The Washington times., 1911-05-12
Cal IFORNLA'S NEW
"BOSS" Is IN TOWN
Meyer Lsner, Who Plays His Cards Face Upward and
Wins, Here to Size Up Situation-Ant-Taft
Movement on in Golden State
BY JUpsoN c. wELLIvER.

The new boss of California Is in town.
He doesn't admit the boss-ship. but every
body else admits il for him. He ID a
smooth-faced young man Of forty or
thereabouts. and in the last few days
has been extensively courted by emil
nent politicians, who regard him as one
of the trustees for the California Presi-
Dental delegation in 1872.
There are folks who insist tnat meyer
Lisner literally carries In mis- pocket the
California delegation for next year
Republican national convention.
They add that n will be an antl-Taft
delegation, too-a double-thirteen. For
California will have twenty-slx instead
of twenty delegates next time.
What is more important by far' Is
that California is the only State IN the
Union that has indicated the sort Oh
delegation it will select to the ma
tionaI convention; and II has made per
fectly clear that it will send an anu
Taft delegation.
And Meyer Lisner is an important
part OF the reason. Back OF the anti
Taft control of the delegation Is most
unusual story Of a State machine inter-
aiIy hoist by its own petard-whateVer
About two years ago things began to
be a bit squaIly for the old Soutnerh
Pacific machine. 1t controlled tne Leg
islature. but there was so much insur.
gency that it was decided to cater a DIT
10 public sentiment. and passed q prl,
mary election law. This law provided
for choosing delegates to county con-
ventions. which, in turn: 3,nr, snou,n cnS wSicb
sSnnid name delegates to the national
convention.
Left In Doubt.
The machine calculated that II
would easily enough control the coun-
ty conventions of 1910. but 1t was
not sure what might happen there
after. So a clever plan was worked
out to make II possible for prim-
airy held in 1910 to name Presi-
Dental delegation in 1912 The plan
was this:
The county convention delegates
chosen in 1910 were to retain their
mandate until 1912, and in May OF
that year meet, choose delegates Tor
the respective counties to the state
convention, and the State convention
would name the four delegates at
large to the national convention: the
delegates from each Congressional
district would name that districts s
two national delegates.
1t was a perfectly good plan. but
slipped a cog in the execution. The
people, instead of letting the old or
SANITATION get control of the county
conventions CT 1910. grabbed of an
overwhelming majority of them. The
people, as the event proved, were anti
Taft. When the State convention met
last summer, somebody tried to work
through a resolution indorsing Taft
for 1912, Lisner took the floor against
IL, and II was showed under.
The progressive movement ran tnat
convention, nominated Johnson for
governor. captured Legislature, State
Offices. and everything else in sight.
and made Meyer Lisner State chair
man. They elected their ticket. and
their Legislature elected Works Sena-
tor.
Their Legislature also enacted into
law every single one of the nineteen
specific legislative proposals that
were written into their State plat
form. They included the short ball
lot, Australian system Of voting,
nom partisan judiciary. direct legisla-
tion. county home rule, merit system
in Offices. reform of criminal proce-