The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-25
hat Figure in the Contemporary Life of California
By Edward f. CaE1ill

direct primary has not abolished human nature.
There are more politicians and more politics than
ever before. As our professor objects the offices
are scrambled. There was scrambled politics
under the old rule, and the boss labor saving
device that released people from whole lot OF
trouble. Now the direct primary is merely
aspiration after democracy which is not changed
by calling it by an abusive name or by indulgence
in excited rhetoric The people are simply given
an opportunity to assert themselves. Whether they
will use that opportunity nobody can say, but no
such chance was afforded them by the old system.
They had more control or voice in making
nominations for office than they have over the flow
ing tide OF the multitudinous seas. The people who
finding fault with the new plan are those who
fear democratic rule
The Advantages of Autocracy
There is much to be said for that view il only
they would say it honestly and without the pretense
OF finding fault with details to disguise their pur-
pose What the college professor in the North
American Review wants as substitute Tor democ-
.racy is. some form of autocracy There is nothing
in the way of government so good as autocracy
granted humanity and intelligence in the autocrat
If am named dictator OF California, for instance
will at once select J. c. Stubs for prime minister
because he is endowed with fine sense of hunor
l will name William Hood minister OF the interior
for the same reason, and after holding cabinet
council three will order Schwerin to be shot
next morning by a file of soldiers We will halter
Adjutant General Lauck between two bundles of
hay TO suffer eternal perplexity and we will give
Colonel George Pppy perpetual monopoly OF the
milk business. I convinced that all these meas
ures would contribute to the general welfare.
Others might not think so, but they would have
nothing to say. II anybody dared to make imperti-
nent remarks or offer meticulous criticism would
clap him into Jail. That is autocracy.
President Diaz, who is conceded to be the most
enlightened autocrat in the world, has half dozen
men shot before breakfast every day and spends
most OF his time granting concessions Of public
property to men less worthy than Colonel Puppy.
The Most Profitable Business
Banking is the most profitable form OF business
ever invented, but apparently no process has ever
been discovered that will keep bankers honest if
they want to steal Elaborate machinery for exam
nation of banks has been devised only to make the
failure more conspicuous and more lamentable. We
have put Alden Anderson in charge with CONNIE
tent staff and salary list of $4,000 year. The
clearing house employs Mr.. Kains who knows the
business from to lizard and pays him round
salary. YET have had some ugly failures with
the customary suicide within few DAYS OF course
Mr.. Anderson has only been in charge Tor a sborr
time and his department, perhaps, had not had time
examine the status of the wrecked banks but Mr..
Anderson merely succeeds other machinery DESIGNED
for the same purpose, which experience has proved
to be wholly Intellectual or worse Mr. Kans
escapes responsibility because the banks that failed
were not in the clearing house. But the experience
OF years with state and national banks demonstrates
that official examination does not prevent the worst
kind of failures
Consider the book keeper. Popular imagination