The San Francisco call., 1910-06-08

upon these propositions. We all favor
material prosperity although it may
be we differ from our opponents in
one aspect here namely, that we would
not favor material prosperity pur-
chased at the price of political sub
jugation or moral degeneracy. Gap
plause)
ONLY ONE PROBLEM
But the only problem that does not
rest upon glittering generalities or re-
sounding platitudes is the question of
taking this government from the ma
chine that has debauched it and cor
rupted it for 40 years. And you can not
take as gatling gun and shoot enough
spine into any of these gentlemen who
are seeking the suffrages of the people
to make them even mention the sanity
names of William f. Herrin or the
Southern Pacific.
I could paint the lily and gild re-
fined gold with them. I could wave
old glory and count the stripes. 1
could talk generalities about the prog
ress of the state. But this year there
is something else demanded of us. 1t
is demanded of US that we strike the
blow that means political freedom for
California and that will eliminate for
all time the malign influences having
their head and front here in San Fran
CISCO
I'm this campaign I would not have
you believe there is any warfare
against corporate property, any plan to
burn railroad rolling stock. Our war
is against successful dishonesty alone.
We simply say to the Southern Pacific:
You run your business within the law,
but keep your dirty hands off our poll
tics or we will kick you out.
I'VE are not candidates in the ordi-
uv~xr to-, ~
not gum shoeing through the state
begging for votes This is not a beg
ging, or an entreating or whining
campaign. This is fighting campaign.
/ would not walk to my nearest auditor
to ask him for his vote. But I'd walk
any distance, I'd undergo any fatigue,
any labor to preach my crusade of free
to my and your children. No Southern
Pacific owns this land. No Herrin has
any title to it. And it is a state worth
fighting for, my friends.
- DO you realize that if we do not
win this year we can not make this
fight again for another generation?
Next year you will find yourself with
out any direct primary if you lose this
time. But If you win, the direct pri-
mary, wherever it is defective or cum
bersome, will be amended by its
friends Then for another decade this
machine may not rear its head.
SPEAKER FLAYS HERRIN
Every man familiar with the polit-
ical history of this state understands
the peculiar subjugation in which we
have been held all these 40 years. You
may delude yourself with the belief
that the capital of the state of Califor-
MIA is in Sacramento. No such thing.
The capital of the state of California
is located in railroad office in San
Francisco For more than 80 years that
has been the true condition of our po-
litical life. One man receiving a prince
ly salary has sat in his Office in San
Francisco and reaching into boards of
trustees, boards of supervisors, bribing
the legislature and even putting his
talons on the judicial ermine itself, he
has governed this state. BY the mere
pressure of a button he has dominated
the government. We are determined
this year that if the people are to be
governed by the pressure of a button
the people shall press the button, rath-
er than William F. Herrin. Cloud ap-
plause.)
by bribery and by outrageous fraud
this corporation fastened itself upon
the political system of California. It
made nearly every branch a mere de-
pendency of itself. For its own busi-
ness and for its own profit it has gov
erned us badly.
LAS one instance of the political
degradation this machine has plunged
US in, we point to the fact that last
year at the University of California
the lieutenant governor, the second
highest official in the state, addressing
the youth about to begin their citizen
ship, had the brazen effrontery to say
that a man should follow in the foot
steps of a political boss rather than in
those of a reformer. He told them in
thinly yelled phrases that they should
follow the crooked path rather than
the straight path. And it was only
natural and legitimate from his stand
point that he should say so, because
his political existence is owing to the
great machine. The lieutenant gov
ernor owes his very Office to outrageous
and shameful bribery.
RUEF.s CONFESSED BRIBERY
.tAt the last Santa Cruz convention,
you remember, do you not, that Abe
Ruef received $4,000 from William r.
Herrin for the San Francisco delega-
tion. Ruef confessed that He de-
livered the delegation, which there
after voted just as Herrin commanded
Do you realize that the state of the
government of California today iS in
large part the result of that infamous