The San Francisco call., 1910-08-28
MODEL REPUBLICAN,
PLATFORM FRAMED
Initiative, Referendum and Re.
call Will Be Submitted to
Convention Committee
c. H. ROwelI in Leagues Hour
of Triumph Turns Down
Fruits of War
Continued From Page %


ignation-
The platform viii also declare for an
aggregate advisory vote on United
States senator instead Of the district
advisory plan provided by the direct
primary law. The declaration will be
for a partisan plan as proposed orig
fnally by the direct primary league
and not the Oregon general election
plan contended for by some of the
democratic critics OF the direct primary
law. The direct primary law as a whole
VIII be enthusiast calIy commended.
Want Legal Reform
One Of the particular features of the
platform viii be the plank calling for
reform in the law Of criminal procedure
Direct legislation, state recall and in
3tiative and referendum planks will be
presented to the platform committee.
and perhaps to the convention. Their
adoption is an open question that can
be answered only by the convention
itself
II the selection of a chairman for the
state central committee and the organ
ization Of that body itself were half as
simple as the platform problem the
party leaders would be happy. Polit-
ical logic points 70 Chester II. RoweIl
president Of the Lincoln-RooseveIt
league, as the chairman Of the new
central committee and director of the
campaign Rowell was one of the or
gsnizers of the Lincoln Roosevelt
league. He was its first secretary
To Rowel perhaps more than any
other is due the credit for keeping
eiive the organized fight again the old
machine. He is q genuine republican,
whose partisan faith has been proved
3n campaign after campaign. He is
mentally and temperamentally a big
man. With Rowen at the helm every
suspicion OF knitting any candidate
nominated by direct vote of republicans
would be dismissed.
Doesn't Want 1t
But Rowell says he will have none
OF it and he is justified in his refusal
70 make further personal sacrifice. I
know that for three years he has given
time and energy as not other man has
10 the fight which has resulted in the
nomination OF Hiram W. Johnson. He
has burned his candle at both ends, TO
MS injury physically and profession
ally. This is the way Rowell summed
1p his case yesterday:
7 did the work when It was unpopu-
lar and hard" said RoweIl. 81 have
the right TO quit now when it is both
popular and easy.
Judge Frank Z. Devlin OF Vallejo
first president Of the Lincoln-Roosevelt
league. has been prominently mentioned
for the post Of leadership. Probably
10 man would so admirably flt the pres
ent situation. which involves making
potential party harmony a voting and
working actuality Devlin is clean and
capable. He is known throughout the
state and few men have so many
friends. He is straitlaced republican.
a genuine reformer and enjoys the con-
5dence and respect of the regulars quite
II fully as Of the insurgents.
Davis Mentioned
". r. Davis OF Oakland, one OF the
vice presidents Of the league, has been
mentioned for chairman of the commit
tee. but viii probably be made chair
man OF the convention It was Davis
who as the leagues candidate for
chairman Of the 1908 convention at
Sacramento went smilingly TO the de-
feat that he kne whad been unfairly
set for him. His election TO the honor
which he lost two years go has a SEN
timental and practical tinge that ap-
peals strongly to the party leaders.
Two southern possibilities are men,
toned-Marshal Stimson and Meyer
Lissner, both Of Los Angeles. Stimson
would be more than acceptable TO the
republicans of northern California if
Il should be decided finally that the Sc
lection Of a northern or central Cali
tornia man would not better serve the
Immediate reorganization needs Of the
party. Stimson has a republican rec
sro against which no northern conser-
vative objection could be made. He
has fought long and hard for the cause
~ party reform, but he has never left
The ranks Of his party. In defeat and
victory he has remained a republican
IN dafter primary election defeat has
been first to roll up his sleeves and
pitch into the fight for party success.
Lissner Less Acceptable
Lissner would be less acceptable to
republicans generally. not because of
any lack Of ability, but because he is
not regarded as a republican in the
same sense as Roweu, Davis, Devlin,
Ryan, Stimson. Frank Mott and other
league leaders.
Lissner is an organizer with few
equals. He is urelessly energetic and
resourceful, but, unhappidly, his politi-
cal achievements have been accom-
plished as a nonpartisan, not as a re-
publican. One Of the heaviest handi-
caps the anti-mach chine organization and
its candidates have been compelled to
carry was the conservative suspicion
that the Lincoln-R Roosevelt league was
tagonistic to the republican party
and the principles of the party.
Many reform republicans. who have
been identified with the league from the
day OF its inception, who admire Liss-
ner's abilities and rejoice in the fruits
OF his successes, deprecate the mention
OF his name as a possible chairman. on
the ground that his selection might
make the accomplishment of party har-
rnony difficult.
Charles R. Detrick. secretary OF the
Lincoln Roosevelt league, is the proba-
bic successor to Secretary Davis of the
state central committee. Naturally
enough, in the aftermath OF a big vic
tory Detrick has been the object Of the
hammer throwers and none can fore
cast what committee chosen by an
untrammeled convention will do, but !
have failed to discover a single leader
who has been identified with the anti
machine fight since 1907. who is not for
Detrick.
Napa County Republicans
Especial Dispafch 10 The Call
NAPA. AsE. 27.-The republican
county convention met here today with