The San Francisco call., 1910-01-21
Oakland Mayor Willing to Be
LineOIn=ROOseveIt Candidate
for GOverndr
Davis Refuses to Consider NOmi-
nation, Despite Wishes of
League Leaders
Bv GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

within the next month
There is within the councils Of the
Lincoln Roosevelt leagues state organ
ization well defined movement for
Mayor Mott 1t viii be observed by
those who follow Motifs well chosen
remarks for publication that Mott is
doing next to nothing 10 interfere with
the success Of that movement
Former Mayor W. r. Davis insistent
refusals to even consider himself in the
light of candidate become more in
reuigible when it is known that Davis
is for his friend Mott 1t may be re-
marked in passing that Davis is one of
the vice presidents Of the Lincoln
Roosevelt league. The fact that he is
10 be chairman OF the finance commit
Tee is not TO be disregarded.
MAYOR AGAINST MACHINE
Mott is a member Of the leagues
state executive committee. He has al
ways stood Wen with the leaders of the
machine organization He assisted
in the original organization work in
1907. He declined any official connec-
tion with the league then, but he was
one of the principal figures in the
leagues night in Alameda county in
1908.
Mott did not attend the reorganiza-
ri0n meeting held in Oakland two
months so. It was given out by those
Unfriendly 10 the league that the Oak
land mayor would have nothing more
10 do with the anti-machine movement.
because IL was rather more than prOba-
BILE that the machine would support
him for governor
The leaguers calculated "Pish,' like
wise -'Tush.7 They declared that Mayor
Mott had not deserted them and that
when their state executive committee
was announced Motifs presence thereon
would serve as a complete refutation of
The slanderous reports inspired by the
machinists.
LEADERS FAVORED DAVIS
Motifs name was present according
10 promise when President Chester H
Rowen announced his appointments to
the executive committee. The leaguers
who promised that Mott would be an
executive committeeman also declared
that they did not believe that Mott
would be candidate for governor
They did not qualify the assertion that
# he should become a candidate it
would not be in opposition to a league
candidate.
AS long ago as the spring of 1908
W. r. Davis was discussed by the
league leaders as a logical candidate
Tor governor. AS a matter OF fact
Davis was al that time the choice Of
league leaders generally. The pass
ing Of nearly two years did not change
the opinions Of the leaguers, who were
strong for Davis in 1908. The con-
ference held in San Francisco a week
ago disclosed the fact that the big
leaders still clung to the idea that
Davis was the man TO cast for the
leagues Moses.
DAVIS FAvORs MOTT
BY the most skiIlfuI manipulation
Of the discussion, and not infrequent
violent direction Of the powwowing
Davis managed TO prevent the presen-
tation OF his name 70 the conference.
Outside the conference the question was
put up 10 him squarely. He was told
that he could have the leagues support
He was also told that the league want
ed him to make the race; that he was
its first choice
Davis protested vehementiy He in
sisted that he did not wish TO be gov
ernor- He remarked casually that he
had other plans. 1t developed subse-
quently that those other plans were not
selfishly personal Davis declared that
he believed the leaguers would have
no marked difficulty in finding an ac-
ceptable and winning candidate It
has since developed that in the opinion
of Davis and several other prominent
leaguers, Mott could be both an ac-
cepta bic and a winning candidate.
SPEECHES SHOW ATTITUDE
Within the month Mott has found if
convenientsto make two trips to south
ern California He has made a few
public speeches and hundreds of lit
tie private talks. For purposes of
publication he is only a tentative candi-
date for governor. He admits that he
has heard his name mentioned in con-
nection with the race for the nomina-
tiOn. His health is good. In fact he
never felt better. He can not find il in
his heart to say that he does not want
the governor job, nor that he objects
10 long campaign. He says he has
not made up his mind There are
leaguers who expect that Motifs mind
VIII be sufficiently disposed to enable
him to remove his friends from their
suspense within two or three weeks.
WHERE BELsHAw STANDS
Former Senator Charles NJ. Belshaw
has not given up hope Of winning the
league over TO his cause, but he is
more than optimistic If he stiI he
lieves that he has better than an out
side chance. As matter Of fact. while
Belshaw's agents are still working for
him in the field. the Contra Costa man
has virtually put his candidacy in the
hands Of the leaguers
A few months ago Belshaw did not
- o4ll AllE AFdE ut dNOW6Q support. He
did not wish to queer himself with
the big push" following which his
friends contended he could command
IT is different now. Belshaw's friends
still present his alleged push" strength
as one OF the chief reasons for the de-
sired espousaI of his candidacy bv the
league.
Belshaw has so placed himself with
the league leaders that they can de-
clare him in the race by giving him
the leagues support or declare him
out of the running by refusing him
that support.
STAFFORD OUT OF RACE
The Lincoln Roosevelt league figures
not at all IN one of the big political
developments of the week Let it be
known to all men generally and to the
20 or 50 candidates for secretary of
state particularly that their loved
friend and feared opponent Jack
Stafford has withdrawn from the race
for Charlie Curry's job. If that were
an Of il Frank Jordan. Charlie Bell.
Morrow. Mouser. kid" Hilborn. Lou
Martin. Walter Price and an the rest
of them might sleep easier But that
is not all Of IT.
Stafford has withdrawn from the race
only in the sense that he does not