The San Francisco call., 1910-12-18

: H pie counter, runs through con-
. temporary journalism to such an
II extent that this might seem to
be the single executive function
: @@%%aaYse:3saa about which the public is con
9 cerned If he has other duties
z {. It is assumed that the people
2 z . ! not interested To be sure, the
exercise Of patronage carries
certain poignant personal inter
est that obscures the sense of proportion and directs
monopoly Of attention on the fufIlment of an ap-
parenty degrading Junction because this is politics
and it is difficult to touch politics and not be defled
BY WAY OF ILLUSTRATION
By way of example and illustration I offer the
following from the Sacramento Bee:
Then there has been the talk of whether Governor
Giett would attempt shake few plums from
Johnson's by making appointments just before
going out of office. An instance in question is the
appointment of superior judge for Marin county to
take the place of Judge Lennon who has been
elected justice OF the first district court of appeal
On the theory that Giett will make the appoint
ment, s. J. Savage, former San Francisco Police
Commissioner Harry P Flannery and Robert Har-
rison are said TO be after the job.
In this connection it is recalled that Governor
Pardee made number of appointments the
OF his retirement and all of them for four years, the
terms expiring on January of next year The new
governor and legislature come in January 2
Ordinarily Pardee's late appointments would hold
over until Johnson is in office. But it is whispered
that many of the appointees will resign and be
appointed by Gillett. Since it would be illegal for
them to resign and accept appointment to the
position the obstacle will have be overcome by
switching the jobs either that appoint
who stand close the present governor.
JoCKEYING
You will find very much the same style of COM
and It IS all treated as matter of course Now the
assumption underlying all this is that the governor
OF California IS sitting up nights to invent dubious
tricks and practices designed to jockey his successor
out OF certain plums of patronage The explanation
that former governors have INDUCED in the same
sort of jocleyng does not make it the act of gen
tlenlan. 1t is precedent that might very well be
honored in the breach
GOVERNOR, SINISTER
submit that this is a strange and not creditable
conception Of the office and its duties. The normal
governor is assumed to be a sort of political shyster
who spends his time devising tricks and lodges
whereby he may foreclose his successors right to
hand out certain fat plums. That this assumption
should be given such wide acceptance as matter of
course and free from adverse comment is proof of
the low tone of political ethics that prevails in this
commonwealth, and that it should be justified by
precedent is evidence of the moral deterioration
that so often follows contact with politics At the
same time it is not at all impossible that Glett may
disappoint the expectations Of his commentators.
ANDERSoNS REAPPoINTMENT
The same assumption and similar line of com
rnent and acquiescence followed on Gllett's reap
pointment Of Alden Anderson to be state superin-
tendent Of banking. Mr.. Anderson is pre-ennently
fit for the place and Governor Johnson will do him
self credit should he continue him in office, but this
fact does not justify Gillett III reappontng him to
four year term, dating from the beginning of the
second period Yet this act was treated in the press
as if it were merely smart trick by which longer
term in office was secured free from interference by
the succeeding governor. I am not at all that
this theory is legally correct but it was so treated
by the newspapers and II was accepted on the as
sumption that everything is justfable in politics.
If that is true it would be equally ustifabe should
all Gillett's appointees resign this month and be re-
appointed for full terms Indeed, some such theory
underlies the speculation have quoted from the
Bee.
WHY SO SOUR
find the following in the Watsonville Register
The venerable pelican who writes a page under the