The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-08-04
Representatives of Employers
Lobby in Vain for
Anderson
Machine Slate for Other State
Offices Is Rubbed Clean
by Trainmen
By GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

-lhe JOINT legislative BOARD representing
the railroad conductors. trainmen and
engineers of California. Curry's in
dorsement was voted yesterday after
noon after a three days battle on the
part OF the representatives of the rail-
road political machine to land the in
dorsement for Alden Anderson.
The Endorsement Of Curry for COVER
nor by the railroad employees of Cali
fornia was the elimination Of a spec
. tacuIar battle between the railroad
workingmen and the railroads political
bureau. When it was over the men had
demonstrated that their employment
did not involve the sale Of their suf-
frsge
The machines attempt TO force the
Tailroadmen's organization to indorse
Alden Anderson was the first pitched
political battle ever fought out with
the railroadmen on one side and the
railroad political bureau on the other.
That il may he the last was indicated
by one of the railroad officials sum-
moned TO san Francisco to coerce the
men. who said: Times have changed:
20 years ago we would have given a
nod and it would have been done
MACHINE SLATE RUBBED
The legislative board representing
the railroad employees not only refused
70 indOrse Anderson but also turned
down the candidates on the machine
slate for lieutenant governor and state
printer. Dick Ferris of Los Angeles
the independent candidate for lieuten-
ant governor, was indorsed over Bert
Farmer by what was said to be vir-
tually unanimous vote. and State
Printer Billy Shannon beat Grattan D.
Phillips. the Anderson-machine candi-
date, by vote of better than 3 to l.
It IS understood that the joint legis-
latiTe board viii complete its work to-
day and return a report on a complete
state ticket. No authorized statement
was given out last night but il was
generally understood that the indorse-
ments agreed upon, besides Curry for
governor, Ferris for lieutenant COVER
nor and shannon for state printer, in
Guided Walter D Wagner for secretary
OF state, Frank Mattison for controller
and w. r. Williams, incumbent, for
state treasurer.
The rejection Of the plea for the in
.dorsement of Alden Anderson is con-
sidered by politicians the most crush
ing blow ever received by the railroad
political bureau. The directors of the
machine were confident that they
could pull down a majority of the men
who had been instructed by their sew
eral divisions TO vote for the indorse-
ment Of Curry. They brought extra
ordinary pressure 10 bear. It was adj
mitted by Anderson's friends that the
- Endorsement of the railroad employees
would be the bright particular feature
Of his campaign. They hoped for
= more from il than the mere delivery
or a large vote They expected it to
he taken as conclusive proof of the
machines ability to dominate the rail-
roadmen of the state and that the
oft repeated promise to start some
thing" for Anderson had been re-
deemed.
The machines failure to inject life
into Anderson's campaign was re-
peatedly excused by machine leaders
on the ground that they were holding
back for a whirlwind finish. Week
after week the skeptical politicians
from city and country were told: ut
is all right. Something is doing Look
out for the big blowoff."
When the railroadmen's joint legis-
iative board convened in San Francisco
on Monday the representatives of the
engineers were seated on it for the
first time. Until this year the con-
ductors and brakemen have conducted
their fights for legislation and against
unfavorable legislation without the
assistance of the engineers and fire.
mems organizations.
The lighting blood of the trainmens
organizations was reused in 1909 by
the defeat of their so called full
crew. bin. which they fought through
the legislature, but was not signed by
the governor. They decided to take an
advance hand in politics and to indorse
for the support Of their members only
those candidates for public office who
could be relied upon to give them what
they considered fair treatment for
themselves as well as for the employ
ing companies.
FIGHT WAS PREDICTED
Before the joint legislative board
convened in San Francisco on Monday
IL was generally known among the ma
chine politicians that they had a fight
on their hands and that only the most
= strenuous methods would result in
ment Of Anderson. Men were sent out
on the divisions to labor with members
of the joint board and when the board
met 10 take up its work horde of Of
hcials was loosed on its members.
The original schedule agreed upon by
resolution at prior meeting at Stock
ton provided for an open session on
Monday, at which candidates were to be
heard in their own behalf, and an ex-
ecutive session on Tuesday for the vot-
ing of Endorsements. On Tuesday an
informal poll of the board disclosed to
the representatives or the machine thdt
Curry had a clear majority. The board
was induced to postpone consideration
Of Endorsement until Wednesday so that
Alden Anderson. who was hurrying
here. might be heard in his own behalf.
All Tuesday afternoon and far into the
night representatives of the machine
labored directly and indirectly with the
members Of the joint board. Yesterday
afternoon, after the joint board had
listened TO Andersons appeal for its
support, the storm of notes and cards
from trainmasters, superintendents and
representatives of the political bureau
attempting TO swing men at the last
moment, compelled the chairman to rule
that no member might leave the execu-
tive session. Among the prominent
railroad officials working on the men to
pull them over to Anderson was Tom
Jones of Sacramento, former division
superintendent, who has latterly given
his entire attention to the bureaus poll
itics and Al g. Baker of Oakland. the
transbay representative OF Jere Burke
According TO the unofficial reports
which leaked from the. executive ses-.
sion only the names of Curry and An
derson were presented. The two sup
porters Of Johnson and Wilson, the So
cialist, disclosed by the Tuesday infor-
NAL ballot. apparently had been swung