The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-22
Van SCHAICK'S RECORD.
A Man Whose Career Has
Been Shady.
How the Consul Generalship to Honolulu Was
Promised ana then Refused by
President Grant.

L. II. Van Schaick, who has been nomi-
mated for Senator by Kelly and Crimmins in
the Twenty first District, Is not unknown
as professional wire-puler and rock
roller. He is one of the most familiar fig
ures in the back room OF Martin Kelly'S sa-
loon at 10 Third street. and there is not a
job put up at that hatchery of political
crime which Van Sehaick is not nstru-
mental in bringing into existence.
1t was the same when Higgins was alive,
and the old boss was often influenced In his
nefarious schemes by the notorious candi-
date from the Twenty-frst.
But Van Schaick has had record" for
long, long years.
As long ago as 1870 he had reputation as
an INSCRIPTIONS worker in the field of prac-
teal politics.
1t was in the year named that John j.
ingalls,. then young. ambitious and en-
thusiastc attorney of AtchisOn, defeated
Pomeroy of Kansas for the Senate and by
his victory became indirectly the author Of
the Iliad of MIR. Van Schaick's choicest woei
Pomeroy had been In the Senate for years
and was looked upon as the great Republic
can power of Kansas. He had money by
the million, and in all that he had under
taken he had succeeded far beyond the
hopes OF the ordinary man.
Even General Grant was one OF his warm
est personal friends, and the old COM
mander at that time was President. The
chief executive favored the reelection Of
POmeroY.
Knowing this Van Setback. who had been
a friend of Pomer0y, went East, announc-
ing thathis one ambition was TO save his
country rs nsul-General at Honolulu.
Pomeroy favored him at once and together
they visited the White House.
The Kansas Senator urged the appoint
NeEk <vt, ns.d of tn lfrA kf.r. 80
the appeal the President made promise Of
the appointment
Before going. however. Pomeroy said ::
Mr.. President. | have fight on hand. one
in Kansas for reelection, and as Van
Schaick is an old friend and valuable man
in things of that kind, l would like to ask
that You defer issuing his commission until
| am elected. In the meantime | shall take
him TO Kansas TO help me out.
This was agreed TO, and PomerQy and
Van Scbaick went West to do battle with
the opposition.
Van Schaick acted as sort OF manager
for the Senator, and after stormy CAM
paign in which the Republicans were sue
cessfnl the Legislature met at Topeka.
Here Van Schaick was prominent figure,
aud acted as one OF P0meroy's chief ad-
visers.
During 1t all there was a strong feeling Of
opposition to the millionaire Senator, but
for a time It looked ms if he could not
be defeated. Apparently he had it all his
own way, and his opponents began to des-
| pair of success.
When the ballot was taken, however, an
incident occurred which changed the fight
entirely and sent Pomeroy into obscurity
As the roll was being called for the first
| time one of the meRbe OF the Assembly
| arose and held aloft bundle of greenbacks
| his vote for Pomeroy.
| The result was sensation, and Pomeroy
! was succeeded by ingalls,.
| just what Van Schaick had to do with
! the transaction was never positively known,
| but he had been seen around Pomeroy's
headquarters with rolls of money, and had
| been boasting that his friend could not be
| beaten. To cap it ALL he came back to
| California and was never given his COM
mission as Consul-General to Honolulu
| President Grant refused to honor him for
| some reason which may be inferred
On his return to this State Van Schaick
became close henchman of Bill Higgins.
| who was then the Republican boss and
| after hanging about the latter's head
| quarters was finally rewarded by a nomina-
ton tor School Director. This vas In 1880.
| ana in 1881 he was made president of the
board IN order to carry out the orders of
| the boss
| That was the year of corruption and SCAN
dals in the School Department. and nlanes
were sold in the most open manner and con-
tracts farmed out for supplies. So notorious
| did the entire thing become that the nonulao
| ton arose at the next election aud swept
the crowd out of existence. Van Schalck ia
about the only one of the disreputable
crew who has ever dared to show his head
again.
As 1t is. the chances are that Kelly ia
about the only man on earth who wonId
have the hardihood to place such name
before the public, and Mike de Young is the
only candidate for Senator who would work
| to elect such man.
| There is one consolation at least in it all.
and that is that Van Setback is so notori-
| ously bad that not one out of ten of the
voters in his district will give him sunnort'
and on election day he will be swept under
| by tidal wave.