Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-21
MACHINE MAY RUN
LEE FOR SENATOR
Attorney Said to Have Been Sc
Iected by Push as Sue
cesSor to Flint
MCKINLEY ALSO MENTIONED
Members of inner Circle Are
Divided in Opinion Be-
tween Two Men

According to wel1-authenticated ru-
mors in political circles yesterday, the
machine" Republicans of Los An
geles, and possibly those of the whole
state. and possibly those of Bradner w.
Lee as a candidate for the United
States senate.
Willis Booth refusing, w. M. Gar
| land hurrying away to Europe when
the machine" offered him the honor,
and other equally well known Republic
cans shying at the offer, it was report
ed yesterday that Mr.. Lee had been
| selected as the proper man for the
toga."
Mr.. Lee is a we'll known attorney
former chairman of the Republican
county central committee, and recently
came into prominence as having re-
ceived a fee of $125,O00 from the es-
tate Of the late e. ]. Lucky Bald
win. He has been chairman of the
central committee for about fourteen
years, and is a recognized power in
the political machine Of Los Angeles.
Whether Mr.. Lee will consent to be-
come q candidate is a matter of some
conjecture. He Is very silent when po-
litical matters are broached, especially
by newspaper men. 1t is stated in po-
ltcal circles, however, that strong
pressure" is being brought to bear to
induce him to enter the race.
A prominent Republican, in close
touch with the machine "inner circle,
discussing the rumor of Mr. Lees can
didacy yesterday, said:
Eyes. l believe the Republicans have
united generally on Mr.. Lee, but L
understand there is some question as
to whether he will accept the offer
If Mr.. Lee enters the race, I am salts
fed we can elect him. Next to Willis
Booth, who seems to be permanently
out Of the contest, / believe Mr.. Lee
would be the best man the party could
nominate. Mr.. Lee is we'll known
among the northern Republicans, and
has host of friends all over the state.
MANY SHY WHEN ASKED TO RUN
There has been much uneasiness
among the Republicans because of the
inability of the party leaders to agree
on candidate who will run. The lead
ers have met with several dishearten-
ing backsets, because as rapidly as
they decided on a good candidate, who
could make showing against John
d. Works, the Lincoln-R Roosevelt league
candidate, the man chosen refused to
try for the place. This has been due,
the Democrats say, to the prevailing
fear that the machine is doomed, no
matter what candidate 1t puts into
the race, but of course that is mere
prattle."
There was some divergence of opinion
yesterday as to whether Mr.. Lee would
be the candidate. One prominent Re
publican, who refused to discuss the
matter for publication in connection
with his name, said last night:
II believe this talk about Bradner
W. Lee becoming our candidate is pre-
mature While 1 have no doubt Mr..
Lee has been consulted in the matter,
am of the opinion that j. w. Nc
Kinley will be the candidate. This,
however, is conjecture-I am not in
close enough touch with the situation
to speak authoritatively."
When the name of Mr. Mckinley was
mentioned at Lincoln-Roosevelt league
Headquarters yesterday, one of the
members of the executive comittee
said:
II know Mr. Mckinley had been
slated for the senatorship for some
time, and have been surprised at this
talk about Booth, Meserve and others,
for I have information which makes
me believe Mr.. Mckinley has been
agreed upon from the first.
WANT FLINT TO SAVE MACHINE
"There are tricks in the Republican
machine not often suspected Dy lne
outsider. For instance, l am informed
that Senator Flint was induced to re-
tire from the senate because of the
danger of disruption of the machine
in California.
"Mr. Mckinley was mentioned for
the senatorship two years ago, it will
be remembered when Perkins ran. He
has had experience on the bench,
and has many friends. 1t will be re-
called that Mr.. Mckinley was in charge
of the fight of Henry T. Gage when
Tom Flint of San Benito county made
his memorable contest for the sena-
tolsihip, and George c. Pardee slipped
il rs a dark horse and compromised or
l. = $monized the differences in the party.
Mr. Mckinley is an astute politi-
clan. l am satisfied he will be the
regular Republican candidate for the
United States senate and that all
these rumors about Bradner w. Lee,
Gillett, Meserve and similar senator
ial candidates, will fade away as have
those about Willis Booth and others,
recently dragged into the race.
The opinions expressed by the Lin
coln-Roosevelt committeeman, how
ever. were not borne out by those of
the regular Republican branch inter
viewed yesterday all of whom request
ed that they he not quoted in print,
but who unhesitatingly predicted that
Bradner w. Lee would be the candl-
date.