Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-25
SPALDING BALKS
At BEING A COAT
Refuses to Be Led to Slaughter in
Republican Senatorial
Fight
BLASTS LAST G. o. P. HOPE
Meserve, with Whose Candidacy
Party Is Dissatisfied,
Still Hangs On
nY T. SHELLEY SUTTON

BY 7. SHELLEY SUTTON
Fearing the results of the dissatls-
faction which has been created IN the
ranks Of the G. Q. p. of California, by
the candidacy for the United States
senate of Edwin A. Meserve of Los
Angeles, who was recently thrust INTO
the race by Will +. Herrin and otner
''machine' representatives, the Repup-
licans of Southern California have been
making a strenuous attempt during the
last ten days to drag out another can
didate. more popular in the north, ana
one calculated to harmonic the ny
dra-headed Republicanism of Los An
geles. s..,o..
The latest target of their pleadings
is A. G.. Spalding, the famous sporting
goods nagnate of San Diego; put
once more their efforts have failed,
SO the G. O. P. now has no one but
Meserve to cling to in its futile con-
Mr.. spalding Thursday night ad-
dressed a lengthy but polite letter 10
the so-called citizens committee Oh
San Diego, which attempted to induce
him to make the fight, and in TINS
letter firmly declined TO Dc leu TO the
slaughter ,4
That the situation is very delicate
from the viewpoint of machine man,
is evidenced by Mr.. Spaldings letter.
He goes thoroughly into the detalls
of the senatorial tug-'o-war, ana IN
cidentally sets forth number OF exact
ing and Objectionable or not 1mpos.
sible) conditions under WHICH nc LAIsii'
consent to run.
CONDITIONS PROHIBITIVE
Mr.. Spalding's conditions, as stlpu-
lated. could not be considered py the
machine leaders for one of these con-
t. EatG n
from the race. He demands that he
be not required to make personal
canvass of the state. This is extreme
ly important, as the regulars have ab-
soIutely no chance to elect united
States senator If a thorough canvass Is
not made of the various counties, as
well as in the lobby.
Mr.. Spalding also stated that ne
would not be willing to spend more
than $500 in his campaign.
Mr.. Spalding's letter, in which ne
declines to make the race, after st1pu-
lating these conditions and reviewing
+he issues involved, will be of peculiar
interest to the regular Republicans
of Los Angeles. Its wording 1ndlcates
that he is not anxious to be coupleo
with the machine, and that, although
he denlored the disruption of his party,
bv "insurgency," he is too much in
sympathy with the insurgents to en-
ter the race as a regular candidate
Tn other words, Mr.. Spalding is too
l1oval to his state, and too consclen-
tious. to aspire to the United STATES
senate as a machine" candidate. His
letter follows:
sPALDING'S REPLY
San Diego, Cal, June %, 1910.
MIR. G. A. Davidson, chairman
Dear Sir:
1 have received your letter OF
the Goth inst, requesting my sane
ton to the announcement OF my
name for Endorsement at the forth
coming primaries as the RepubI-
can candidate for the United
States senatorship from Califor-
mia.
keenly appreciate the honor i'm
piled by your request. L regard
the office mentioned as the highest
in the gift of any state, and If
were to occupy a seat in the Unit
ed States senate, I would rather
represent California than any 9TH
er state in the Union.
was born @ Republican. My
father was one of the founders OF
the Republican party in Illinois,
and was a friend of Abraham Lin
coin. I have always voted the Re
publican ticket. l am neither q
iaWyer, a politician nor an orator
7 am simply an everyday sort of
business man, and a plain Repub-
lican. having always stood for Re
publicanism, without any affiXes
or suffiXes.
7 am not blind to the faults of
the Republican party in these latter
days; but, in a broad sense, 1 be-
lieve in Republican policies and
think it would be a great misfor-
tune to the nation to have that
party become disrupted for any
reason at this crucial period in
Americas political affairs.
Now, as to my candidacy. 1 am
not seeking this office, nor have
any political aspirations. If the
necessity existed, or if national con-
ditions for any reason demanded
that I should and If I were the on
ly man who properly could repre-
sent this section of the state, my
reply would probably have been in
stantly given in the affirmative.
But there are other men who could
represent you as well as I, and
who in addition are experienced
politicians which I am not.
Then, again, a partisan nomina-
ton entails a partisan struggle,
which I am reluctant to assume.
1 have enjoyed serving the public
without remuneration in my pres
ent office OF highway commissioner
of San Diego county for the rea-
son that I am thus serving all the
people, Of all classes, irrespective
Of political affiliations.
DEPLOREs SITUATION
If I were sure of being able to
represent and work in harmony
with the views of all the people Of
the entire state, regardless Of their
politics, and unhampered by politi-
cal commitments of any kind-and
| may add that this sort Of repre-
sentation is the kind that Southern
California ought to have at this
growing period Of its development
I would be more disposed to ac-
cept such nomination, but upon |
the following conditions:
First should not be required |
to make any prediction promises,
nor to become committed to any
special interests, organized bodies,
or to individuals.
Second-I should not be expected
to make personal canvass Of the
state.
Third-Of course, it would be
expected, and it would seem prop
er and I would be willing to con-
tribute a reasonable sum for legi-
innate campaign expenses. To
avoid any misunderstanding as to
this question, it would be my idea |
to establish a special fund by maxi
ing a cash deposit in some San
Diego bank up to the limit Of, say
$7b00 (Which is the annual salary