The morning call., 1892-04-11
BURNS AND PILLSBURY.
They Have Joined Hands in n Fight
Against Martin Kelly.

Against Martin Kelly.
There was an amount of quiet work being
done among the Republicans last night that
may have an important bearing upon the
local result, and which caused an unusual
stir among the politicians, not only at I6
Third street. but at lis Powell street as
well. Kelly and Crimmins were fully alive
TO the gravity of the situation. aud both
were apparently nervous and anxious, while
Burns lieu tenants seemed to accept the
situation with more composure, as if as
sured that they were likely TO get the best
Of the deal that was going on.
The cause Of the commotion was Quiet
little conference which was going on i'm the
office of A. Ruef between that gentleman.
Pillsbury. Nike Smith and Wilson. Ali
four were in close consultation until after
midnight, and TO all appearan ces were
deeply engrossed in the work in hand. and
well they might be, for il was nothing more
nor less than an attempt to reach an agree
ment relative t0ithe choice of inspectors for
the primary elections. This position of
course Is the most important of all the Of
ices OF election, and their control is
leverage which Is hard to overcome
Ostensibly the % gentlemen who were
named as additional members of the County
Committee short time ago have the selec-
ton OF the inspectors in question but the
reality seems TO be that Pillsbury and Nike
Smith will choose them. The former is
70 more or less under his control, and what
ever he says will be accepted. 1t is not 10
be supposed that the merchant who lives in
the Western Addition will allow the choice
of an Inspector or two for service in the
district south of Market street to puzzle his
brain, aud will accept without cayil the
names suggested to him by his friend Mr..
PillsbuTy, who Is also his trusted attorney
The inside of the whole matter seems to
be that Mike Smith has deserted Kelly and
(rf.. H.
Piilsbury, Burns and Wilson have Joined
issue in aicommoa fight against the Third
street bosses. Ii Is now an open secret in
fact, that Burns and Wilson have laid down
Go Piiisoury. aud IN case of success at the
primaries Will consent to play second fiddle
10 the tall lawyer. The latter is also the
power behind Ruef. and has used the North
Beach attorney TO work his points in the
County Committee while keeping himself
carefully in the background. So we'll has
he worked his cards that it is only within
the last - hours that the facts of the COM
pact have leaked out. aud The result has
been 10 cause citation among the Powell
street people and corresponding depres-
sion OF spirits among the followers of Kelly
and CTimmins.
One fact in connection with the whole
affair. however, is not 10 be overlooked, and
that is the fight at the primaries. This ia
fully realized by Martin Kelly, who Is work
ing like Trojan, while his opponents are
spending most of their time la standing
around with their hands in their pockets
and talking about what they are going to do
when the time comes. Whatever may be
said about Kelly personally the fact remains
that he Is shrewd politician, not over
scrupulOus in his methods, and with a fol-
lowing that Is dangerous at primary He
has already scented out the danger, and
yesterday his couriers were securing every
hole and corner in the Twenty-eight dis
trict and bracing I'D the weak places In
the fight This is to Offset the possible loss
of the inspectors aud the Fra Department.
The Burns men for some reason seem to
be imbued with the Idea that with the DOS
session Of the inspectors they will have il
all their own way, forgetting to reckon upon
the votes to be cast.