Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-09
Prepared to Fight Any Attempt of
'0Id Line Regulars to
Control Party
MAY WAGE WAR ON M'NAB
Northern Delegation Instructed
by Caucus to Withhold
Endorsements
BY +. SHELLEY SUTTON

T 10 o'clock this morning, in the
u music room of Blanchard hail. 2S2
South Hill street, the Los Angeles
county delegates to the California state
Democratic conference, which Will con-
Vene in this city April 1913, will hold
an important caucus, in the interest OF
which an appeal has been sent out ask
ing that all Los Angeles delegates at
tend.
The caucus this morning is of ex-
treme importance, in that the delegates
will not only elect a chairman of the
caucus elegation-probably Charles
Wellborn-but they will decide det-
nitely upon the course to be pursued In
the state conference, and vote as to
whether they will indorse certain can
didates for the primary nomination.
The San Francisco county central
committee met in caucus Thursday
night and is reported to have voted
unanimously to instruct every delegate
attending the state conference from
San Francisco to withhold all indorse-
ments.
Chairman Albert NJ Norton of the
Los Angeles county Democratic central
committee says this caucus was abso.
lutely controlled by Gavin McNab; but
whether the Los Angeles county dele
cation supports the San Francisco del
egation is a matter of much specula-
tion, Democratic leaders In Los An
geIes say the local delegation positively
will not. which may mean spirited
tussel at the conference.
MACHINE IN CONTROL
The San Francisco delegation. It is
charged, Is controlled by the old-line
regulars. or machine men. and Chair
man Norton predicts there will be an
interesting lineup should any of the
Gaplr tn xurQqf from
the reform leaders the control OF the
state party.
Entering, into the dispute as to
whether Theodore Bell and other can
didates shall be indorsed. there Is also
said to be pending the issue of whether
the northern Democratic leaders, In
Guiding such men as Gavin McNab,
shall continue to maintain the state
Democratic headquarters at San Fran
cisco, as they have been throughout the
political history of the state. 1t has
been rumored, but persistently denied
by Chairman Norton, that there Will be
a move to bring the Democratic head
quarters to Los Angeles.
There is much speculation as to the
attitude of the San Francisco delegates.
IL has been reported that a, certain ele-
ment of the San Francisco delegation Is
opposed to the candidacy of Theodore
A. Bell. If this opposition is found to
exist, 1t will be traced directly to the
machine, and the Bell contingent will
proceed accordingly. Yet, everything
considered, If the northern delegation
does not come prepared to attempt ma
chine methods, or to refuse to indorse
Theodore Bell. the state conference, II
is declared, has every prospect of pass
ing harmoniously.
OPINIONS VARY
According to the northern press, the
opinion relative to the purposes of the
state conference are widely divergent.
Chairman Norton said last night:
ION the eve of this important confer
epce It is perhaps important that the
Southern California Democracy be un-
derstood.
1--WE hope to introduce in this confer
ence a resolution setting forth the fact
that under the new primary laws the
expense involved In circulating a petit
ton for nomination is so far in excess
or the means of the average citizen
that the state central committee should
at least help defray his expenses
1--WE will urge in this resolution that
one of our reasons for calling the
conference is to authorize the state
central committee to take charge of
the petitions of candidates, select one
man for each state office, and meet
the expenses involved in the tremen-
tions as required by the primary laws,
which set forth that candidate for
state office must get his petition signed
by at least l per cent of the party
vote in each of ten counties in the
state, so that his petition will contain
the names of per cent OF the total
party vote in the state.
MUST GET 1900 NAMES
This means that the Democratic
candidate for state office must obtain
at least 1900 names of Democratic
voters from ten counties in the state,
and / maintain. and am supported by
many Democrats and Republicans, that
1t will require millionaires to get
nomination in California under the
new primary law.
1T am not criticising the law, but I
and many other Los Angeles Demo-
Gratis wish merely to provide a way
for poor men, as well as rich men,
to run for office and be elected
"This will be set forth in the resolu-
tion and this is one of the principal
objects for which the state confer
en- was called"
The call for the Los Angeles con-
vention originated at a conference held
In San Francisco January last The
first draft of the call issued from that
city set forth that the object of the
state conference was "for securing a
consensus of opinion as to candidates
for the various state and district Of
fees to be voted for at the primary
election in August"
The objection was made by many
Democrats that this provided for
course in violation of the spirit of
the direct primary law. Theodore A.
Bell, who is saiS to have been the
author of the resolution, consented to
the resolution being amended to read;
For the purpose of securing con-
sensus of opinion upon important
questions relative to the primary and
general election"
Y AS a result of continued criticisms,
in the face of this amendment. which
1t is claimed by conference advocates
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