The San Francisco call., 1910-01-09
BOURBONS IN
SQUABBLF OVER
PARTY MEETING
State Conference TO Consider
Candidates for Primaries
Encounters Snags
Resolution Setting Forth Essen
tial Points of Platform Is
Adopted After Discussion

Adopted Alter DISCUSSION
Warm discussion over the advisable
tE OF holding a state democratic con-
ference in Los Angeles in April to con-
s.Ger candidates for the August pri-
1rrfcs and 10 make arrangements for
rae dine OF petitions in accordance
nIrn THE primary law was the feature
.l Yesterdays session of the conference
or leading California democrats at the
81 Francis hotel
H. W. Juilliard Of Santa Rosa, minor
its leader in the lower house Of the last
legislature. attacked the proposed con-
ference in The most vigorous manner as
d. gathering called for a purpose di-
...t1y opposed TO the spirit Of the pri-
marry election law He fought hard
-a prevent tho passage Of q resolution
sIir- such conference. but the force
of urw beers WAS against him, and the
.a.E far tIe meeting was issued. though
Ir terms somewhat modified from those
~ the original draft
PARTY PLATFORM FORMULATED
Wiu The exception Of this difference
Angeles conference there was no oi-
vision of sentiment manifested in the
transactions OF the assembly and
spirit OF unity prevailed
The conference adopted as the plat
foam of "a lifornia democracy d resolu-
zion setting forth the few most essen
t7I party policies in concise, unequiNo-
cal language; put itself on record as
rsroriny thc removal Of all the mem
n7-
mission and authorized special com
rlftteo TO tai steps toward bringing
about this end; put over for further
consideration a resolution faVOring
institutional amendment making the
office Of railroad commissioner an ap-
p0intive instead OF an elective one de-
rTare6 itself as opposed to the central
bank project. and put its stamp OF ap-
prorsl upon the income tax
During two sessions al the st
francis hotel yesterday the conference
struggled with the several matters
r-ffsr Toomed up for consideration dur
ing the earlier sessions Friday ana last
ufght brought the meeting to an end
with wen attended Jackson day
banquet at the Argonaut hotel
OPPOSITION TO CONFERENCE
The debate on the advisability of
meeting in Los Angeles in April to
election in August arose in the after
noon on q motion to adopt a committee
report authorizing the conference AS
serbIvman Juilliard took violent eX-
ception to the resolution as being op-
posed TO democratic principles ana 70
The spirit Of the state primary law.
Although the primary law that was
passed did not please many OF US IN
lis details" declared Juilliard, 1T still
was step in the direction in which we
have been attempting TO move. We
lare a primary law and we have no
right TO condemn il as whole II
is deserving Of q fair test, which viii
show its weaknesses, II such exist
by such a conference as Is pro-
posed. however, we would be doing
violence TO the very law we have so
long wanted. and which We have now
enacted. That law provides for the
choosing Of candidates at a primary
election. and now. we are proposing
this conference for the very purpose
~ choosing them. If we do such
thing there viii come just criticism
afterward.'
STANDS BY PRIMARY LAW
JuilUsrd insisted that the evasion Of
the spirit of the primary law could
not bc overlooked. such a conference,
lo said, though merely a conference
iu name. would amount in fact TO
nominating convention and stand
party movement as Objectionable TO the
primary law as though IL was the
act Of the machine Of the lowest po-
Itical party in the state
Barclay Henley was the first 10 chal-
lenge Juiliard with question as to
why The same objection should not ap-
pIy 10 the conference then in session.
"It does. in q measure" answered
Juiliard. 1T struck me that way when
received the notice of the holding OF
this conference.
Has this done any harm?" persisted
Henley.
Not yet" answered JuiIliard. but
it came near IL yesterday"
Another suggestion in opposition to
JuiIIard's objection was that the pro-
posed conference should be looked upon
as merely the acceptance of an invita-
zion from democrats of Los Angeles
for general meeting. Judge Raker.
the chairman of the conference. took
this view, suggesting that an invita-
tion might be accepted with propriety
and the TumpUs started after the party
was ia session.
BELL SOLVES DIFFICULTY
other suggestions were that such
conference would be necessary to get
candidates into the field for various
state offices. or that without II there
might be different sets of candidates in
every county Juilliard bundled all the
objections together and tagged them
as begging the question. Senator J. B.
Curtin was the only other active pro-
noncnt Of the same view, however. He
lad very serious doubts. he said, il IL
would be in keeping with the spirit OF
The primary law 10 indorse one or two
candidates for an Office which a dozen
might aspire to
Theodore Bell finally furnished the
solution Of the difficulty. He proposed
an amendment 10 the resolution call
ing the meeting to make il read for
the purpose OF securing a consensus
of opinion upon important questions
relating TO the primary and general
elections TO be held in 1910"
..The original language descriptive of
fho purpose Of the conference was that
the meeting should be held for secur-
ing a consensus of opinion as to can
didstes for the various state and dis
trict Offices 10 be voted upon at the
primary election 10 be held in August.
ro-a .4o,.f Z lrfr1ry rRsApera NJ and