The San Francisco call., 1910-07-17
HIRAM JOHNSON
DEPLORESREIGN
OF 5. P. BOSSES
Lincoln Roosevelt Candidate for
Governor Makes Speech
in Oakland
Characterizes Direct Primary
r Law as Weapon of Freedom
From Corruption
ISeeeiol Dispatch 10 The Call

4
OAKLAND. July l6-Hiram Johnson,
candidate for the republican nomina
e etion for governor of California. made
his first Oakland political speech of
his campaign tonight. He was en-
f. Enthusiastically welcomed by an audience
that crowded the old Coliseum in
Twelfth street and which was estimated
10 number nearly 5000 persons.
Mayor Frank X. Mott presided and
- introduced johnson. Seated on the
stage was a large delegation of vice
presidents. including many Of the lead
ing business and professional men Of
Oakland and men prominent in polit-
jcal affairs.
In presenting Johnson to the audience
Mayor Mott said:
The real issues Of the present cam
paign in this state are 10 be presented
. 10 you tonight by the only candidate for
governor who has the nerve. the cour-
age and the backbone to discuss the
- real issues. Theodore Roosevelt has
said that the best governor for any
community or state is the one that is
governed by the best regulated party.
The opportunity is TO be afforded the
voters Of California for the first time
- under a primary law of voting for men
directly whom they think will be best
10 represent their interests in public
office If we elect the ticket that is
offered by the Lincoln Roosevelt league
we may have no fear for the future of
our state. Hiram Johnson is a patriot
before he is d politician. 1 am for
Hiram Johnson. He did not seek the
Office. He was sought out by the cleo
-torate and is making this fight at
great sacrifice TO himself. This ought
40 be a republican year in California
If Hiram Johnson is the republican
nominee for governor.
OPPORTUNITY IN PRIMARY
When Johnson arose to speak he was
given three rousing cheers and a tiger.
The audience standing and joining in
the roof raising welcome. After COM
pairing the political situation in Cal
1fornia today to that which existed in
Z France 120 years ago when the despotic
mobiles and the common people clashed
on the battlefield and in which strug-
gle the poorest were victorious, John
son said:
The voters Of California now have
the opportunity Of voting for men who
they believe will represent the people
and the state honestly. Teh great wea-
pom Of the direct primary law has been
placed in the hands Of the voters and
with that weapon they should win back
Iheir heritage. This they viii do if
they arouse themselves and strike the
blow that viii emancipate California
from its quarter of century of boss
1 ism and corruption.
up 10 this time in our political life
the government of the state of Cali
fornia has been three degrees removed
I from the people. TIL first degree was
: the county caucus, then the county con-
: Tention and then the state convention.
( The farther away from the people the
= bosses got the nearer they got TO their
Z corrupt and selfish purposes.
Z ONE GREAT ISSUE
we have been accused in this cam
paign of constantly harping on one
issue There is really but one great
issue before the voters. and that is:
= Are the people OF California TO take
z back TO themselves the government of
the state which is theirs by right but
which has been in the possession of
I the powers Of corruption for over a
quarter OF a century, Shall the people
s Of California recover what is theirs, or
shall it continue TO be the chatteI of
William +. Herrin and the Southern
Pacific company.
There is work for US to do in this
fight, and it is no time for a candidate
Z 10 indulge in glittering generalities.
4 We all believe in material prosperity,
s IN good roads and in the protection of
the prune industry, but these are not
TO be had at the price of political
4 slavery and moral degeneracy. Let us
not be diverted from the main issue.
There is no desire or design on the
part Of this movement of the repub-
licans of California to damage the
, Southern Pacific or any other corpo-
ration. We all realize that corpora
: fions are necessary to conduct the bust
ness of a community. But these cor
pOrations must act honestly and deal
honestly. Our war is on successful dis
honesty. We do not mean to put the
Southern Pacific company out OF bust
ness. We mean to put it out of poll
tics"