The San Francisco call., 1910-02-25
REGULAR LABEL
MAYNOT ADORN
ANY CANDIDATE
Republican State Central Conn
mittee SHES at Making
Endorsement
Possibilities and Probabilities of
Direct Primary Visible TO
Naked Machine Eye
BY GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

That the republican state centra
committee viii not he used TO affiN q
label Of party regularity upon the or
eanization candidate for governor is a
10 to bet That no attempt VIII be
made to put the state central commit
tee in behind a candidate is a good
safe odds on wager.
The possibilities and the probabili-
ties Of the direct primary law are be-
coming visible to the naked machine
eye. II is extremely doubtful that the
state central committee would be sent
in TO indorse a candidate il the ma
chine were in position to pull off such
an Endorsement. But the distressing g
fact that the machine is not able to
turn the trick appears to make con
eideration of what it might do under
other circumstances, quite unnecessary
When Governor James-N. Gillett for
msllv withdrew from the primary sitU-
alton, men upon whom he had relied
Tor advice had him framed TO deliver
The nomination TO John McNs b OF
Ukiah. The delivery looked easy to
them and the call to assist a personal
READY TO HELP FRIEND
Gulett wanted to run again. He
liked his work and he would have liked
10 be the man who broke the one term
precedent More than one reason
helped the governor decide not 10 run.
Those he gave TO the public were suf-
1icient 1t is immaterial what the 9th
ers were. Gillett quit and quitting,
he was ready to do what he has alwa Us
been ready to dO-help q friend. If the
organiza tion support could he rounded
up for McNab the governors play stood
10 help several friends.
But The governors friends who
framed the McNab deal counted with
out other and more numerous and more
powerful friends Of the gOvernor. These
other friends. who would have been
glad 70 go the route for Gillett. had not
learned 10 get candidate program from
the governors ONCE. They had re-
ported on TO another Office for many
years.
They lad always received their run
fing orders directly from the office of
". J.. Herrin and they recognized no
block system. No McNsb orders were
forthcoming. The explanation was
scandalously easy. McNab and his
proponents had been knocked black and
blue by men upon whom Herrin had
long relied for the delivery Of the
goods. The semaphore went down for
McNab. Some Of the politicians are
disposed 10 cOmmiserate bit with the
governor about the awkward situa-
ton. but they also insist that q man
should know what he is about before
lie starts.
EXPECTED ENDORSEMENT
When the governor drew out he was
of the opinion that the state centra
committee or a convention called by
the state central committee would in
dorse a candidate as the regular re-
publican. entitled TO the support Of
regular" republicans.
When Alden Anderson got the signals
which encoura ged him TO start, some
OF his friends were Of the opinion that
the state central committee would for
mally advise the people of California
that none but hereto and back
slider from the republican faith would
fail TO vote and work for Anderson.
Some more regulars who did not care
2 rap whether the candidate was An
derson, McNab. Jones Smith or Brown
were strong for a state central COM
mittee meeting. The organization. they
said. would go to the bowwows if a
candidate was not formally indorsed.
a persistent effort 10 convince them
al Of the error Of their judgment is
being made. A state central committee
meeting might cause more trouble than
the proverbial male bovine in the pot
terry psrlOr.
I'm the first place Anderson is not
clamoring for an organization indorse-
mcnt. Such Endorsement would be the
= ignal for a machine candidate" at
tack upon him that would be pressed
The entire length OF the fighting front
Ia q
Again. Anderson has declared that
he is a Roosevelt republican That
goes as il lies with all the svowed
candidates for governor. But Roose-
welt is on his way to the land of the
free ana the home OF the octopus Not
even the stars know what Roosevelt
will do when he gets home or what a
Roosevelt republican viii mean by the
time the people are called to the pri-
snary ballot box. Some of Anderson's
supporters want him TO hurrah long
and loud for Taft, on the theory tha
when Roosevelt does get around he viii
cut into the California game with a
recommendation for Johnson.
GUESS PROBABLY WRONG
Their latter guess is probably wrong
Few are prepared 10 believe that Roose-
velt is out Of politics. When he diC
prs in California he played hi.
rsos with the constituted powers. noi
80 he preferred them. but because
eded them in his business i
t1ee Velt takes a hand I'm California
lo. this year it will probably b,
the silken hand without the big sticl
accompaniment
But the state central committee il.
self There's the rub Nearly thirc
OF that interesting organization is com
posed OF dyed in the wool Lincoln
Roosevelt leaguers. There is nea
little Curry contingency as powerful
it is skillfuL There are some NOR.
itteemen who fear Harrison Ora,
more than they fear Herrin. Oti,
-) has declared uneqUivocally FOL
on. Some of the gentlemen from
Los Angeles county have exhibited
their entire willingness to stick Oti,
in the back, but they decline to def.
him openly.
Taking all things into consideration
the long headed machinemen are of tn,
opinion that an Endorsement OF a candi
date before the primary election is no
q legitimate function Of the state cen
trail committee, and under no circum
stances would they do anything tina
snlacked of a violation Of the direc