The San Francisco call., 1909-02-24
Machine Prepares to See Primary Bill Pass
Wright Stanton Measure Will Be Adopted by
Legislature Because the Bosses Fear
Wrath of People
By George A. Van Smith
Especial Dispatch to The Call

in the assembly, will resolve itself
waged in the upper house. The align
ment will be for ano against the peo-
pie, and alignment against the people
is not nearly so popular in legislative
circles this year as It has been in for
mer days.
final passage in the senate for several
days. Several minor amendments made
necessary by faulty copying must be
made and before the bill is taken UP
for final vote Senator Wright will
submit it to j. Harry Zemansky. regis
trar of voters in San Francisco, and
Secretary of State Curry to insure that
ample time is provided for canvassing
and returning the vote and that the
measure is mechanically perfect.
SENATE OPPONENTS BEATEN
\ zemansky is expected in Sacramento
tomorrow. When he and the secre-
tary of state have passed final judg-
ment, Wright will call the bill up
and pass 1t. Every surface indication
psints to virtually unanimous vote in
the upper house. The opposition was
beaten in the upper house, and it's lead
erS, although defeat is a new quantity
for them, are clever losers and they
may be expected to swing into line.
Some of them, in fact, have announced
that they will vote for it.
The bill will go to the assembly sub
stantially as it was introduced. The
only changes will be in form and touch
ing the method of promulgating plat
forms and selecting committees. which
as now provided will be done by dele
gate conventions, which will have Moth
ing to do with nominating candidates
for Office.
LEEDS TO VOTE FOR BILL
Leeds, chairman of the assembly
committee on elections, who was in
charge of the job of drafting percent
age substitute when it was believed
that the Wright stanton bill would be
garroted in the upper house. has an
nounced that he is for the Wright
Stanton bill now.
J. N. o. Rech, another member of the
committee. has made similar announce
ment. Hinckle and Drew of the COM
mittee have been for the bill from the
start. Johnston of Contra Costa was
one of the original proponents of the
percentages, and he wants to be con-
WINGED by discussion. Webber has de-
clared for the bill. Hopkins of San
Francisco is against the bill.
ONE AGAINST ANYTHING DECENT
Pugh has not committed himself so
far as the public is concerned, and the
remaining or ninth member of the
committee, who is generally against
anything that is decent, has maintained
hostile attitude toward the measure.
But with the five out of nine mem
bers of the committee publicly COM
mitted to it, majority report should
be a simple matter for the .negotiation
of the assembly leaders and would re-
suit not only in averting the repetition
of the disastrous senate fight, but
would be a life saver for some of the
assemblymen who want to be permitted
to vote right on the bill when it is
finally passed upon by the house.
That this will be the ultimate pro-
gram is Indicated both by the lineup
of the house ana the fact that it would
be only the exercise of political horse
sense on the part Of the bosses to save
some mighty useful men from the
wrath OF the people.