Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-25

1.-The question asked in your letter OF
| April q about my attitude toward the
course. perfectly legitimate enc. and
! YOU are entitled to very frank answer
1 would have replied sooner had l not
been prevented by imperative public en-
you in private. but have. of course, no
objection to your making them public.
81 am in favor of local option. l am
a thorough believer in local self govern
ment. and believe that every self-govern.
I ing community which constitutes a social
| unit should have the right to control the
matter of the regulation or Of the with
! holding of licenses.
But the questions involved are soclal
and moral, and are not susceptible or
being made parts of a party program.
Whenever they have been made the sub
ject matter of party contests they nave
cut the lines of party organization ana
party action athwart TO the utter con-
field. They have thrown every other
question, however important, into the
| background, and have made constructive
party action Impossible for long years to-
gether So far as l myself am concern
ed. therefore. can never consent to have
the question of local option made an is
sue between political parties In this state
My judgment is very clear in this matter.
do not believe that party programs OF
the highest consequence to the political
life of the state and of the nation ought
to he thrust on. one side and hopelessly
embarrassed for long periods together by
making political issue of great ques-
ton which is essentially non-political,
non-partsan, moral and social, in its ma
ture."
The Champ Clark headquarters pro-
duced the following:
News from California received at the
Clark headquarters today by telegram
from San Francisco gives the informa-
ton that California will be unanimous
for Speaker Clark. The withdrawal OF
Mr.. Hearst from the race and his support
of the Speaker has simplified the situa-
ton. Gov. wilson's views on the Chinese
question, as expressed In his books. nave
had tremendous effect in influencing the
labor vote of California. His elevation of
the Chinese over the laboring classes OF
other nationalities who are citizens of the
United States has engendered b-.ter an
tagonism to the New Jersey executive. SO
the friends of Speaker Clark in CanIOrnla
have informed him.
Theodore Bell, twice democratic candi-
date for Governor of California and per-
manent chairman of the Denver conven-
ton, is leading the light for Clark del
egation from California. He is confident
that, although the Wilson managers will
make a determined effort to get some of
the delegates, Mr.. Clark will carry the
May primaries by an Overwhelming ma
jority.
has his greatest strength, but, as is
known, that section of California is one
of the strongest labor sections in the
state Since the views of Mr.. Wilson on
the Chinese and laboring classes have be-
come known among the workingmen it
is saidf the tide has turned and that the
Wilson, strength is rapidly decreasing.
With northern California practically
unanimous for Mr.. Clark and the change
of sentiment in southern California, it is
certain, Mr.. Clark's friends say, that
there will be little or no opposition to
him in the primaries. In some counties
Wilson will not receive enough votes to
be worth counting, SO say the Clark
people,