gillett or Curry will be pulled down and
retired from the field unless the perfect discipline,
which has made a succession of machine victories
possible has broken down The machine IS always
numerically in the minority, but its adherents act
together like platoon of police driving mob.
GILLETT OR CURRY?
Either Glett or Curry would suit the machine.
are exceedingly doubtful, and with reason, about
his election in November But if he refuses to quit
he could pull votes enough from Glett to give the
nomination to a Lincoln Roosevelt man. OF course,
it Is always possible that the reform candidate
might suit the machine quite we'll either Gil
lett or Curry. You never can tell A man who IS
familiar with the history of politics in California
is inclined to laugh or to weep according to the
mood when he recalls the past affiliations of some
OF the men who are making the most noise in the
reform camp
REFORMERS WEARY
have said that the machine element is in the
minority but this is not always true It is perhaps
true about half the time. The California citizen
belongs to a tickle and volatile generation. He
quickly wearies OF reform, or rather he gets tired
OF the reformers. The truth is that the reformers
are not an amable folk My personal sympathies
all that side, but find that the reformers
quite as likely to quarrel with their friends as with
the common enemy. That is to say, they have no
more discipline than mob, and they fail to under
stand that in politics you must work with the tools
ready TO your hand if you want to accomplish any
thing Politics fulhlls ideals. No
became sincerely attached to Isdor Jacobs coat
tails.
REFORMERS A SOUR FOLK
This is unfortunate but it is the fact that the re-
formers do cultivate the political graces 1t is
ing the politics for the daily papers a steady job
invariably acquire a strong prejudice against
formers. They find them a sour folk and uncertain,
as we'll as occasionally puffed up with their
importance.
1t seems like reasonable inference from the
facts of the situation that Mrs. Gett will continue
for some time to come quite uncertain whether her
husband ought to run for governor. The state OF
California attends her pleasure.
TWO GENERAL ELECTIONS
Practically we shall have two general elections
next year. The condition observed in the recent
municipal campaign when three-fourths of the
electorate registered republicans will be accenu
ated. Most of those who take any interest in poll
tics will register in the dominant party secure
voice in the choice of candidates What they will
do at the polls in November is very different mat
ter. A man who votes for a losing candidate at the
primary is quite likely to keep voting against
the successful man when the elections come so
close together. There will be many surprises.
MACHINE POLITICS MAKES FOR
MEDIOCRITY
There is a lack of inspiring figures in the political
lie of California today We fallen on the day
of little people and there is not one man. either in
the ranks of the reformers or on the other side
whose name is like trumpet call There is no
Newton Booth left in California
This is one result of prolonged period of ma