Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-06
BELL IS WILLING
TO ENTER RACE
MUST RID CALIFORNIA OF S. P.
DOMINATION
WRITES NORTON HE WILL Ac-
cEPT IF PARTY CALLS HIM
Reiterates Incorporating Attitude
Toward Evils That Railroads
Have Inflicted on
California

Declaring that good, clean govern
ment is the vital issue in California,
and that the control of our public af-
fairs by the Southern Pacific political
machine is debasing to the state 5
citizenship, Theodore Bell in letter 10
Albert NJ. Norton, chairman of the
Los Angeles Democratic county CEN
tral committee has expressed his
willingness to become a candidate for
governor il Il rs e desire Of his party.
Mr.. Bells lcttec 70 Chairman Norton
cites the urgent necessity of ridding
California of this Southern Pacific
despotism, the political Vaccinations
and treachery Of which has stained, in
delibly, the history Of the Golden
state from its earliest to its present
period. The first thing that must be
accomplished, says Mr. Bell, is the dis
lodgment of the Southern Pacific ma
chine from its position of power, and
10 compel it to remain satisfied WIFI
an equal protection of the law.
In expressing his willingness to be-
come a candidate for the governorship
Mr.. Bell states clearly and positively
the uneompromising attitude he will
maintain toward the Southern Pacific
combine, and promises that he will do
oil in his power, if nominated and
elected to the governorship, to sup
press the railroad tyranny which has
dsgraced California,
His letter to Chairman Norton fol-
lows:
san Francisco, March 2. 1910.
Mr.. Albert NJ Norton, Chairman
Democratic County Central Com
mittee, AIS Fay Building, Los
Angeles:
My Dear Mr.. Norton-Your
esteemed favor of the oath ult. is
at hand After a careful considera-
ton of the contents of your letter
1 agree with you that some definite
announcement should be made as
to my possible candidacy for
governor. My position right along
has been that our party should
nominate a man who can be relied
upon to execute the laws fearlessly
and impartially, one who will not
be influenced by special interests Of
any character, but controlled by
consideration of the general well
fare.
Good, clean government has be-
come the vital issue in California.
The continued control of our public
affairs by the political bureau of
the Southern Pacific company is
debasing the manhood of California,
destroying the constitutional guar
antee of representative govern
ment and deeply affecting the
moral and material interests Of the
people. The first thing to be ac-
complished is to dislodge the rail
road machine from its present posi-
tion of power and to compel it TO
remain satisfied with an equal pro-
lection of the law. We do not de-
sire to destroy anything that has n
lawful right to exist or is entitled
to the securities of the law, but
we do maintain that whenever a
special interest presumes to place
its own selfish will above the will
Of the people a decent respect for
the political integrity of the state
demands that such usurpation Of
power be assailed and destroyed.
On this grave public question our
nominee must take an unequivo-
cal stand and his record must be
such as to insure the redemption
of every ante-election vow in the
event of his success at the polls.
With these facts in mind, any man
may well feel highly honored who
becomes the choice of the Demo-
cratic party for the office Of gov
ernor. 1t is an honor that no one
can regard lightly, and no sacrifice
should be so great as to dissuade
him from yielding to the will Of
those with whom he may be as
sociated in the work of establish
ing and maintaining good govern
ment
If the Democrats of California
believe that the writer measures
up to the qualities required by a
Democratic candidate for governor,
the trust win be accepted, and
nothing will be left undOne to bring
about the triumph of the cause
that Democracy has made its own.
My services are at the disposal Of
my party so long as that party
remains true to the Democratic
ideal Of popular government. and
7 shall do my level best in what
ever capacity in which I may be
selected TO serve, either as a can
didate or among the rank and file
to promote the principles upon
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