The San Francisco call., 1910-03-11
THEODORE BELL
CANDIDATE FOR
NEXT GOVERNOR
Announcement Gives New Shape
TO Democratic Situation Re-
garding Primaries
Battle Offered to Herrin Ma
chimes Attempt TO Control
Bourbon Nomination


Declaring that the direct primary law
had so shaken the Herrin machines
hold on the republican party that the
railroad boss was securing the state
Tor q complsisant democratic nominee.
Theodore A. Bell formally announced
yesterday that he would seek the demo-
cratic nomination for governor
Bel asserted that railroad domina-
lion Of the people Of California was the
one issue Of The ensuing campaign, and
taat. fearful OF disaster in the repub-
Icau primaries, the Southern Pacific
political bureau was endeaVoring TO Sc
curc the nomination Of democrat
whose election would insure continue
ton Of its power.
Bells announcement not only gave
new shape TO the democratic situation,
but aIso served to take some Of the
wind ont Of the sails of his enemies in
his own party. He declared that he
would not accept the Endorsement Of the
Los Angeles state conference or any
SIMILAR conference. and that his appeal
would be made 10 the people IN the
open primary.
"REGULARS" CHANGE FRONT
Bells announcement came as the re-
suit Of several conferences with the
rec0 zni0ed wheeihorses Of the new or
ganization- Those conferences were IN
turn the direct result OF The old organi-
zation bourbons' attacks on the Los An
Zeles conference, which they decried s
contrary 10 the spirit OF the direct pri-
mary law. They and the public gener-
ally believed that the Los Angeles con-
ference was to be something in the way
Of al cNtralcgal nominating cOnven
ZION.
First the old regulars declared that
thcy and their fellows would not attend
Inc conference. and their vehement pro-
JestsUOns OF loyalty to the direct pri-
mary idea worried the Bell democrats
more than they are willing 20 admit.
Then the regulars changed front
They would go 10 Los Angeles, they
said. 10 prevent the Endorsement OF any
Candida &c for nomination and the stulti
1ication Of democracy. When they got
that cooked up and ready 10 serve Bell
kicked over the kettle. The regulars
say that they spoiled Bells game. Bell
saws that he has forced the democratic
friends Of the Herrin machine into the
open.
PRIMARY WORRIES MACHINE
7 shall be q candidate for the demo-
cratic nomination for governor at the
August primary election" said Bell. 4
have been watching the developments
on both sides Of the partisan fence. The
condition Of affairs demanded that 1
make this announcement. 1 want to
make il plain that under no circum-
stances would I accept the nomination
OF my party but from the people at the
open primary. I believe in the direct
primary law. I appreciate IL more now
than did six months ago.
The direct primary has given the
railroad machine cause TO worry about
its grip on the republican party and
produced some candidates that have
sent the machine securing the state for
q democrat that could be relied upon
10 betray the people. They have fooled
none. / have been able to check them
up in county after county. They have
literally raked the state for a salts
factory democrat.
.fsHALL THE PEOPLE RULEF-
There is but one issue. The ques-
rion that looms up above all others is:
Shall the people or the railroad rule
the state? Until that is settled ali
other questions and issues must be
postponed.
4 wish to say that I have never
asked any man or set of men TO secure
lAg AlAADi OS l4Ac Luz <AuEclSS
conference. Under no circumstances
would I accept the Endorsement of that
conference or any other conference. 1
shall seek my nomination in the open
primary.
AT the San Francisco conference 1
was instrumental in securing the elm
ination Of a resolution calling for the
selection of candidates at the Los An
geles conference. I want the rank and
fle Of the party TO choose the party's
nominee"
LEAGUE MEETING DELAYED
The executive committee of the
Lincoln Roosevelt league will not meet
tomorrow. The presence of Johnson in
southern California may enable the
Los Angeles contingent TO settle it's
supreme justice senatorial lieutena Mt
governor difficulties. If so the COM
mittee proba bly, will meet in this city
Saturday, March 1e. and complete its
ticket The local committee consfd-
cred tentative plans for organization
last night and il is believed that the
campaign can be opened in San Fran
cisco by the time the ticket is COM
pleted.
CAMPAIGN FOR ANDERSON
The Anderson campaign will take on
ruddier complexion next week. The
machine leaders are lining up their dis
trict and precinct men, and the word
for a general start will be passed in a
few days.
Anderson, like Crocker, is to have q
big businessmen's committee in San
Francisco. 1t viii probably have quite
as much 10 do with the actual campaign
work as did the committee which put
Crocker and his ticket into the field.
but there is some assurance that the
Anderson committee is to be on the
square with Anderson. That is some
thing of which Crocker's committee
could not be accused
CURRY CLUB ENLARGED
The wholesale merchants backing
Charles F. Curry are too busily en-
gagged in the enlargement of their own
organization to give more than passing
thought to other businessmen's move
merts Their club has membership OF
1855 and each member is pledged in
writing TO vote and work for Curry.
At the last meeting of the wholesalers
club the membership of the executive
board was increased to so. These men
were announced as members of the
board:
Albert Castle Joseph Boquet
Joseph Syland J. Schroeder
BENJAMIN Scbloss .. Tame
carl Wolf r. Mcmillan
Paito