Evening star., 1924-11-13
CALIFORNIA WOMEN |
OUT TO RUN STATE
Determined to Elect One OF
Sex Goyernor-Heated
Contest Looming.
By Consolidated Press.

By Consolidated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO. November 13.-
California may shortly afford the
rest of the Nation the unique polit-
cal spectacle of it's female voting
strength arraigned in solid rank
against the male Of the species. Not
only that, but should the threatened
political clash of sexes materialize it
Is probable that women folk may
come out on the top side.
1t is all because of recent contagious
example of wyoming and Texas in
the electing of woman governors.
Now women of California want the
same thing. What is more, they have
started right to get it. Already in
their plans tr' their governorship
the women 20 4 have brought forth
the names of seven members of their
Sex as tentative candidates. Not to be
outdone, the men, seemingly with in
tention Of overawing the threatened
opposition in believing they haven't
a chance, have duplicated the wom
ems list with seven candidates of
their own. SO far, however, the wom-
en- have not been overawed by 1t.
Mrs. Pierce Heads List.
Leading the list of proposed woman
candidates for gubernatorial honors
various women's organizations have
already put forth is the name of Mrs.
Nellie Brewer Pierce, woman lawyer
and tax expert. who financial head
of the State board of control a year
ago Topped off sl2,oo0,o0 of Califor-
MAS biennial S93,n0o, 900 budget.
Even male politicians admit that
Mrs. Pierce Is A formidable candi-
date. Anybody who cuts down taxes
endears himself to the taxpayers. and
tax reduction is always an important
issue in California Cubernatorial cam
paigns. Few. if any, men, the males
admit understand tax problems like
Mrs. Pierce Also her record as
States financial head answers any
objection from the Sterner sex that
woman governor would be ruled
by sentiment and not by practicality
With true political acumen, how
ever. the women folk are not put
ting all their eggs in one basket. II
Mrs. Pierce should not loom strong
enough to carry off the governorShip
they have an "ace in the hole" to
fall back upon in the person of Mrs
Anna B. Saylor, State assembly wo
man for six years and a very practi
cal politician. Mrs. Saylor. ii is con-
ceded, would give any male candidate
for the gOV"rnorShip a hard fight
for she has long had the backing of
Hiram Johnson and the State politi
cal machine and is strongly indorsed
by the labor vote.
other Prospects Strong.
Other potential woman candidates
for gubernatorial honors include such
prominent club apd welfare workers
as Mrs. Parker Maddox, president o.
San Francisco W omcn'S Civic Center:
Mrs Suzette Chalmers, head of the
Oakland Business and Professional
Women's Club, and Mrs. l.. {. Bel
lows, president of the Los Angeles
Wonen's City Club. all with strong
followings among women's organiza-
tions throughout the State.
And the women are overlooking no
bets in their first essay at big time
politics. Soldifying the women's
vote and getting them to hang to-
gether with an unbroken front for
the fair sex candidate finally chosen
is their big Job. Toward this end
they are taking Il leaf out of the
book of experienced male politicians
by starting early. The governorshiD
election is still almost two years
away-but not too far away, say
feminine political leaders, to start
building their political fence.
1t is the solid women's vote" or
rather the lack of it, however, upon
which the male politicians pin their
hopes of keeping the lady governor
OUT or tne Iall1OTnla StdtenOuSe. on
the strength of State registration.
wherein 60 per cent of all registered
voters are women, and on the show
ing November 4, when 6S per cent of
the million and quarter voters that
went to the polls were women, the
males admit they haven't much
chance-if the women stand together.
1t is in standing together
agreeing unitedly on their best can
didate--that the California first wo-
mems party Is expected to fail. The
old contention that no two women
can agree on anything still holds
good, say their male political rivals.
Likewise they forecast that when the
representatives of 100000 woman
voters get together to try to agree
on a candidate the first call will be
for the all handy police reserves.