The San Francisco call., 1910-02-09
ATTITUDE
PUZZLES MACHINE
Refusal to Run Again When Fat
Fees" Are Offered Startles
Organization
Withdrawal Complicates Situa-
ton and New Candidate
Is Discussed
By GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

make the race for reelection in
spite of guaranty of fees more than
sufficient to meet the expenses of an
extravagant senatorial primary cam
palgn involves a problem too difficult
for the practical men of the organiza-
ton
W. f. Herrin is in southern Califor-
ma. lie may unravel the tangled skeln.
meanwhile the politicians lined up with
the organization are of the opinion
that Frank Flint's formal announce
ment of his retirement from the senate
IS hnal; that Flint is really out of the
running and that new candidate must
be developed in southern California.
the possible if not probable compli-
eation OF the political situation by
thnt's withdrawal is the smallest cause
Tor the politicians bewilderment. 1t
is Flints refusal to avail himself of
the softest campaign fund ever Of
Tered California candidate that has
stunned them temporarily.
CAMPAIGN FUND URGED
1t was generally conceded by the
wise ones of the bachine that Flint's
informal declaration of an intention
TO quit was merely a bid for the ante.
They thought that the junior senator
did not relish taking the safety pin
wide primary campaign.
Ihe word was passed to the citrus
fruit men that the state could not af-
ford to lose the services of their best
friend" in the senate. 1t was up to
the friends of the administration gen
orally, and the citrus fruit interests
particularly, to see that Flint had
campaign fund. 1t was also under
stood that if the citrus fruit people
would come through with a pot with
which to make a front and emphasize
the demand" upon the senator's pa
triotism, ample funds would be forth
coming from other interests.
And so it was done. There was little
of the rough stuff" that could give
offense to senatorial dignity. 1t is told
of several persons that direct offers of
cash contributions ranging from $1,000
up were made. Flint refused them.
The big scheme was one which none
believed the senator would put away.
He was to be retained in number of
cases. That the cases did or did not
involve an aggregate of $3.50 is beside
the question. They were cases that
would not interfere with the duties of
the senator and the fees-well, the
fees would be sufficient to pay for
corking campaign.
HAS SUFFERED LOSSES
On top of that offer Flint has broken
into print with a formaIs declaration
of his withdrawal from public life.
Those who are in a position to know
something of Flint's business relations
say that he has suffered losses incident
to the shriveling of some of his Los
Angeles investments and that he has
preserved the appearances which come
high in Washington. These men were
of the the opinion, however, that Flint
had not overlooked the opportunity
that most senators close to Aldrich
have for making good guesses at the
market. Now they are prepared to
believe either that he is broke or that
he has made so much money that he
can not afford to associate with a lot of
senators. In any event, Flint says it is
UP to him to get back into business
harness and the politicians have come
around TO the belief that he really
means 1T.
Acceptance of Flint's announcement
as final has not resulted in the discus
sion of a large number of probable can
didates Lee Richardson of Los An
geles has been advanced to the men
toned class, and Lee c. Gates of Los
Angeles will undoubtedly be the Lin
coln-R Roosevelt league candidate.
HERRIN'S RETURN AWAITED
Pending the return of w. +. Herrin
from Los Angeles the date for the as
sembling of the state central commit
tee is problematical. If his plans are
not complete when he returns that
date will remain problematical for a
while. And incidentally some of the
regulars in office who hope to succeed
themselves would shed no tears if there
was no committee meeting for a long
time. They are not bursting with
anxiety about a meeting which in some
quarters is expected to name ticket
or arrange for a convention which will
name a ticket. They would be quite
content to go into the primary race a s
mere republicans. They are of the
opinion that sufficient number of
voters will dub them machinists any
how, without going to any trouble to
insure that sort of thing through
regular" label.
Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court Sloss is to be the beneficiary of
the Lincoln Roosevelt leagues supreme
court program. Regard for Justice
Sloss figures in that program, but the
desire to get the scalp of Justice Mel
vim is even a larger factor. The
leaguers do not hope to get two mem
bers of the supreme court. They be-
lieve that by pumping for Sloss they
can beat Melvin with southern Cali
fornia candidate.
Superior Judge c. d. Wilbur is the
man picked by the leaguers to turn the
trick. Southern California has been
agitated for two years over its failure
to secure larger representation on the
supreme bench. The Los Angeles anti
machine contingent made a big bid for
a place when Melvin was nominated
two years ago They believe that they
can hold the anti-organization vote
throughout the state for Wilbur, that
the geographical position will enable
him to break into the regular vote in
the south and that by Pumping for
Sloss they can push Melvin into third
place and off the supreme bench.
NEW CANDIDATES APPEAR
For the local superior bench two new
candidates have advanced almost to the
point of formal declaration of their in
tentions. They are Robert Mcclellan
and o. M Goldarcena. Mcclellan is as
sociated with his brother, Cliff McClel-
Ian, who figured in the last municipal
campaign as the official manager of
Crockers canvass. Goldarcena is well
known at the bar and was formerly
well known in politics. Both are re-
publicans.
Assemblyman Milt Schmitt of the for
tieth district has formally announced
his desire to succeed himself. Schmitt
got into Tom Finn's campaign strong
and for fi,,1a was considered the