The San Francisco call., 1910-11-21
PROGRESSIVES ARE
NOT PROGRAMMED
Southern Senatorial Conference
Takes No Action as to
Fiint's Successor
AdjOurns With Understanding
Members Would Support
BOynton for President
[Speoi2l Dispatch 10 The Call
By GEORGE A. VAN SMITH


SANTA BARBARA Nov. 2o-The
promised amendment OF the United
States senatorial provisions of the di-
rect primary law is a matter Of con-
cern to some Of the clearest headed
members Of the progressive senatorial
conference. which broke up here to-
night after an outing and luncheon in
the country. A radical minority rep-
resented at this conference. reinforced
by the democratic legislative minority,
is for nonpartisan system Of selecting
United States senators similar TO the
Oregon plan. A decided majority of
the progressive senators attending the
preliminary caucus or conference are of
the opinion that the partisan character
of the direct primary law must be
preserved. and that the amendments
adopted by the legislature must con-
form strictly to the letter of the re-
publican platform pledge, which prom
ises a statewide advisory vote and
nothing more.
PATH or PRIMARY LAW
The direct primary law as it was
originally forced ont of the senate
committee on election and election
laws provided for q statewide pri-
mary advisory vote and the primary
nomination of partisan candidates for
the United States senate. For these
provisions the district advisory plan
now part of the law was substituted.
The democrats who helped force the
bin out of committee were not salts
fed with the original provisions, but
accepted them as the best they could
hope for. Their 1910 platform declares
for direct election" of United States
senator's and some of the more radical
reform republicans are in favor of th~
Oregon plan. Some of the senators
i f-,- 4r.a
Oregon system under pressure are con-
vinced that republican Legislature,
even if it be reform legislature, can
not be forced TO pass a nonpartisan
measure.
PROGRAMMING NOT ATTEMPTED
In the matter Of the selection of a
successor to Senator Frank Flint the
progressives' conference was no more
advanced at adjournment than when
the vanguard put in an appearance
four days ago. The programming of
senators contrary to the recorded
wishes Of their constituents was not
attempted. Several senators admitted
freely enough that the subject was
too delicate" for conference discus
sion.
None was anxious to broach the sub
ject, and it did not come in for even
that degree Of informal discussion that
" ID gwen the QucSliOilS u ' II lAdiAS oiA
the legislation promised by the repub-
lican platform. legislative attache re
form and senatorial organization.
The conference adjourned with the
understanding that its members would
support Senator a. z. Boynton of Oro-
vile for president pro tenn. of the SEN
ate There was no formal action that
could be construed by legislators not
present as an attempt to program
them. There was merely an under
standing, amounting to a pledge upon
those present, to work and vote for
Boynton. who at all times appeared TO
have a walSover for the place.
RELATIONS CEMENTED
Governor Elect Johnson has had no
part and has attempted to assume no
part in planning the organization of
the next senate. Johnson has made it
understood by the senators who in
vited him to Santa Barbara that he
would not take a hand in Legislative
organization unless he became con-
vinced that injury TO the people was
imminent.
Johnson and 4 majority of the con-
ferees left for San Francisco and the
north tonight. Senator EstudilIo left
Yesterday and Lieutenant Governor
Elect a. J. Wallace returned to Los
Angeles. Today was devoted to the
outing. in which the wives of Senator'S
Stetson and Gates participated.
Taking the conference at the esti
mates placed on it by the senators par
ticipating, it has resulted in a firmer
cementing of the personal relations
which began several years ago when
the leaders in this conference were
novitiate members of the assembly. and
it has resulted in an unofficial declara-
tion OF senatorial rights designed to
prove that these senators are the most
independent young independents ever
rounded up for the legislative service
of California.