The San Francisco call., 1910-12-24
JOHNSON TO Dust
HERRIN PARTISANS
Governor Elect Promises to Rid
State Government of All
Machine Workers
By GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

sI will get rid Of every man respon-
sive to the Herrin machine. Let there
be no misunderstanding on that score"
There is the groundwork of Hiram w.
Johnson's plans for the reorganization
of the government of California. Be-
yond that he was not prepared to dis
cuss those plans yesterday.
Redemption of every platform pledge
made to the people by the republican
party and the elimination of the Herrin
machine politician from the govern
mental machinery of California are to
be the first slogans of the administra-
ton for which Hiram w. Johnson be-
gan his final preparations yesterday.
Johnson. declared that he would not
be prepared to announce the personnel
of his immediate official family until
next week. but he also declared that
he had settled down to the work pre-
paratory to moving to Sacramento. The
governor elect will go to Sacramento
New Year day and be ready TO take the
oath of office on Monday, when the
senate shall have complete dthe formal
canvass OF the vote by which he was
elected.
REDEMPTION OF PLEDGES
Johnson is very much in earnest
about the literal redemption OF the
pledges made to the people in the party
platform upon which he was elected.
1t may be assumed for the time that
his inaugural address will leave no
room for doubt on that score. If after
that there remains any doubt in the
minds of the Legislature Johnson may
be trusted TO remove it in his own way.
It may be true that there were some
pledges made TO the people that john
son has no deep personal interest in
other than that they are definite party
promises to the people and as such
must be redeemed by the republican
party. IT is only fair to Johnson to
say in this connection that there is no
plank in the platform to which he is
opposed as contrary to good public
policy. Those planks that call for leg
islative enactment without reference
to the people he is for on principle.
PEOPLES RIGHT TO RULE
Those pIanks that call for the ref
erence of this subject matter to the
people he is also for on the ground
that the people have the inherent right
to govern themselves and even to make
mistakes if they so elect For instance
Johnson is not visibly excited over the
question of woman's suffrage. There
is suffra ge plank in the republican
If necessary for the submission of a
constitutional amendment providing for
equal suffrage. After it's submission
its fate will be a matter Of indifference
to Johnson. It's ratification or rejec-
tion viii be up to the people and their
verdict will be satisfactory to him.
The direct legislation plank does not
appeal to Johnson as Offering a pana-
cea for the political ills affecting the
people. It might be gathered from a
conversation with the governor elect
that he was prepared to discount lib
orally the promises of the more en-
thusiastic direct legislation advocates.
PREPARED FOR FIGHT
That does not mean that he is not in
favor of the initiative. referendum and
recall. He does favor them, and IL need
be he will fight for them as weapons
that should be in the hands of the peo-
pie, even if they are never employed.
Johnson's reorganization of the ma
chinery of government will be complete.
He has not said that he would drive
out of Office every man who he finds
there by grace of preceding admins
trations. He said during his campaign,
and he said again yesterday, Il will get
rid of every man who has been respon-
sive to the Herrin machine. Let there
be no misunderstanding upon that
score"