The San Francisco call., 1910-08-24
MACHINE TO DROP
INDEPENDENT MOVE
Scheme to Get johnson Aban=
doned, According to Whis=
pers From Inner Circles
By GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

That the so called citizens or inde-
pendent state ticket scheme has been
abandoned is the whisper that comes
from inner machine circles. Accord
ing to the political grapevine messages,
the machine will not assume RESPONSE
bility for scheme that could have no
other apparent purpose than the de-
feat of Johnson. The race is to be
run out squarely between Johnson and
Bell
Many reasons and alleged explana-
tions are offered for the seeming aban-
donment of the threat to get Johnson
at the general election 1t may de-
Velop that both explanations and re-
port are erroneous, but there is strong
probability on the side of the report.
MACHINES STEAM COoLS
1t is my belief that if the reported
abandonment of the Independent ticket
scheme is confirmed, it will be discov-
cred that the order came directly from
the head of the machine, w. F. Herrin.
himself. The proportions of Johnson s
plurality furnish food for deep political
thought. The attitude of Curry and
the republicans who supported him was
another eye opener, and the announced
purpose of Governor Gillett put a de-
cided damper on the enthusiasm of
some of the machine men who were in
oustriously engaged in forecasting dis
aster for Johnson.
Before the primary election there
was much talk about an independent or
third ticket that would pull enough
votes TO enable Bell to beat johnson.
Scores of machine men who realized
that Anderson did not have an outside
chance of winning the nomination
were confident that the Curry people
would be sore enough to bolt Johnson,
If they were not asked to vote the
democratic ticket They failed to ap-
preciate the kind of republicanism rep
resented by Curry and his supporters.
CURRY AND GILLETT PLEDGED
Days before the primary election the
leaders in the Curry fight had not only
announced their individual intentions,
but had pledged themselves in their
own councils to support Johnson if
Curry was defeated. Curry had no
direct part in these councils. but the
primary polls had not been closed "a
hours when Curry's formal pledge of
support was in Johnson's hands.
Months ago Governor Gillett had evil
IDENTIFY scented an attempt to force a
party bolt If the machine was beaten.
His suspicious were apparent in the
letter or statement he, gave to the pub
lie when he announced his withdrawal
from the governorship contest. He de-
clared that he would be for the man
nominated for governor by the republi-
ca party. 1t was formal notice that
GilIett would play fair and it was made
in q manner to preclude the possibility
of an attempt to pull him down later.
BIG TASK FOR BOLTERs
The day following the primary cleo
tion Governor Gillett formally offered
his services TO Johnson and before the
end of the week Mayor 2. H. Mccarthy
had formally announced that he would
not heed the call to enter the race for
the governorship. The Anderson men
are not tearing their clothing to get
into the Johnson camp. Anderson has
not gone beyond announcing that he
was in good health, but some of the
recognized brakemen on the machine
are beginning TO talk softly about be-
ing for the ticket, of course
With the governor of the state. who
is the nominal head of the party, and
all the candidates who opposed John
son, except Anderson, avowedly for
johnson and the ticket, it looks like no
easy task to lead bolt either to Bell or
to an Independent" candidate.
INTEREST IN LEGISLATURE
Some of the machine leaders have no
more interest in the state ticket now
than they had when they were sup
posed to be engaged in the pleasant
duty of finding votes for Anderson
They are interested now as they were
then in the legislative candidates they
have managed to nominate either as
avowed organization men or as Lincoln
Roosevelt leaguers. And there are sew
eral districts in which the Lincoln
Roosevelt leaguers were induced to
take up machine men, believing them to
be hostile to the machine and all it's
works.
The personal and partisan good faith
exhibited by Governor Gillett In the
matter of his support for Johnson will
be exhibited again, I believe, when the
legislature meets early next month in
extraordinary session. The governor is
staight laced party man. Some go
so far as to describe him as hide
bound partisan. Be that as it may,
he is generally recognized as one who
has played the game fairly. IT is be-
cause he is fair that 1 am inclined
to believe that he will not attempt to
secure confirmation of his recess ap-
pointments. If he did he could not be
attacked as unfair, perhaps. but he
would be accused of attempting to take
advantage Of an unusual and unex-
pected situation.
MEN WHO NEED CONFIRMING
Harbor. Commissioner Teller, who
was on the politicians list of ap-
pointees to be confirmed, received sena-
torial sanction for his appointment in
the last hours of the last legislative
session Alden Anderson was ap-
pointed superintendent of banks subse-
quent to the adjournment of the legis-
lature and the reappointment of Har-
Dor Commissioner Dennison was a re-
cess affair. Insurance Commissioner
Ed Cooper was not named to succeed
E. Myron Wolf until late last spring.
Cooper was Gilletts private secre-
tary and is one of Gilletts closest
friends Dennison is also a personal
friend sGillett urged the superinten-
dency of banks on Anderson. On the
basis of friendship. the governor might
be expected to attempt TO push over the
confirmation of these and numerous
less important appointments.
POLITICS AND PLUMS
But the political side of the situa-
tion is different. / believe it has not
been passed upon by the courts of this
state but it is conceded that an official
term begins to run from the date of
confirmation and not from the date
of appointment. Confirmation of Gill
letts appointments in September, 1910,