The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-04-26
CALIFORNIA BOSSISM.
Interview with a California Democrat

Interview With q California Democrat.
An old Californian was talking the other day a,
one Of the hotels OF Vigilance Committee times in
san Francisco and the important part taken in the
| cause of law and order by William 4. Coleman,
formerly of New York; now the recognized leading
merchant there, when the conversation drifted into
business matters and politics. The prevalence there
OF an independent spirit in politics. and the desire
all good citizens to crush and stamp out the corrupt
Bossism which has been such a curse to San
francisco, was commented on freely and energeti-
cay. "Aproros of that we said, zone of the
bosses, named Buckley, blind man, was reported
TO be here the other day, fresh from visit to Mr.
Manning at Albany, and boasted that he was going
10 control In his own interests the Pacific Coast
patronage. Do you know anything about hm?"
"Oh, yes said he, " his day of defeat has come
1t dawned last fall. Thete was an independent
movement there at the election in 1884, which COM
pletely routed him, horse, foot and dragoons' He
had by the aid of his strikers who freuuent his gin
mill on Bush street, and through some of the lire
department bosses,' zone of whom is now visiting
this ciiyD managed TO pack some of the district
clubs with his gangs to such extent that the most
dlsgraceful rows took place there nightly. Citizens
who had not mingled in politics, who went to Ioin
these clubs, were terrorized unless they voted for
certain men as officers The result was that decent,
| respectable men 10 the number of thousands were
afraid to venture to vote at the primaries. Thus
these bosses, with Buckley and fire department
ohlcal named Rainey at the head, filled the NUM-
cipa convention with their agents. The fire depart
ment was VIGOROUSLY made political machine.
Many OF its members were In the convention against
all rules II was packed with dozens OF ward
bruisers and bummers-the vultures OF politics.
with men whose votes were purchasable. The con-
sequence was that the better element in the party
Joined the Independent movement, (Which
cast over 600 yotesD or the Republicans,
or declined to vote at all on November 4,
except for fiesldent And Buckleys men were
nearly all Overwhelmingly and dlsgracefully beaten
the Mayor IA DEMOCRACY was elected by Republican
votes. Buckley reluctantly was compelled TO nomi-
nate MIN. But one supervisor was elected out of
board OF twelve, and not single school director
out Of twelve. Facts and figures speak for them
selves. The two Congressional nominees he was in
stfumental In placing before the people were worse
beaten than were ever nominees for Congress be-
fore-One by over 1900 votes In a Democratic dis
rict over lsOD strong; the other by very large vote
over 1000 in Democratic district between 500 and
1000 strong' The people were dlsgusted and tired
with Bnckley's methods They asserted themselves!
why, 1t Is notorious fact that few self-respectng
men can he induced now to accept u nomination al
his hands In State conventions the county dele
gates always vote against mis- men. This is true
TRUTH known to all men. challenge contradiction
II Is also fact that nearly every man he has been
Instrumental in getting position for In any OF the
municpa! Offices has to pay him so much OF his sal
airy for the favor. This nest needs cleaning out II
Is only one OF many ike II throughout the land And
believe Mr. Cleveland will do 1t when the facts are
known to him. tell you, the ways this Blind Boss
are curse toour politics. No Federal ONCE could be
he given to one Of hs friends that he would not l with
his creatures He boasts openly OF his intimacy with
Mr.. Mannlng--Or Dan Manning az he calls him;
sayshe went to school with him and has fixed him
II Mr.. Manning takes any stock In MIN he IL not the
man he Il represented 10 be. The fellow has Ger.
tain kind OF intelligence: he is shrewd and smart in
many respects, but wants coin patronage for every
thing he does. lie makes money lie has pleasant
and smooth manners and would deceive any
stranger under the sun lie has mad two brothers
hung--one In China and one In California No man
who has any prominence viii be seen going into his
saloon. ] tell you, my dear sir, his power has van
shed, and no man knows 1t better than himself The
papers of San Francisco last fall will support every
word utter. The leading men-not politicians
Will bear out these statements. The delegation
from the notorious Stockton convention to Chicago
last fall all for Thurman except one lie voted
for Butter This is the way they voted all the time
They never changed TO Mr. Cleveland until his
election was assured! No, no, the Blind Boss is
BhoTn OF Ms power, and no one knows II better than
himself. Hereafter we hope 10 be able TO crush out
all such hideous methods as his In San Francisco
politics. Otherwise, farewell TO reform and honest
government There are several Callfornlans here
who viii agree with every word have SAID