Abolish Cross-Filing in California

Cross-filing is the practice that allows candidates for political office to register as candidates in multiple parties in primary elections. If a candidate wins nominations from multiple parties, then they run with less (or no) competition in the fall election. Cross-filing was perceived to be an instrument of the corrupt lobbyist and political-boss controlled political system in California. John B. Elliott spearheaded the movement to put a proposition on the 1952 ballot that would elminate cross-filing. The proposition, #13, passed.

From the description of Abolish Cross-Filing in California records, 1941-1960 (bulk 1950-1953). (San Leandro Community Library). WorldCat record id: 679730503

Historical Note

Cross-filing is the practice that allows candidates for political office to register as candidates in multiple parties in primary elections. If a candidate wins nominations from multiple parties, then they run with less (or no) competition in the fall election. Cross-filing was perceived to be an instrument of the corrupt lobbyist and political-boss controlled political system in California. John B. Elliott (1878-1967) spearheaded the movement to put a proposition on the 1952 ballot that would elminate cross-filing. Elliott, a journalist who had served as the Southern California chairman of Woodrow Wilson's and Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first presidential campaigns, was also the president of the Jameson Petroleum Company. His efforts to elimate cross-filing were successful, and the proposition on the 1952 ballot (Proposition #13) passed.

From the guide to the Abolish Cross-Filing in California records, Bulk, 1950-1953, 1941-1960, (USC Libraries Special Collections)

Historical Note

Cross-filing is the practice that allows candidates for political office to register as candidates in multiple parties in primary elections. If a candidate wins nominations from multiple parties, then they run with less (or no) competition in the fall election. Cross-filing was perceived to be an instrument of the corrupt lobbyist and political-boss controlled political system in California. John B. Elliott (1878-1967) spearheaded the movement to put a proposition on the 1952 ballot that would elminate cross-filing. Elliott, a journalist who had served as the Southern California chairman of Woodrow Wilson's and Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first presidential campaigns, was also the president of the Jameson Petroleum Company. His efforts to elimate cross-filing were successful, and the proposition on the 1952 ballot (Proposition #13) passed.

From the guide to the Abolish Cross-Filing in California records, Bulk, 1950-1953, 1941-1960, (USC Libraries Special Collections)