The San Francisco call., 1909-09-12
Refuses to Say Whether or Not
he VIII Be Candidate to
Succeed Himself
Governor Returns From Six
Weeks Fishing Trip in WiIds
of Humboldt County
By GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

refusal yesterday TO announce that he
would or would not seek a renomina-
tion.
The governor. accompanied by Mrs.
Gillett. his daughter and little son. ar
rived ia san Francisco at 2-3O o'clock
yesterday morning. returning TO Sacra-
mentO from a six weeks vacation spent
fn Humboldt county. The governor was
tanned deep brown and proudly eX-
hibited TWO hands well Scared by the
barbs OF fishing hooks. with which he
said he had spent the major portion OF
his vacation.
In answer 10 ? direct question, Gov
145or Gillett said:
J Il viii not tell YOU that 1 am going
10 be candidate for governor. and
VIII not say that j am not going TO be
candidate. il Is far TOO early for ans
nouncements OF that kind The spring
Viii be quite soon enough. ! viii make
I'D my mind then, and then I viii an
uounce my intentions"
Are you wholly unmindful of the
anxiety Of all YOUR subordinate Office
holders ] asked.
Not at an laughingly replied the
governor j appreciate their anxiety
and their uncertainty is their misfor-.
tune. IL may be that shall decide 10 ran
FOR the nomination. Six months hence
win be ample tine for the announce
1aent Of my candidacy. II ] do decide to
Ign. Meanwhile I viii not put myself
ir the position OF being compelled 10
trim my every act for the next six
months TO every political breeze"
The governor insisted that he had
not kept in touch with the political
situation and asked If there were new
developments or new candidates. Be-
Eond declaring that he deemed IL q mis-
take. for any candidate 10 announce
himself so early. Gillett refused TO dis
cuss the chances or probable strength
of any Of the men mentioned as can
oidates for governor OF for any other
Office.
PRAISES DIRECT PRIMARY
He was visiby pleased with the re-
ports OF republican harmony in San
Francisco that had reached him. He
said he believed that the party har-
mony In san Francisco was due in \
large degree 10 the direct primary cleo
tion law eliminating convention bitter
ness. and that he hoped The same re-
suits would be attained in the state
campaign next year.
Whether / run or not" said the
governor. I hope the republicans Of
California viii nominate next year
ma for governor upon whom we can
n mite both for the good of the state
ARD the good OF the party. 1t is time
70 have done with internal strife"
As a wager II is an odds on prOpo
sition that when spring rolls around
James \. Gilletr win be found present
with his petition for a place on the
republican ballot as candidate TO sue
ceed himself He is proud. and right
fully so, Of the constructive work OF
his administrat tion- That pride ex-
tends 10 the work Of the men
whom he has put into places of re-
sponsi bility. They are using every
leverage al their command 10 force
their chief into the running. They be-
lieve that with the direct primary Gil
lett viii be unbeatable. Their first fear
is that after putting them of until the
spring the governor may decide that
his health or that OF members OF his
family demand his retirement They
. also fear that prolonged delay IN the
announcement OF his intention may re-
suit IN breaking up the reformer or
anti machine legislative strength which
IS now Gilletts.
An attempt was made just before the
last legislature adjourned 10 round up
The young anti machinists in the senate
and assembly for Charles NJ Belshaw-
The roundup was effected, but il was
turned by the youngsters themselves
and they declared themselves in for
Giuett II he We're 10 be d candidate.
The support represented by the quasi
caucus Of young legislators represents
an extremely important slice of the re-
rf1biican vote of California. much OF
which was cast against Gillett two
Years ago. II IS an aggressive. fighting
vote and Gillett's friends want il held
intact for the primary scrimmage.
CURRY CAMPAIGN ACTIVE
The curry propa ganda is being car
ried up and down the state with an
energy that might be Indicative of
primary election only few months
away. From tie south comes re-
vival OF the stanton talk. Local poll
ticians supposed 10 be in the know
declare that stanton is getting in
: ocl of post holes and that his fences
Vsre in process of preliminary construe-
zion. with the Stanton talk comes
that OF the soutfs right" TO nominate
the governor next year. State division
viii probably accompany the next
batch. by way OF suggestion rather
than threat. OF course
I've Young senators are looming UP
81 the preliminary discussion of candi-
dates for lieutenant governor They
are John Stefson Of Alameda county
and i. II. Roseberry of Santa Barbara.
Both are holdovers on their first term in
the upper house Stetson served in the
lower house, but Roseberry is enjoy
ing his first legislative experience.
Both are clean. straight, capable
young men. They are hard workers
and public servants IN whom their
Constituencies and the state may take
iustifable pride In the fight for the
direct primary bill Roseberry showed
the stuff Of which he was made by
standing out against machine induce
ments and nattery OF a character sell
dom heaped upon beginner. Probably
neither VIII seek the job of presiding
over the senate Either would be more
than 2 credit 10 the post and 10 the
republican party at that post.
state Printer ". ". shannon is look
ing for the man who stated his alleged
candidacy for secretary OF state Shan
non has a grievance against that per-
son. He declares that he is not cam
didste for secretary Of state He likes
his present job and will be very CRATE
ful 10 the republican party and the
electors of California generally IL they
will kindly give him another four year
lease upon IT.
Jack" Stafford, sergeant at arms OF |
the assembly, is making no effort to /
disprove that ne is candidate for sec
retary OF state. Jack has been a cam
didate for that job ever since the direct /
Urinary amendment was introduced |
<more than two and a half years ago.
ose is chasing il ali over the map OF /
,no7sfo~~fo or1@ rar,rr<c shat he fe