Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-08
THEODORE A. BELL FOR
GOVERNOR

party IN TINS state tnere mas prop-
= ably never been a time when 1t
was so important that only men Of the
highest character and ability, with
are uncompromising opponents of the
Southern Pacific machine, should be
put upon the state ticket, and GER
tainly never a time when there was
such a bright promise of success for
the party as reward for doing this.
The Republican party in the state
is hopelessly divided between the ma
chine element, who take their orders
from the Southern Pacific political
bureau, and the decent Independent
element of the party who are endeavor-
ing to free both their party and the
state from Southern Pacific control.
Should the reform element of that
ing primaries, as of course all good
citizens hope they will, there will un-
doubtedly be a considerable machine
element who will not support with
enthusiasm the reform candidates
Should the machine element of that
party win, as they have done hereto
fore. and may possibly do again. it is
unbelievable that the members of that
party who are making the fight for
reform. who are pledged against South
ern Pacific control Of their party and
the state. and to whom this control
has become unbearably offensive,
can support the candidates of the ma
chine and the Southern Pacific political
bureau. In such an event a large in
dependent vote will be cast for the
Democratic candidates, provided those
candidates represent true reform prin-
ciples and unqualified opposition to the
Southern Pacific influences in politics.
After a careful survey of the promi-
nent Democrats Of the state, The Her
aid has become fully convinced that
the man most fitted by his past record
in politics, and his high character for
ability and integrity to lead the party
to victory, is the Hon. Theodore A.
Bell.
Mr.. Bells past career in politics has
given abundant evidence of his un-
compromising opposition to the South
ern Pacific machine. In his fight
against this machine he has earned for
himself the opposition of the machine
element Of his own party. an element
which fortunately is not sufficiently
strong to seriously harm any candi-
date whom the party may nominate.
We believe that Mr.. Bell can unques-
tionably command a more solid sup
port from his own party than any
other man that the party could place
at the head of it's state ticket. and
we have no doubt that in the event
of the nomination by the Republicans
of a machine candidate Mr.. Bell will
command a greater strength among the
Independent voters Of the state and
the members of that party who are
opposed to machine rule than any
other candidate that the Democracy
can select.
Should the forthcoming Democratic
conference to be held in this city next
week decide to indorse a candidate for
governor, we believe that that con-
ference should and will indorse Mr.. Bell.
Certainly no other Democrat available
present as many of the elements Of
strength peculiarly required by a can
didate in order to lead his party to
success in this particular juncture in
the politics of the state as does Mr..
Bell No one who knows Mr.. Bell
will have any doubts that. if elected
governor. the state will have as its
chief executive a man who will hon
estly and ably administer the powers
of his office, and will in nothing be
servant Of. and in everything be opposed
to the dominance of the Southern Pa
cifc machine in the public affairs of
the state.
With Mr.. Bell as governor 1t would
be very hard for any state board to
make such a record for inefficiency as
the state board Of railroad commission
ers has placed to it's credit during the
past years of its incumbency in office.
For a governor. under the provisions
Of the constitution, not only can, but
should and must, see that the laws
are enforced, and that all public Of
ficials do their duty.
With Mr.. Bell as governor, and
Democratic majority, or a majority
composed of Democrats and indepen-
dent Republicans Of the Lincoln
Roosevelt brand in the legislature, the
state would for once in its history
have a government whose chief aim
would be to govern for the benefit of
all the people, and which would not
be subservient to that sinister influence
which has so completely dominated and
so corruptly controlled the politics OF
our state in the past-the Southern Pa
cihc political machine.