New-York tribune., 1918-10-06
California Leader
Says Progressives
Must Rule c.. O. p,
Lissner Declares Roosevelt
Will Dominate Next Ma
tional Convention

Meyer Lissner, OF Los Angeles, men,
ber of the Industrial Accident Commits
sion of California and a leading Pro-
gresslve of that state, called yesterday
on Will II. Hays, chairman of the Re
publican National Committee He is in
vestlgating industrial accident insur-
ance in this state He said that the
California Republicans were harmoni-
Gus and confident Of electing Governor
w. D. Stephens to succeed himself. He
predicted that Colonel Roosevelt would
be the dominating figure in the next
Republican National Convention. and
said that next to the Colonel Seuator
Hiram Johnson, of California, stood
strongest with the more progressive
elements in the Republican party.
I'm California we have not quit talk
ing about the queer upset in the pri-
maries," said Mr.. Lissner "Governor
Stephens, who succeeded Hiram John
son when the latter was elected United
States Senator, was a candidate in the
primaries for the Republican nomina-
tion for Governor and won. He also
received the nomination on the Pro-
gressive and Prohibition tickets. Mavor
James Rolph of San Francisco ran sec
ond in the Republican primaries against t
Governor Stephens. Mr., Rolph desired
the Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor, but because ne had run in the
republican primaries and was regis
tered as a Republican he was disouali-
tied under the law from running in the
primaries for the Democratic nomina-
ton.
Describes ueer Situation
Francis j. Heaney, Democrat. also
desired the Democratic nomination for
Governor, but as he did not obtain
enough votes in the primaries against
kolph ne failed to land the Democratic
domination. Technically, the Democrats
nave no candidate, although Theodore
Bell, an independent, will have the sun
port OF the rank and file of the Demo-
Gratis. Bell is Democrat and made
the race in 1906 against Gillett. and
again IN 1910, when Hiram johnson
was first nominated Bell is distinc-
lively the candidate of the vets while
Governor Stephens will have the sun
port of the 'drys.' Rolph had the or
ganlzed labor people rather solidly be-
hind him, but whether Bell will have =
remains to be seen. 80 ''f'' I ~
stephens will without doubt be
elected. He has reprieved Mooney. mn
der sentence of death for alleged com
pllclty IN the bombing conspiracy. nm
til after election. He saws that he
desires an opportunity to examine the
records, and furthermore that he does
not desire that Mooney shall figure as
a political campaign issue. Senator
johnson is in California at present.
called there by the death Of his daugh-
ter-ln-law. He probably will remain
for the campaign"
Progressives Must Control.
Turning to National politics, Mr..
Llssner continued:
The West to-day is thoroughly pro-
gresslve in its political lcanings. and
1T may be we'll for Eastern Republicans
to keep in mind the fact that the West
is essential to Republican victorv' 7
DO not wish to be understood as utter
ing a threat. | am merely stating a
Tact: The Republican party cannot win
IN l92U unless it becomes a progressive
party. No party that Sights the spirit
OF progress, or the rogressives. can
hope to be elected.
In my opinion the Republican partv
must be at least as progressive as the
Democratic party in the next campaign
or 1T will be doomed to another defeat.
A conservative party may have its uses.
but it will be the minority party.
don't know the sentiment in the East
toward Senator Hiram johnson as a
candidate for President, but on the Coast
we look upon him as the outstanding
residential possibility, next to Colonel
Roosevelt, not only for the West, but
lot the Middle West as well. Roose-
welt will be the dominant figure in the
next Republican National Convention !"