Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-22
MESERvE c. OPS
MAN FOR SENATE
Republican Leader Names Taft
Believer Choice to Succeed
Flint
PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE MUM
"Programmer," Friend of Ma
chine, Thought Strongest
Opponent Works
PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE MUM
BY t. SHELLY SUTTON

BY t. SHELLY SUTTON
Edwin A. Meserve will be the Re-
publican machine candidate for the
United states senatorship to succeed
Senator Flint"
So stated prominent Republican
yesterday. who, although actively iden-
titled with the regular branch of the
Republican party in California, Is pro-
testing vigorously at the inner work
ings of the machine and who unhesi-
tatingly has informed his friends that
he will support Hiram w. johnson for
governor.
II don't like the men the machine
is lining up for this race and some of
them 1 am not going to support" said
this man yesterday. II do not believe
Stanton has the backing of the ma
chine, but i believe 1T will support
Curry, have positive knowledge that
the machine will launch Ed Meserve
for the senatorship unless something
comes up to prevent the present pro
gram. There is, Of course, a possibil-
ity that Mr.. Meserve will not agree
to make the race, but 1 can't imagine
such a thing"
For obvious reasons the man who
made these statements yesterday i'm
posed the obligation that his name
should be withheld; but, shortly after
the interview a reporter for The Her
air called on Mr.. Meserve in his off,
ces in the Los Angeles Trust building
and asked him If he would become a
candidate.
Is IN DOUBT
'T cannot answer that" he said. "It
is too early yet. There has been a
number of men, just like you. asking
me the same question"
under
consideration by certain of the Repub-
licans?"
Mr.. Meserve smiled.
''I have heard something to that eff
feet"
''Would you accept their support and
| become a candidate, If offered to you?"
"I won't cross the bridge till 1 get
to It."
''win you refuse to become a. can
didate?"
"I must refer you to my wife," he
| said laughing "Ask her what she
| thinks about it."
| Mrs. Meserve became very much oc-
cupied with a telephone book at that
moment and made no reply, although
she seemed amused.
"You may enter the racer Mr.. Me-
serve again was asked.
greatly, 1 prefer not TO discuss the
matter"
Elsewhere, in Republican circles, the
name of Mr., Meserve came up re-
peatedly in connection with the race
| for the senatorshtp.
1.-THE machine hopes to put up Mr.
Meserve, whether Governor Gillett en-
ters the race or not" said prominent
Republican. yesterday.
GILLETT OUT
1--WE believe Governor Gillett is out
of the contest" said another Re-
publican yesterday. Our efforts to In
duce Senator Flint to run again nave
failed and we believe that in selecting
Mr.. Meserve to seek the nomination as
his successor we have made the wisest
possible selection.
''NIr. Meserve, however. may not
! q gree TO run I believe he can poll the
most votes in Southern California, and
that he will be one of the strongest
possible candidates In the north"
other Republicans also agreed that
Mr.. Meserve's name had been con
! sidered." but none of them were willing
| to be directly interviewed, or to say
definitely that Mr.. Mesevre would be-
come a candidate.
The report that Mr.. Meserve Is to
become the Republican machine can
didate for the toga, against such a
man as Judge John d. Works, the Lin
coin Roosevelt candidate, is interesting
in several phases, because 1t indicates,
as one of the reformed Republicans
pointed out yesterday, that the ma
chine realizes 1t cannot hope to achieve
results in the pending struggle with
such old-line regulars in the race as
| Governor Gillett.
'sThe strongest man in the state ma
chine was Senator Flint" said promi-
ment Republican last night, "and I be
lieve he has retired from politics to
ALLEVIATE himself from its influence" !"
LEADERS DROPPING OFF
The old organization Of Republican
ism everywhere is losing its best lead
ers, inasmuch as they are retiring per-
manently, because of formidable pros
poets, as have Flint, Aldrich and Hale,
or are Joining the great ranks OF IN
surgents, as Morris, Gardner, Murdock
and other notable Republicans have
done. with this condition prevalent.
the machine in California realizes 1t
must abendon the old leaders who
have not abandoned the machine, be-
cause their past Identification with this
element of political depotism ruins
their chances further TO humbug the
voters For this season 1t Is believed
| by many that Governor Gillett will not
| be a andidate for the senatorship, and,
IL he is, that he win not be supported
by the mahine. But there are other
phases to be considered.
In view Of the constantly increasing
discomfort and insurgency in the
ranks of the Republican party which
have given formidable strength to the
Lincoln Roosevelt league, and as q
result of the nationwide movement
for better government. in which the
Democracy of the United States, as a
whole, and especially in California, has
taken vital and leading part, the old
line machine regulars" have had a
desperate time formulating their forces
for the next campaign and In preserv-
ing even semblance of organization.
STRUGGLE HARD ONE
In California the Republican machine
has had much more strenuous time
than in other states, because, perhaps,
the struggle here is particularly keen
and the Southern Pacific control of
| the state machine has been obviously
weakened In it's oldest stronghold. and
In many towns and cities almost elm
| mated
Knowing this fact. there has been an
unusually deep interest as to what men