The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-09
THE GREAT PRIZE.
PreliminarieS Of the Senatorial
Contest.
Grove |. JlhnSOn'S Name Added to the
List Of ASpirants.
Brighter Prospects for the Passage Of the
Ballot Reform LaW-Los An
seleS Bends.
Special to THE MORNING CALL


and politicians, boodle-takers and DOODLE
giyers. are swarming into the city tonight
as they sWarmed into it at the opening OF the
session. As the day draws near in which
successor to the late George Hearst
will be chosen, the excitement
grows and intensifies. Seldom has deeper
interest been taken in "a contest for seat in
the Senate. Up to the present nothing has
transpired to show that the railroad is TAX
ing hand. Estee is still the most popu-
lar candidate FELTON, comes second in
the race and may forge ahead before
the deciding vote is taken. As none but the
correspondent of the Chronicle appear to
have access to the books of the business
office of the paper, he alone is qualified to
speak of De Young's strength, and he
speaks OF it early and late, and hears long
conversations between prominent lagisla-
lators in which Mike is always spoken of
as the winning candidate.
Dibble and Crimmins went to San Fran
cisco on the 30 o'clock train this morning
and when they return it is expected they
will be full of enthusiasm. But iif they
do not bring with them that all sufficieney
reason (the sack), it is very greatly
feared that very little will be heard
of Mike in connection with the Senatorship,
notwithstanding De Young's robust unpop-
ularity, his courage inspires admiration in
the breast of his bittercst enemies. He is
the only man in the State who dares say
thar NJ. II. de Young is fit to sit
in the United States Senate. FELTON, has
good reason to confound the man who
invented rheumatic gout. If his ailment
keeps him away from the scene of battle
tomorrow night his rivals will have great
advantage over him. He Is here, however,
and is working with great industry to upset
the plans of his opponents.
FELToN'S PROSPECTS.
Mr. FELTON, says he is in the fight 70 win
and will fight like man. He does not be-
lieve that the railroad is taking any but
passing interest in the game. He does not
as yet know who will nominate him,
but expects to perfect his plans to-
morrow When asked for an approx
innate estimate of the number OF
legislators who will work in his behalf he
replied that he could not make anything
like definite statement, and would there
fore say nothing He has received assur-
ance of active support from many members
of both Houses and believes that his chances
of winning the empty toga is good. The re-
cent exposures have made the revenue
legislators very careful, and it is now be-
lieyed that the solid thirty-hve which
1t is said had agreed to mount the auc-
tiOn block together to be knocked down to
the highest bidder, will reconsider their
decision, and prove how excellent thing
for the people it is for rogues to fall out
Colonel Dan Burns has fully recovered his
health and is fighting like Hercules for
Estee. He is positive that the railroad COM
pany viii not be factor in the contest"
ANOTHER AsPIRANT.
Ex-senator Grove J. johnson has joined
the aspirants. His Single has been swung
to the breeze and his headquarters are open
to all who would enter. He Is also very
hopeful of success. 1t is now believed that
the Republicans will not caucus until after
the first vote for Senator has been cast.
The Democrats will caucus at noon to-mor-
| row. Tue candidates for the empty honor
| they have to bestow are English Irish,
| White and OStrom.
BALLOT REFORM.
The Ballot Reform Bill will probably be
passed tomorrow. The prospects OF its
are Tonight All day long influential
Republicans WHO have hitherto held
| aloof from the fight have been la
boring among the members who
have been bullied into opposing the
| bill by Dibble, and the result is that seven
4 w
bill yesterday will vote with the friends TO-
morrow. Governor Markham is known to
be in favor OF the bill. Speaker Coombs
| will take the floor tomorrow and make
forcible appeal to the Republicans to keep
the pledge to pass the Australian
law made by them to the people
| of the State. When Dibble returns
he will find many of the fences he labored
so arduously to erect in the interest of the
| bosses, including himself, swept away.
NEW TACTICS.
| So assured are Dibbe's followers that de-
| feat awaits them that they will change their
| tactics, and instead of opposing the bill
| they will seek to defeat it by offering
amendments They agreed tonight to make
| an effort to amend the bill so that the
names of Presidential electors of each
party may be grouped together on the
common ticket. They will offer this
| amendment as compromise; but
so sure are the friends OF the
| bill that any amendment would kill the
measure that they will regret this proposed
change, which would have been acceptable
| to many of them earlier in the session.
The Attorney General has been asked by
the State Board of Examiners to decide
| whether the State can purchase S150,000 of
| Los Angeles County bonds for the School
! Fund His decision will be in the affrma-
| tive.