Imperial Valley press., 1914-10-21

tne pOlltlcaI headquarters OF curtin
and Fredericks and the circle of their
immediate and superheated supporters
the opinion in this part of the state
is pretty general that the reelection
of Governor johnson is a practical
certainty.
The election of John M. Eshleman
as lieutenant governor is regarded as
a foregone conclusion.
The betting men of San Francisco
have made Johnson a 1O-to-7 favorite
to beat both Curtin and Fredericks.
In Los Angeles, according to word
from the south, the betting is 10 to g
on Johnson.
Ever at these odds there is little
Fredericks money in sight and less
money on Curtin. Disinterested bet
ting men predict that the wagering
will go to 2 to / on Johnson before
election day.
Several bets have been made at
even money that Johnson will carry
San Francisco by $4,000. Johnson
supporters declare that the governor
will carry San Francisco by 10000
or 10000, and some enthusiasts put
the figures as high as 100000
Alameda and Sacramento county
are the two other big counties of the
north and no one except perhaps the
anti-Johnson bugs doubts that he will
carry both by tremendous vote.
Governor Johnson's meeting in Sac
ramento last week was one of the
most amazing political meetings of
the campaign. In the armory, mile
from the downtown district, 4,5O0 peo-
pie greeted the governor with veri
table tempest of enthusiasm. He will
carry the county by at least 5000.
1t will probably be nearer 10000. Ala
media county will give him $4,000 plu-
rality.
But the most surprising develop
ment of the final campaign, as viewed
from this end of the state, is the
bounding gain of Governor Johnson
in Los Angeles county and the fail
ure Of Fredericks to rally his own
county behind him.
According to the reports received
in San Francisco Johnson will beat
Fredericks in his own county by 5000
or 10000 votes, and some experts with
reputation for conservative forecasts
put Johnson 10000 ahead of Fred
ericks in Los Angeles county.
Bets are being made in San Fran
cisco that Fredericks will lose his
home county.
The basis upon which the betting
men, who wager their money for pur-
poses of financial gain, have estab-
lished Johnson as heavy favorite, is
largely the fact that both Curtin and
Fredericks are recognized S reaction
ary. 1t is believed that they will SIM
ply cut up the anti-Johnson vote be-
tween them and weaken each other
without taking anything away from
Johnson.
Curtin started as a very weak can
didate, ard is still accepted as the
third man in the race. At the start
Of his campaign the word was passed
in his headquarters for his publicity
men to harp upon the cry that Fred
ericks was third and the race was be-
tween Johnson and Curtin.
1t wasn't taken seriously at first,
but Tredericks has plainly failed to
develop the strength that was expect
ed, and the persistence with which
the Curtin fellows have cried that
Fredericks will be third has finally
made some headway.
Fredericks has absolutely failed to
get a boom under way. He has prac-
tically stood still in his strength since
the primary, and there have been
many stories current of quiet schemes
to swing the anti-Johnson strength
behind Curtin. None of these schemes
has matured as yet, but there is still
much feeling that the only way to
check the Johnson wave is to dump
Fredericks and get solidly behind Cur
tin.
If there mas been a conspicuous
tide of public sentiment in the past
month it is the tide of non-partisan-
ship which has been swelling to a
swift flood behind johnson.
Riding on the crest of the non-par-
tisan wave are Tim Spellacy, Demo-
crat, and George A. Knight, Repub-
lican. Both are unquestionably two
of the biggest men in their parties
Spellacy was Bells running mate -four
years ago and was member of the
Democratic state central committee
until he resigned few days ago to
support Johnson.