The San Francisco call., 1909-04-18
GOOD GOVERNMENT
L[AGU[RS TO FIGHT
Leaders of Organization Decide
Against Presenting Primary
Municipal Ticket
BY George Van Smith

The Good Government league is
preparing to be both present and ac-
counted for in the coming municipal
campaign. George Baker Anderson.
the new secretary and manager, has
taken possession of his job and the
league Offices in the Kamm building
and preparations for the fray are un-
der way.
The political party idea. though still
held by some Of the good government
leaguefs. is in cold storage by virtue
of an overwhelming adverse sentiment
and the league will continue its work
along the lines laid down when the
organization was originally perfected
The Good Government league could
undoubtedly present primary ticket
and secure a primary ballot, but the
wiser heads in the organization real
ize that such move virtually would
destroy the leagues effectiveness in
a campaign for the election of public
officials. Unless the present plans are
changed radically there will be no
Good Government league primary tick
et but there will be a good govern
ment ticket on the general election
ballot.
me league leaders contemplate NOM
mating complete ticket by peptition
after the primary election. That tick
ct will be composed entirely. If pos
sible. of the candidates nominated on
the several party tickets. The league
will prosecute independent investiga-
tions touching the private and public
records of the nominees Of the regular
parties, pick the men whom 1T con-
siders the best of the lot and nominate
none of the regular parties nominate
candidate satisfactory to the leaguers
an independent will be named for that
place on the league ticket.
The fact that the good government
league will not present 2 primary ticket
does not mean that the league will not
take an active part in the primary cleo
tions. 1t is the purpose of the Ieaguers
TO make their Investigations prior to
the primary election and TO take the
public into their confidence as to the
result of those Investigations. The can
didates for nomination by the. several
parties whose records and affiliations
meet with league approval will be given
clean bills and those whose records
show spots will be recommended for
defeat at the hands of their respective
partisans.
George Baker Anderson, the new Sec
ictdIS anu Iud0dSeT the leagues az
fairs, is the editor of Pacific Outlook
As chief of the peoples lobby he out
ragged the feelings of several thin
skinned Legislators by asking them to
explain their failure to vote on the
anti-ractrack bill,t and was denied the
privilege Of the assembly floor for his
temerity. Anderson is clever. capable
and experienced in the kind of work he
has undertaken for the San Francisco
good government league. He has been
assured of financial support to comport
with the enthusiasm always shown bv
the ieaguers, and he should be effective.
The employment of Anderson by the
local good government league does not
mean a state organization of similar
leagues. Nor does 1t mean that the
local organization is to be in any wise
connected With the peoples lobby. OF
which Anderson is the working head
The several good government leagues
now in existence in California NAV
some time effect state organization.
but Anderson comes to San Francisco
TO work for the local organization, and
the local organization only.
The County Clerks social clubs an
nual BANQUET rendered Harry ]. Null
erevy Yesterday did not develop the an