The morning call., 1892-03-14
POLITICS In GENERAL.
Tie Australian Ballot Found to
BE Faulty.
Governor Markham Not Candidate for Dele.
gate-at-Large-A Crop of Aspirants
Swinging Up.

Politics, both Stale ana municipal, mas
grown to fever heat, and already the night
for representation in the National Conven-
ton has begun. All day Yesterday there
was crowd Of politicians about the corri-
deis of tie Palace Hotel, and issues Of I'M
portance in the campaign were discussed
with a vigor that portends an active cam
pagn.
There was more interest than usual, owing
to the fact that the State Central Committee
is to meet to-day, AID it was believed that
its action would have bearing upon the
campaign.
1t is now definitely known that Governor
Markham will not be a candidate for del
egate-at-large to the convention and he has
so announced to his friends. 1t WAS given
out at one time that he was in the fight, but
he has told his friends that he would not
accept the homer unless offered to him unan-
imously. That this will not be done is
apl aren't. and the chances now are that the
Governor will remain at home and watch
the battle from afar as he has done in days
gone by.
One thing is understood pretty clearly
among the State politicians, however, and
that is that the Governor is ambitious to be
Secretary of War under the next admins
uation, and is straining every effort to that
end. 1t would be clear recognition of his
victory in carrying the State in 1890 against
ODDS that seemed insurmountable and
makes him q man TO be watched with
interest.
FOUND TO BE FAULTY,
The operation of the Australian ballot
system. as adopted by the last Legislature,
has been carefully examined by the pTac-
teal politicians, aud the almost universal
opinion seems 10 be that it is a success in
all particulars save one. The latter fault
Sc CT7a iat no L
Legislature and viii cause great deal OF
annoyance in the coming election.
Said q prominent politician from Sacra-
mentO yesterday: Il am opposed to the law
as operated, and am OF the opinion that II IS
2 daH gerOuS experiment until hDally tested.
Watched lis workings very closely in Sac
Tamento, and so far as | could discover 1t
was 40 Improvement upon the old methods.
In tie inst place II Is not difficult TO pur-
chase votes, and the road is left open TO am
bilious and unScrupul0uS men to DO so. The
great end rests upon the men who are Sc
lectedtt0 supervise the casting of the bal
lots, and if they are betrayed that will settle
il in my conviction.
Il can see one flaw in the workings Of the
law which must be guarded against and
that IS the choice of judges on the inside.
As the law operated in Sacramento it was
found satisfactory as a rule, but the great
weakness lies in the choice of. judges.
Every voter, Of course. has the right to de-
failuIe TO understand the method of max
ing out a ticket. lie then has the right to
say which one Of the judges he wishes to
make out his ticket, and that man. if ''in -
with the corTupti0niStS, has 1t all his own
way. lie can keep list of all who vote a
certain way. and if money is used il eau be
paid after the polls are closed. Ii is an 'air-
tight cinch' so far as | can see, and the law
10 be effective must be amended"
LOOKING TO MINNEAPOLIS.
Candidates for delegate to the Republican
National Convention are spTingng up very
rapidly. and Southern California is already
IN the field Los Angeles, as usual has heI
regular quota Of aspirants. and two men
from that county are In the fight. General
L. Z. Johnson, who IS Governor Markham s
business partner and close personal friend
is-Seek5ng TO be chosen as Observation-Disclosures
and his friends claim that he has every
chance Of success, as Southern California
1aVoTs him almost unanimously, and they
are assured that one at least of those
chosen at large viii come from the region
south Of Tehachapi.
In add ton TO johnson, eX- Mayor Z. T.
Spence OF Los Angeles is out for q place as
delegate from the new Sixth Congressional
District, and now that Harrison Gray Otis
has announced himself as not desiring the
honor, il looks as II Spence would have but
little opposition.
SAN BERNARDINo.
Seventh District, and as there is an old
political feud between them it is probable
that the contest will be warm one. The
men thus opposed are Joseph Brown, very
wealthy landowner. and Sheriff Seymour,
who was opposed by the Brown faction in
the election of two years ago.
In the upper end Of the Sixth District il
IS understood that 1. j. Field of Monterey
las been pretty well agreed upon and he
viii probably have very large following.
in,
most mentioned are those of Mark Sheldon
of this city and DR.. Thomas Flint of San
Benito The latter is the father Of Senator
Thomas Flint, and il is believed will be
chosen.
Hervey Lindley Of Los Angeles, who was
to have gone before the convention. has de
cided not to do so, as he is a candidate fol
the Republican nomination for Congress.
IRWIN c. Stump, it is claimed. is not can
didate as was announced, for delegate al
large, and 1t Is understood that his being
out OF the fight is largely due to the fact thai
Mr.. Blaine is out of the race. MIR. StumI
has always been an ardent admirer of The
brilliant Secretary Of State, and his disap.
pointment over the letter of withdrawal has
been very openly expressed.
MIKES MoNKEYING.
Mike de Young is making an active can.
.vass to capture place in the delegation
but as he is making, as is we'll known,
way down" fight for the United State
Senate, it has been intimated to him that i
would be more decent for him to keep on
Of the convention. Mr.. de Young, who il
anxious to pre.empt the earth. is not in
cilned to listen TO any such advice, and az
later than yesterday he bluntly told num-
Der CT politicians that be Intended to 90 tt
Minneapolis. There was an implied threat
IN his tone and the men who aid in making
politics are inclined to discipline De YOUNG
by leaving him at home.
NJ. Nj. Estee disclaims any am bition to ST
In the convention, but it seems to be gener
ally understood that he will go if lie desire:
to.
Aside from those already named is
host OF men who are looking for the honor
and among them are: II. Y. Morehouse o.
San Jose, S. NJ. Shortridge, c. Z. Croker
George A. Knight. Greed Raymond, w. e
Dargie, Senator Frank Sprague. Senator
Frank McGOwan. Major Frank McLangh.
lin, Percy Beamish. n. p Chapman, A. l.
Hart John F. Kidder, F. S. Chadbourne
aud host of others more or less Influential
Ia tie party.
STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.