The San Francisco call., 1909-12-05
WILL VOTE ON
NONPARTISAN
PRIMARY LAW
Charter Amendments Changing
Method of Municipal EIec=
tiOns Come Up
Political GOssips Unearth New
Method Whereby Chief of PO-
lice Cook Will Retire
gy eEoReE A. VAN SMITH

The advocates OF nonpartisanship in
municipal politics viii have an oppor-
tunity to demonstrate the good faith
Of their protestations at the ballot box
when they vote for governor and state
officials next November. A charter
amendment or amendments providing
for nonpartisan direct primaries SINH
lar 10 the system employed in Los An
geles is 10 be submitted.
Last summer. when all the poiiti-
clans and the public generally were in
suspense over the probable decision Of
the supreme court in the direct primary
test case. nonpartisan primary
scheme was partially worked out 1t
was understood then that if the su-
preme court knocked out the state law
that the necessary charter amendments
providing for nOnpartisan municipal
primary election system would be sub
mitted al the November municipal cleo
zion. These amendments would have
been submitted by the board of super
Visors- The attitude of the new board
may be unfriendly. In that event il is
declared that the proposition viii be
put on the ballot by popular petition.
MEETS NTH FAVOR
The nonpartisan primary scheme al
ready has something more than the
passive attention of at least two local
political forces. And as TO the scheme
itself there is virtually no difference
Of opinion. The good government
league and its new corrollary, the pub
lic welfare fund. are both interested
and committed TO the nOnpartisan pri-
mary system. The municipal league of
independent republican clubs formally
Endorsed nOnpartisan primary elections
for san Francisco and pledged its nom
5nees 10 the board Of supervisors TO
work for their adoption They have
four supervisors elect The democratic
organization has no quarrel with the
scheme, and il has two supervisors
elect.
The good government league leaders
interested in nonpartisan direct pri-
maries appear 10 be in favor OF post
poning action until 1911. If that be
done the system. il ratified by the vot-
ers. can not be employed until 1913,
since il must be approved by the legis-
1ature
II the charter changes necessary are
submitted and ratified by the voters
next December the legislative approval
can be secured in the following Janu-
Rry and the new system employed in
the next municipal campaign.
The only apparent reason for the de-
lay suggested by some OF the good
government leaguers is fear of the Op-
position Of the new board Of supervis
ors. Other political and civic forces
interested in the movement are op-
posed to any unnecessary delay. They
prefer TO proceed without the interVen-
tion of the supervisors. regardless of
the attitude Of the board. The propo-
sition can be put on the ballot by a
petition signed by not less than is per
cent Of the registered vote, and the
proponents of the system contend that
the circulation and preparation of the
petition would result in familiariZing 8
the public generally with the purposes
and provisions Of the amendments in a
degree that would be virtually impos-
sible If the amendments were initiated
and submitted by the supervisors.
TWO AMENDMENTS NECESSARY
At least two amendments would
probably he necessary. since not all of
The san Francisco officials elected at
the municipal elections are city officers.
The judges are state officers, and they,
the sheriff and the district attorney
could probably not be brought in un-
der the provisions of a city or munich
pal act different and in its essence an
tagonistic to the state law and consti-
tutional provisions touching certain
Offices
Presumably the scheme when worked
out win provide that those Offices which
can not be considered county Offices
shall be filled at the general elections
in the even numbered years, as is done
IN every other county in the state.
Every San Franciscan Interested or as
ISOLATED with the practical side of poll
tics is watching the Los Angeles cam
paign with intense interest A ma
5ority Of the local politicians are Of the
opinion that Alexander, the anti
machine msyoralty candidate. will be
elected. Under the nonpartisan pri-
m-rY scheme he was nominated by
margin Of thousands over his nearest
opponent. His election will be con-
strued as conclusive proof OF the merit
of the system, and serve as the cue for
the opening Of the local campaign for
g similar system.
Along with the discovery of q new
crop Of sure winners Of the chief of
police baton under the Mccarthy ad-
lninistration the political gossips have
uncovered the method by which they
assert Cook is to be got out of the
way Of Captain John Martin, Captain
Duke. Captain Gleeson, or whoever gos-
sip may decide 10 invest with title to
The job
METHOD OF HANDLING COOK
No charges are 10 be brought against
Cook. say the gOssips. Neither is he
10 be asked 10 quit without a fuss and
with the promise of speedy retirement
No Chinatown gambling is TO be dug up
for Cooks discontinue, because that
sort of thing might be employed by
Cooks friends TO embarrass Cooks
successor. The good fellow play is
not to be invoked, because Cook might
refuse to be a good fellow" and force
the hand Of the commission. Say the
nviseacres. who are forming new poIit-
ical families for Mccarthy every day.
Cooks leave Of absence from his SER
eeautcy viii be revoked by the new
police commission Cook viii be forced
10 beat it back to his old job or lose
that berth and the certainty of pen
sion for the uncertainty of his tenure
on the unexpired portion of a four
years term as chief. The answer is
easy. according TO political mathema-
ficians Cook viii give up the chiefs
baton and hustle back TO duty as a
sergeant.