The San Francisco call., 1909-02-28
Primary Law Victory
In Assembly Assured
Wright Stanton Measure Deemed Salvation of
Republican Party in State
By George A. Van Smith
Especial Dispatch TO The Cali

CALL HEADQUARTERS CHAM
BER OF COMMERCE BUILDING. SAC
RAMENTo. Feb. 27.-@Instead Of
wrecking the party the direct primary
bill and the other constructive legis-
lation eraeted by this legislature will
prove the salvation of the republican
party. Thus tersely did Secretary Of
state Curry sum up and dismiss the
papers and dema goe-es, who have sent
up persistent wall about the wreck
Ing OF the republican party through
the enactment of the Wright Stanton
direct primary election bill.
Curry is one of the state officers who
have never been Under any apprehen-
sions about the effect of compre-
hensive and adequate direct primary
election law. Like many another old
timer Curry was quite content to worry
along with the convention system, with
which he had managed 70 do fairly well
in the matter of landing offices, but lie
was also one of the first to declare
that If the people were to have direct
primary law it should be a genuine
measure.
YELPERs' PLANTS DISREGARDED
None OF the men of the republican
party give serious heed to the plants
OF the XeADeTS VINO nave nOWIed Inat
party ruin must inevitably be conse-
quent upon the enactment of decent
primary law. The Wright stanton
bill viii make it possible for the re-
publieans of California to offer their
services to. the state through their
party without the consent of any boss
or clique of bosses It viii afford
like opportunities TO the men of other
parties and by so doing will result
49,
dates who will be responsive TO the
people. and in partisan organization
which will be representative of the peo-
pie rather than an organization re-
sponsive only to special interests.
Failure on the part of the republican
party to enact decent and honest
direct primary law at this session
would mean ruin to the republican par
ty, and the genuine republicans who
have real regard for their party
and its successes freely admit that
fact
STRENGTHENS REPUBLICAN PARTY
The enactment of the ghe-Stanton
direct primary bill the passage OF
Governor Gille1t's road bonds bill.
rate regulation bill, the Walker
anti-rate bill and the splendid banking
and insurance bills will not only make
this legislature stand out in the history
OF the state out Will sllflIn6dSaF2Diy
strengthen the republican party Incl
dentally, they viii make Governor Gill
let's administration loom up as the
biggest, from the point of constructive
legislation, in the history of the state.
The administration is not blind TO this
fact. Governor Gillett said yesterday
referring TO the direct primary bill:
Get the bill over to the assembly and
through that house at once, so we may
have it out of the way of the other Leg
fsIationr
The air is thick with rumors about
the manner in which the Wright-Stan-
ton bill is TO be emascuIated when It
reaches the senate, which will be Tues
day The public is Informed that the
assembly has been organized to write
into the bill the scheme proposed by
MeCartney4in short, a 40 per cent plu-
ranty for United States senators and
25 per cent for all local candidates. with
the alternative of conventions.
Grove L. Johnson may make some
such attempt. 1t will be abortive The
deepest dyed machinemen realize that
the public will not consent to be trieked