The Detroit times., 1911-12-22
JOHNSON AND LaF0LLETTE
STAND FOR PRINCIPLE
continued from Page ono.

by. In October last, | wrote TO Sen
ator LaFollette that the progresslves
oil California were determined 10 hold
a primary. | explained the possibility
that fictitious issues might be injected
into the campaign, saying we were
foregoing a political certainty be-
I cause OF principle. | told him that,
as things stodo, we could. by our con-
troll OF party machinery and under the
existing law, name a LaFollette dele
cation TO the national convention.
received from him the following
letter which quote without com,
.ment:
Washington, ID. c. Nov 3, 1911
MY Dear Governor Johnson--Your
letter OF oct. &c presents the situation
clearly. II you omit the presidential
preference law from the subjects to be
considered at the extra session OF the
California Legislature. you Will practi-
cally control the selection or delegates
TO the convention OF 1912 and they VIII
be ali progresstves.
ut would be great thing TO have
California leading the roll call for the
progressives at the next convention IL
you pass the presidential primary law
the standpatters may carry San Fran
cisco and some OF the adjoining terri
tory on the exposition issue, and some
counties In the southern part OF the
state on account OF the lemon tariff
and Mr. Taft possibly will without
reason have their support on both is
sues.
This would be very harmful 1t
would 20 over the country that Cali
fOrnia, progressive In everything. lead
ing the older states on most issues,
viii support Taft In whole or In part
IL will appear that we are divided in
our strongholds which would greatly
weaken us IL Will be a hard blow II
viii come at time when II may turn
the tide.
"You know how the influence OF early
conventions and elections counts. We
cannot stand the loss OF an inch OF
ground In the many progressive states
and hope TO win The standpat organ
}. tZation understands this and Hitchcock
secures a Taft Endorsement every time
state central committee assemblies for
any purpose.
But. governor. hard as il would be
there Is just one thing that ought TO
be and would be harder and indeed
more harmful for us. and that would
be to throw our principles to the dogs
: whenever an opportunity offers to gain
temporary advantage by so doing. II
II would enable us to control the next
national convention, and the nominal
ton for the presidency, we could not
atCrd TO do it-and we could not
AFFORD TO have you do IL. even IL you
were willing.
"You have gone the straight. direct
way from the beginning OF your public
career, have few men In our time.
Every important ofnclal act or yours
sets up milestone marking your
course. Run your eye back over them
hem-have- been straight in
line with rignt principle. Whoever
would have YOU set one stone out OF
line is bad counsellor. He. is not
the real friend OF the cause and not
your real friend.
Now Governor Johnson. put the
presidential primary up to the very
front In your call for the extra session
Of your gslature--fight the reaction
aries to the last trench for the dele
gates and III we lose. as we proba bly,
/ sla1i, the battle line will show that we
are not a lot OF common politicians
ready to play the game in a crooked
way TO win for an hour.
IF we stand for anything IL is for a
fundamental principle-the life the
soul OF self government. We can af-
ford 10 be beaten. but we cannot ar
ford TO compromise or tuggle with the
vital thing. You never have and I
know YOU never Will.
(Signed)
"RoBERT VI. La TOILETTE"