The morning call., 1892-11-05
Wendell Easton Might Have
Been Governor.
BOSS KELLY KILLED HIM.
General Surprise Expressed That Easton
Should Have Affiliated With Such Eel
lows Instead Of Good Citizens.

As ne reads In tho signs OF the umeS Tue
popular trend toward the Nom Partisan CAN
didates he cannot but acknowledge his mis-
take.
Has the fair dream of high Office in the
public service never crossed his thoughts
Did not the gubernatorial chair once seem
attractive in his eyesP
Some of our citizens formerly thought he
would make California an excellent Gov
ernor before ne committed himself to the
tender mercies of such a man as Boss
Kelly.
But Easton could not tell that this year
there would be so general a revulsion
against boss rule and that the people would
arise in Just indignation and cast off such
corrupt bosses as this fellow Kelly.
Still, great many people in this city are
wondering that Wendell Easton continues
to allow his name to appear as the creature
of these unpopular bosses.
The regret has even penetrated to the
country. THE CALL is in receipt of the
following communication on the subject
from COlusa correspondent:
Would it not be good idea to fully ex-
plain TO the public just how to vote in order
to defeat De Young2 Although / shall not
be able TO be home TO vote on account of
important business l am very much inter-
ested in seeing the Non-Partisan ticket
elected, and De Young and his pard, Wen
dell Easton, defeated. as it Is most certain
they are both 'colared.'
"Easton missed the opportunity of his
life. How2
why, if he had declined the nomination
at the hands of Kelly and Crimmins with
thanks and made one of his smooth little
speeches, stating that Whereas the good
citizens OF the city had made one last effort
to clean out the boss-rule element and give the
people clean city government and Legis-
lature, and whereas, he desired to person.
ally support said ticket for the good Of the
city, therefore, he could not accept the
nomination or oppose such strong effort
in the right direction for good government
If he had done this it would have been a
great big plume in his cap, and he could
have been Governor of this State at next
election. as few people know him person
ally as / do, and such an act on his part
would have made him the greatest man in
San Francisco, for he knew the better ele-
ment of the city would support the Non
Partisan ticket.
"But now ne Is dead forever. as far as
politics is concerned. and for one am very
glad OF ii. for / know the man. Still. it is
unnecessary TO say anything now, as he
cannot possibly be elected.
''In regard to De Young, no one who has
good judgment and knows what he is doing
will support the Republican S. P. ticket
and should think people would refuse to
read his dirty, untrue sheet.
81 am Republican,, and have taken his
paper by the year, but never again shall /
pay nickel mot even in slot) for his vile
batter. Such wholesale manufactured lies
as his editorial page is capable of producing
is enough to disgust every reader. Ii
justly deserves to be thrown over by every
subscriber for what ii has so hard tried to
do-throw down the citizens honest effort
to break loose from boss rule and give tax
payers an honest unpledged government
"On the other hand THE CALL has done
itself proud and deserves much credit for
the modest way it has always refuted the
Chronicles lies. 1t never resorts to strong
language and it is so polite | admire it all
the more and the paper certainly deserves
the hearty supporter every respectable
family in the State.
II wish some means could be brought
about whereby THE CALL could be dis
tribUted next Sunday free to all subscribers
In San Francisco and give them a chance
TO once read clean sheet and to get the
right story regarding the municipal ticket
Of the Citizens Non-Partisan party"
ut beats me-" said a well-known man
about town TO CALL reporter Yesterday,
show a man like Wendell Easton can
affiliate with such creature as Martin
Kelly, or accept nomination from a con.
vention owned body and soul by the water
front Fagin and his pal. Phil Crimmins.
THE latter has some little claim to
decency, but Kelly has no attributes of that
kind.
'To reach coveted end there is hardly
any depth of infamy to which he will not
descend by proxy. There are grades In
crimes from which even his soul reyolts, be-
cause lie is not game enough to carry them
out in person.
"Let me give you an Illustration, and an
apropos one, in view of the assertion that
Kelly has stuffed every precinct roll in all
the Senatorial districts. and means to win
the municipal ana legislative fights by the
grossest frauds.
-Four years ago Kelly was only district
boss in the Republican party, claiming con-
troll of the old Twenty-eighth Assembly
District. just before the primary elections,
knowing that in fair open primary he
could not carry the district against Billy
Harrington and his friends, he determined
to do so by foul means
THE day before the election he went to
well-known firm and gave an order for
dozen six-shooters Of particular pattern.
leaving instructions with the firm that the
weapons were to be delivered to the inspec
tors Of the different precincts in the
Twenty-eighth District.
Not having the kind of pistol desired
al. lIo.T he 49,
and delivered the weapons to the inspectors
as instructed.
''Now mark the sequel
"The next day, when Billy Harrington
and his friends, who were in majority in
the district. attempted to vote; they were
driven from the polls by Kelly's FOUNDERS
and heelers. and Harrington himself was
twice shot at.
THAT same evening the County Commit
tee met at IA Kearny street, upstairs, to
canvass the returns, Kelly's friends being
present iu force.
"Whils so engaged Billy Harrington
skipped into the room and was assailed by
Kelly and others in the most violent manner.
they demanding TO know what business he
had there, his companions at the same time
pulling their pistols and pointing them at
Harrington.
ITO save himself Harrington sprang
between the safe aud projection in the
room, and stood facing his would-be assaii-
ants, among whom was Kelly.
$50 long as he stood thus the fellows dared
not fire-they were waiting for his back to
be turned. Watching his opportunity Har.
rington made dash Tor the door, and the
moment his back was turned to them a shot
rang out and a 44-caliber ball buried itself
in Harrington's neck. while a second struck
him in the back, passing through his right
side.
"PulIing his weapon, Harrington returned