Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-25
NEW BOGEY LEAPS
UP TO PESTER S. P.
Leeds Refuses to Run for Senate,
Leaving G. O. P. Con-
fronted by Savage
DISRUPTION is INCREASING
Fear 'OId Push Road Roller Can
not FIatten the Man Who
Defied 1t

As indicative of the unprecedented disrup-
tion which has produced vertable pande-
monium in Californa's @. o. p, placed five
men in the race for the governorshp dragged
at least three others into the United States
senatorial contest and arrayed leader against
leader and faction against faction In the
chaotic scramble for office. while still others
stubbornly refuse to run for office because of
the fear of 'sour grapes" 1t came to light
yesterday that the machine Of Los Angeles
county is divided against itself In at least
other important contest.
Walter Leeds. supposed to have been the
candidate Of the machine against former Sen
ator w. H. Savage In the thirty-fourth sena-
torial district, and who pushed forward
for that nomination by the leading S. P.
bosses" of the county, who feared to in
dorse Savage because the latter fought to
defeat the Los Angeles consolidation bill, and
who individually favored the election Of
Leeds, WILL It has been learned. withdraw
from the senatorial race and make his fight
to return to the assembly.
INNER CIRCLE" DECISION
This decision was reached in the Republican
Inner circle yesterday. It is said, because
Savage absolutely refused to give up his sena-
torial bee" This would indicate. too, accord
ing to a number of Republican wiseacres, that
Savage ''has the goods" the machine lead
ers, and that they powerless to help them
Selves although they prefer Leeds. However
this may be, Savage will remain in the race
for the state senate. despite his past record
there, and Walter Leeds will abandon his
hope OF stepping up into the senate, but in
stead will content himself for another term
at least with the office OF sssemblyman.
And here comes the sad. sad chapter Of the
narrative. The Los Angeles county machine
leaders. as represented at the courthouse by
a number of the old-line Republican incum-
bcnts realize that II both Leeds and Savage
stay in the race for the same nomination
Lee c. Gates will have a walkaway with the
nomination, and rather than see Gates elected
the push would sacrifice both men.
But they object to Leeds bitterly. Every
where the name of Leeds is spoken with an
ominous complaint. For Leeds is blamed for
the present direct primary law. The court
house incumbents accuse him of being directly
responsible for the primary law Under the
primary law the county incumbents cannot
solicit or accept Democratic Endorsements, as
they must swear to support majority OF the
candidates on the ticket on which they will
run for office. They cannot run on both tickets
and cannot support a majority on both tickets,
go arc left high and dry with no possibility
Of support except from the "old push"
RoUT NEARLY COMPLETE
As the ''old push is badly disrupted and on
It's last legs. the county incumbents must all
but concede that they are facing inevitable
defeat Neither do they dare solicit the sup
port of the Lincoln Roosevelt league, for they
are In doubt as to what will be the strength
OF either faction, and are afraid to line up
in the controversy for either side. The league
on the other hand has indorsed one or two
county incumbents, and these men, so in
dorsed, are independent of the organization
and can command support from both sides.
All of this adds fuel to the fire Of criticism
under which Leeds is laboring.
Savage, on the other hand, 1t is claimed,
will get but little support from the machine
"inner circle" and with his record in the last
legislature staring the public in the face he
will have difficult journey back to the iegis-
lature.
THE house divided against Itself shall surely
fall'' is the motto of the reform element of
the Republicans, and If the saying is as true
as It is popular the Republican machine or
ganizaton in Los Angeles county, as in tho
state, on November will look like the ruins
of Messina after the earthquake.