The morning call., 1892-03-22
MAHONEY LED THE VAN.
Fifteen Republican County Com.
mitteemen Bolt.
They Walk Out Of a Meeting and Openly
Threaten to Start an Organization
of Their Own.


would inearnadine the peaceful floor of
B'nai Birth Hail
The occasion was the meeting of the COM
mittee and the cause-well. no one seems TO
know just what did happen. MahOney
says II was because Martin Kelly wanted to
stuff the primaries, and Kelly says that
Mahoney acted like a schOOlboy. or in Mr..
kelly's choice vernacular, sized up like
bloomin' chump"
1t see ms that Secretary Lee had secured
for the place OF meeting small room IN the
top story of the B'nai Birth building. and
this, it was claimed, had been done for the
purpose of barring out the friends of Will
son. The latter, not to be Outdone. hired
the main hall downstairs and invited his
friends to be present. Of the latter there
were fully 1000 on hand, and they
seemed to have come from every
section Of the town. Among them
were seen battle-searred veterans of
many hard-iought primary. but they were
quiet and orderly Tickets of admission
had been given them, and while the COM
mi:tee was in session upstairs they amused
themselves by making speeches and singing
choice and vociferouS variety of songs.
Outside the door was a Gordon Of police,
some twenty-five In number, and no one
was allowed TO block the stree: or side
walk. But for their efforts in keeping the
crowd moving, trouble might have ensued.
II was soon evident, when the doors of the
crowd surged into aud packed through and
around the entrance, that the meeting was
expected TO bring forth events moment0us
TO the party. As Secretary George W. Lee
was late in making his appearance, the
various committeeman gathered IN knots OF
twoS and threes and cOnVersed together in
low and earnest tones. The proceedings
seemed likely 10 get very lively before the
meeting was called 10 order, when \. Ruef
attracted the semi-inebriated attention of
'tI init zoo Eran Mo oil
known as the king of the Potrero," by
walking about. "Sit down, V, u eur, now,
do" roared the belligerent Nc ManuS, and
as Ruef made a start TO resent these insult
ing words, trouble seemed imminent, but
friends Gained both parties down and thus
an undesirable row was avoided.
AT 5 80 sharp the secretary made his aD-
pearauce and without loss of time Chair
man X. Z. Meyer raped the table for order.
After the roll had been called, when A.
Ruef answered also a proxy for c. 4. G.
O'3rien, +. j. Mills moved 10 strike the lat
ter from the roll as present. Mr.. OBrien
then appearing on the scene was cOngratu-
lated by the chairman on his recent recovery
and the motion was eventually withdrawn.
The secretary then moved that the meet
ing hold an executive session as the hall
was too small, and laughter was raised by
some member OF the crowd, with an ultra
strong voice, shouting, Move 10 bigger
room"
J. II. Mahoney moved an amendment that
if this WAS carried J. y. K Wilson be al
lowed TO remain and John r. Muilln moved
an additional amendment that the meeting
remain an open one ii was put and lost and
roil-call demanded but Withdrawn. Then
member suggested that Nike Smith be
permitted to remain with Wilson.
Finally 1t was decided to hold an eXecu-
tive session. with permission TO the press 10
remain, and SeTgeant-at-ArmS j. j. Moran
and K W. Heilman nshered the outsiders
into the hail, the chairman soothing their
disappointed feelings by assuring all that
the reason was simply because the room
was too small.
TIE DOORS LOCKED.
a. soon as the doors were locked and the
minutes of the previous meeting read the
secretary read an invitation 10 the committee
to be present at the meeting Of the Agra
| American Republican League 10 be held on
| March IS in Germania Hal.
An important communication from the
! Republican Central Committee was ordered
! laid upon the table to be Gealt with under
| the head of new business and an important
| question, which was rumOred would be one
| OF the crisis of the evening. was called up
| under the head of credentials.
DIR. j. ii. Mclaughlin. the chairman OF
the committee appointed to inquire into the
| validity OF the election of Frank ID. Sweet
| ger as committeeman for the Forty-Second
| Assembly District. presented a majority
| report declaring that according to the evil
| Invalid, because al the time il took place
| MI. SweeiZer was neither a resident nor a
| voter in either the Forty-seeond District or
this city and county, although he had be-
come so since the election by transfer.
! y. ii. MahOpey presented a minority re-
| port recommending that the election be held
valid. as SWeetZer was q good citizen aud
Republican and although be had resided in
Contra Costa County at the time OF his cleo
ton. he now resided here where he had
| MT
j. l.. Mccormack supported the minority
report Secretary George W. Lee, with
Martin Kelly as prOmpter. vigorously
opposed the minority report, arguing
might just as well admit men from
Sacramento, Shasta or Los Angeles
w. a. Nicholson. j. II. Mahoney, A. 5.
lsaacs, \. Ruef, took one side or the other
IN very animated debate, and finally
| Sweetzer, who was present, was called uI
TO the chair to make a statement, which
proved to be yery candid but at the same
time very amusing
WANTED HIS SEAT.
. wish to hold my seat" said he, "be-
cause / have been elected by a majority In
/ the Forty second District and il vould look
very bad to be kicked out now" In
| response to various questions he admitted
that he was residing and voter in Contra
| Costa County at the time of his election.
He did not even know he was on the ticket
| u NHclHeI llt WIS eltSteu DF tue voters OF
his fellow committeeman. If he had known
lie was not properly on the ticket he would
! have declined to have stood at all. In short
he did not know much about his duties
| position or anything at all about the matter
| excepting that he was in and meant to STAY
if they would allow him. A rolcall, during
which the irTepTeSsble McManus peremp-
torliy told the secretary to go ahead a
BANKED sight faster" the majority report
was adopted by % votes to 10. and Sweet
zer's election was declared void
Oscar Lewis then moved the vacancy be
! filed and that SweeiZer, whom he had
I known for years, be nominated Jesse
Marks placed William Van Hansen In nomi.
nation. d virulent discussion took place in
favor Of one candidate or the other. Finally,
on a rollcall, Van Hansen was elected by 9.
votes against SweeiZer s 90. ana Jesse Marks
and ID. ;. Dorm left to bring the successful
candidate into the room.
The voting showed that Ruef and Pisto-
lesi had gone over to Crimmins by voting
for Van Ii ausen, and the news was speed
lily telegraphed somehow or another to thOSe
outside, and the mass OF people in the large
hall below set up a great shout Var
Hansen was introduced, and motion was
carried asking that the defeated SweetZel
be permitted 10 remain during the remain
der OF the meeting But that gentleman
couldn't see that he could be of any particu
lar use.
After Chairman J. j. Mullin OF the com.
mittee on rules and bylaws had reported
no progress. A. Ruef made an eloquent and
forcible speech, which met with frequent
interruption, that of McManus, who audibly
used protane language, calling forth scath
ing denunciatlon from Ruef. and the Chair
man also severely reproved the Potter,
politician, threatening to have him turned
out. Ruef concluded his remarks, which.
In the main, went to show how devoted IA
was to the party without allegiance to an,
boss or individual by presenting the follow
ing resolution:
BUEF's RESOLUTION.
| WHEREAS, Tie Legislature of The State at IL
last session. IedisiIicted this city aud county
aud divided the city Into eighteen Assembly ana
| nlue Senatorial districts. IN piace OF twenty L.