The San Francisco call., 1909-01-16
Senator Stetson Fails in His
Attempt to Secure Execu-
tive Sessions
Big Delegation From Represen-
tative Bodies Will Be in
Attendance at Meeting
By George A. Van Smith
Tspeoial Dispatch 10 The Can


? OF COMMERCE BUILDING, SACRA-
. MENTo, Jan. 15.-with the wright
stanton bin as the skirmish base the
peoples fight for an honest and ade-
quste direct primary election law will
be taken up IN the legislature at pub
lie hearing before the house and SEN
ate elections committees on next Thurs
day night
As far as the senate committee is
concerned all hearings and meetings
rouching the subject Of direct pri-
mary legislation will be open. The
fight against the Wright Stanton bill
viii, 50 far as committee action goes,
be under the public eye. The commit
the organized today decided upon a
preliminary Joint public hearing and
rejected Senator John stetson's sug-
gestion OF executive sessions for final
consideration OF the primary election
measure
WANTS EXECUTIVE MEETINGS
Senator Stetson was the proponent
Of a direct primary bill when he was
p member OF the assembly and his re-
quest for executive committee meet
ings, while II came as a surprise, was
not construed as indicating his opposi-
tion TO genuine direct primary legis-
lation. Senator Stetson explained that
his request was based on desire to
protect the committee from importu-
nate advocates Of one or another
scheme when It settled down TO its
final deliberations. The joint public
hearing planned for next Thursday
night is primarily for the benefit of the
advocates and enemies of the Wright
Stanton bill who are not members OF
d. the legislature. It is expected that ex-
Code Commissioner John F. Davis and
Collector OF Customs T. s. Stratton. rep
resenting the Direct Primary league;
Paul Bancroft. representing the league
= OF which he is the president and the
San Francisco board Of supervisors;
q. Hiram ". Johnson, the attorney; John
- u. Sweeney, president OF the San Fran
cisco labor council, and q committee
. representing the Good Government
league OF san Francisco will urge the
passage OF the Wright-Stanton bill,
which has been so generally and enthu-
sissticslly Endorsed both by civic and
labor organizations and the press, az
well as the official Endorsement of the
supervisors of San Francisco.
The bill introduced in the senate by
It's soint author, Senator Leroy A
Wright Of San Diego. and in the as
sembly by Speaker Stanton. will be the
basis OF the direct primary work done
by this Legislature The postal pri-
mary bin, introduced by Senator Rose
berry Of Santa Barbara. is generally
conceded TO be outside the realm Of
American practicabi5ty. None questions
the sincerity and good faith Of Senator
ROseberry, who has outreformed all
the reformers, but he proposes a de-
parture so radical and so obviously
susceptible to the most fragrant frauds
in populous districts that even the
enemies Of direct primaries are afraid
70 take il up.
PRIMARY LAW HIS PLEDGE
Assemblyman 7. D. Johnston Of Con-
ira Costa, an organization man who was
elected on direct primary platform
and who was expected to introduce a
bill, announced today that his bill
would not be presented. Johnston said:
The bin introduced by Senator Wright
and Speaker Stanton is virtually identi-
cal with the bill I intended to propose
There is no need for the Introduction of
another I came to the legislature with
but one pledge 10 my people. That
pledge was to work for the enactment
Of q proper direct primary law. I am
going to redeem that pledge by doing
all I can for the passage Of the best
law we can get"
Johnston is a member Of the assem-
bly, committee on elections The fact
that undoubtedly e clear majority OF the
members Of both houses are honestly
IN favor OF a comprehensive direct pri-
mary election law which will fully
meet the pledges reiterated by their
parties and the demand voiced by 1872
ZOO electors at the last general election
does not mean that the direct primary
bin is TO have anything like smooth
sailing Indeed, It is altogether
e probable that its stotlniest season will
be experienced within the committees
At the organization Of the senate com
mittee today Senator Savage of Los
Angeles announced that he had never
voted for any primary measure and
that be was not prepared to change his
attitude.
NEW ANTI-LOBBYIsT RULE
The anti-lobbyist rule which Sneaker
stanton has enforced rigidly in the as
sembly since it went into effect in the
lower house on Tuesday, became oper-
stive in the senate today by virtue Of
lis Incorporation in the senate rules
yesterday. It was enforced, too. after
q fashion The venders Of newsnanerS
Of the senate and the suffragettes
cooled their heels in the outer eorri
dors while the senate was in session
but there was no spectacular enforce
ment in the matter Of lobbyists con
cerned in matters closer to the pocket
books Of some Of the patriotic con-
Germs who helped defeat the Islais
basin Improvement proposition and
who are on the job now taking another
twist at st. Leonidas Scoofy, repre-
senting the lumbermen. who are deeply
sggrieved over San F>rancisco's desire
TO protect itself and the shipping Of
san Francisco harbor. spent a half
hour within the rail. upon the senate
floor. Part OF this time was spent in
earnest conversation with Senator Gus
Hartman. Neither Hartman nor any
other senator loosed a cry for help; nor
did President Pro Tenn Edward 7.
Wolfe. who conducted the work of
confirming a big batch OF executive
appointments, exhibit any violent in
dignatiOn over the failure Of the SER
Eeant at arms to purge the senate OF
the presence of a man with mis-