The San Francisco call., 1910-01-23
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tHE politics of California has in
the past been almost wholly
personal but now it promises
~ 7 to become intensely sectional
.Ma....,...n.....s. besides Under the convention
g %% system the geography of politics
%% was allowed for without friction
%%I in the distribution Of nomina-
: tions, but with the direct pri-
e~+.~....%+++c mary the sectional appeal goes
straight the people and there is no sort of buffer
interposed Sectional politics is acrimonious spite
full and unreasonable. 1t is actuated by squalid
and unworthy spirit.
THE SECTIONAL ARGUMENT
Take the case OF the supreme court nominations
to be made next summer. Four candidates are
mentioned for the two republican nominations.
They are all men OF high stamp and standing, but
the candidacy of two OF them is being advocated
the ground that they live in Los Angeles. The
argument is made that Los Angeles has not its
fair share OF representation now on the supreme
court bench because only of the present justices
comes from that town. The reasoning is based
very common mental confusion. A court is
not in any sense representative body like
legislature.
THE VILLAGE SPIRIT
In the case OF judicial office the natural thing
to do would be to nominate the incumbents Sloss
and Melvin, who have made good in that exalted
Office. don't say that they are any better men
than James or Wilbur OF Los Angeles, whose claims
urged chiefly the ground that they live in
that town. 1t is certain to be a very pretty fight
and the politicians are saying that the lineup will
be James and Melvin against Sloss and Wilbur
l have nothing to urge against any OF these can
is regrettable in all instances, and especially so
in the case of Judicial office.
FED BY JEALOUSY
Unfortunately it is a threatening spirit in Cali
forna and it grows by what it feeds on 1t took
its start in Los Angeles fed by mean jealousy
OF San Francisco and of anything that might
advance the interests of this city. This was the
spirit that inspired the vote against the issue of
Isais creek bonds. Los Angeles did not incur
any liability for that debt was not interested in
any way and had nothing to pay,.but the project
was designed TO improve the San Francisco water
front and that was enough to bring out a hostile
vote in Los Angeles.
BEDEVILMENT OF POLITICS
The acrimonious appeal to sectional feeling is
certain to become important factor in the
politics of the coming and it makes for
increasing complication and bedevment of the
primary campaign. Add to this the fact that
considerable number of democrats who take orders
from the machine will register as republicans for
the primary, and the prospect is confusing. It is
with the help OF complications like these that the
professional politicians make their game. Chester
Rowell writes in the Fresno Republican:
There is absolutely only thing do, from the
standpoint of republican that is the
thing that ought to be DONE from the
standpoint OF patriotism That is accept and
the raised by democrats acknowledge
that the present organization is dominated by
Southern Pacific hired political bureau point
that the republican party the right to
select its organization. and that it has regained
that right it is going throw this misrepresenta-
tive organization and put in a republican one; to
repudiate those republican officials who are guilty of
the charge the democrats make nominate candi-
dates who aggressvely guilty of it; to offer the
people of California in practical way, the reform
which the democrats demand in impractical way
The republican party do this and there is very
active organization in the republican party determined
it, If this is republican victory certain
If this is republican defeat is certain.
DISTRACTING FACTORS
The truth of this reasoning may be conceded
as general proposition, but If appears to assume
that the ticket made up by the primary vote
NAV not be representative of the republican party
1t is true that tickets were not representative
under the convention system but if the theory of
the direct primary is well founded the result must
be representative Mr.. Rowe seems to fear that