The San Francisco call., 1910-06-08
Candidate Received With Re-
markabIe Demonstration by
Thousands of Voters
Only Issue of Campaign Is War
on Political Bosses, the
Speaker Declares


held, could not have accommodated
comfortably another hundred persons.
Every seat in the immense hall itself
and in the balconies as well was occu-
pied and scores were massed standing
at the rear and sides Of the rink.
Johnson talked for an hour on the
issues Of the state campaign and won
a splendid ovation. Time after time his
speech was interrupted by prolonged
cheering, and again and again bursts
Of applause drowned his utterances.
Troubled though he was by the first at
tack of hoarseness that has embarrassed
him during his two months Of cam
paigning, his voice still carried to every
corner Of the hail
UNIQUE IN HISTORY
Last nights meeting must take rank
In place unique in the political annals
Of San Francisco. Just as the whole
state campaign has differed from any
ever held in California, by virtue of
the new direct primary law, so the
Johnson mass meeting differed from all
others that have marked the opening
Of a gubernatorial campaign in this
city. Only under the direct primary
system could such a crowd have been
drawn together more than two months
prior TO the time when party nominees
are to be chosen.
1t was upon this point that johnson
himself based his speech. He declared
that the time for complete political
revolution in California was at hand
because Of the opportunity afforded all
the people, by means of the direct pri-
mary, TO express their will and throw
of forever the domination of political
bosses and political machine In his
own words, Johnson appeared as rep
resentative of irregular repubIicanism
and insurgency" in California
One issue, asserted Johnson, sounds
the keynote of the entire political
situation in California, and that is
whether the people themselves are to
assume control of their own govern
ment or are TO leave it as a chatteI Of
the Southern Pacific. His respects to
the other candidates for governor were
extended in the declaration that while
they might talk of good roads, material
prosperity and the development of
state resources. these things were not
issues, but blinds. They are the things
that every citizen stands for, and over
which there can be no political ques-
tion or problem raised, he said.
But" he added, you couldn't take
a gatling gun and shoot enough spine
into any Of these candidates who are
opposing me and asking your suffrage
to make them even mention the sainted
Aames of William T. Herrin or the
Southern Pacific railroad
Johnson dwelt at length on the his
tory of Southern Pacific activity in
California and upon the evils growing
out Of the convention system, but he
did not stop at this. He touched upon
national politics, and his glowing ref
- erences TO Theodore Roosevelt We're
the signal for one of the greatest
demonstrations of the evening.
"A year ago, at the beginning of an
other campaign, announced the brand
of my republican politics." asserted the
speaker proudly. 4, then declared II
to be, and I now declare it to be in
surgent in its every detail insurgency
is merely opposition to the looting of
the people through the alliance be-
tween big business, politics and the
tenderloin."
BALLINGER DENOUNCED
Richard BaIlinger, said Johnston, is
the outgrowth of the same system that
gave the nation an Aldrich and a Can
non. and Ballinger he denounced as "a
disgrace TO a nations cabinet" His
own republican insurgency, he said, he
took from the broad humanitarian
teachings Of such men as La Toilette,
Cummins. Dolliver and Beveridge.
Johnson expressed the utmost conf
dence in the outcome of the primary
election and. summing up observations
made during his trips about the state,
declared that the fight was already
won and that the burden of the re-
naming battle now consisted in pre-
venting a poisoned press from poison
ing the minds of voters and in prevent
ing misleading statements from going
awake to the issue, he asserted, and
from north to south the demand for
political revolution is overwhelming
The state is at the height of pros
perity," said the speaker. In only one
city of California have found business
at all complained of. and that is the
city Of San Francisco. How long will
it take you TO learn that good times
and good business go with good gov
ernment? I am not caviling against
nor criticising any class in San Fran
cisco. but ] deny that the Bassitys and
the Flannerys represent either union
labor or the workingmen."
200 VICE PRESIDENTS
The throng in Dreamland rink in
cluded a large percentage of women,
and from all parts Of the hall opera
glasses were leVeled at the speakers
stand. where sat 200 honorary vice
presidents of the meeting. 1t was but
a few minutes after s o'clock when
Johnson and the other speakers, pre-
ceeded by a fife and drum corps of vet
erans Of the Grand Army of the Re
public, entered the building. The crowd
arose and cheers continued until the
members of the party had reached their
seats and until Johnson had bowed
acknowledgement.
At the rear of the platform was a
large picture Of Johnson, hung before
a drapery of American flags, while the
speakers desk was hidden behind a
large painting of the state seal. At
one corner of the platform sat a group
of visitors TO the city, bearing banner
upon which was blazoned. Kern Corn-
ty and the Oil Country for Johnson"
WEINsToCIx PRESIDES
George z. Crothers introduced Har-
ris Weinstock as chairman of the meet
ing, and the latter made a short ad-
dress before calling upon johnson. His
first mention Of JOhnson's name. how
-