Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-12-15
UNITED PRESS LEASED wrnu.l

UNITED PRESS LEASED wRz.l
Capitol, Sacramento, CAL, Dec Is.
In a statement which reviews in
scathing terms the vefusal of the Re
publican national committee to allow
a presidential primary, and which
may result in the exclusion from the
national convention of delegations
elected by the people, Governor Hi
ram w, Johnson today declared that
the progressives of California will
stand on the principle that in the
selection of a president, as in all
matters, the people should rule"
He quoted previous statement to
the effect that the reactionaries
alone had anything material to gain
by the adoption of a presidential pri-
mary law at this tiWe, since the pro-
gressives are in a position now to
send solid LaFollette delegation to
the nominating convention These
facts he contrasted with the action of
the national committee in Washing
ton last Tuesday.
"The committee Governor John
son said, 4is in control of reaction
aries. 1t formulated a call for ma
tional convention that is ambiguous
and unintelligible. The design of this
call seems to be other to ignore
laws that are in force in progressive
states providing for presidential pri-
maries or to render the way easy for
ignoring the laws in the future.
BOrah Turned Town.
Senator Borah asked the national
committee to adopt a provision that
delegates might be chosen by direct
vote of Republican electors, and the
reactionaries national committee,
representing Mr. Taft, the advocates
of whom, in California, were begging
piteously for a presidential prefer
ence primary a month ago, over
whelmingly defeated Mr.. Borah's mo-
ton that delegates might be directly
elected by the people. Thus, within
a month, we have seen every utter
ance in the statement made just pri-
or to the issuance of the call for the
extra session of the legislature justi-
fed. We find the progressives of
California including every advantage
and granting a presidential prefer
ence primary, while the reactionaries
in the national committee refuse
every demand, and tenaciously cling
to any technicality in the hope of fu-
ture temporary success,
Committee Would Boss.
"The call issued by the national
committee apparently conflicts with
the laws that have been duly passed
in some of the states of the Union
and may be at variance with the law
contemplated in the state of Califor-
mia, but that an unfair, unjust and
partisan extra judicial body may rem
der nugatory duly enacted law OF
any state, cannot fNr one instant be
conceded or tolerated
Il trust the legislature OF the
state will pass such laws as it may
deem necessary to enable the people
to express their preference for presl-
dent of the United States and that IN
enacting such laws, they Will De
guided solely by the intent and de-
sign to be achieved regardless OF po-
litical considerations of any sort anc
if the. design can best be achieved by
statewide vote for presldenua
preference and for delegates to ma
tional conventions, no other consiu'
Grafton should control.
Tho GontIomor In washington
"The gentlemen who sat in room
in Washington Tuesday last prepar'
ing a call by which they themselves
hope to nominate a president without
the Intervention or assistance OF the
great electorate of the country for'
got one controlling factor, controil
ing factor which we in this s'at'
have taught the advocates OF the Oi'
system must now be taken into con