The morning call., 1892-03-05
FIGHTING FOR SPOILS.
Moves and Counter Moves on the
Political Board.
Tim 0'Brien Selected to Succeed John Dough.
erty-Mullins Won Back to the
Anti-Kelly Faction.

The chief subject Of conversation yester-
day among local politicians was the resigna-
tiOn Of John Dougherty as Chairman of the
Democratic County Committee. The fact
that his written withdrawal from the osten-
sible leadership of the municipal Democracy
had been in the hands of the Executive
Committee for more than week was known
TO a limited lew, but TO the mass of the
strugglers for place to feed at the public
crib the intelligence as published exclu-
sively in The CALL came as a genuine sur
prise.
Mr.. Dougherty is Too old and too cunning
a politician TO be caught mapping, and he
was one of the first of the faithful band
who had clung to the Buckley standard to
see that the ex-bOss had played out his
string and was no longer the most potent
power in politics. With a shrewdness that
he must be given credit for, even by his
political opponents, DougheTty began to
look about for soft place On which to
allght, and the vacant red buggy 10 the
Fire Department attracted his attention.
He had been a district engineer in the old
days, and knew well the duties appertain-
ing TO the place Moreover il is position
of more or less influence and carries with it
a good salary. As a consequence il required
but very little amount of reasoning on the
part of Mr.. Dougherty to decide that the
wires accordingly
He was told that the oft-repeated asser-
lions that the department must be taken
from politics was not intended as ruse,
and that If he aspired 10 his old position be
must keep his hands off the primaries. This
was agreed to. and Mr.. Dougnerty sent in
his resignation at once as Chairman Of the
County Committee.
DoUGHERTY's SUCCESSOR,
Speaking of the County Committee Ii is
probable that call for a special meeting
will be called IN few days for the purpose
OF accepting the resignation of Dougherty
and naming his successor. Who the latter
will be has not been finally decided upon,
but there is every reason to believe that L.
/. OBrien viii be chosen. He is re-
garded by those who have watched
him closely as shre1d politician who is
popular with all classes, and able to hold
ms own IN any fight which may arise. He
has been closely associated with Buckley,
OF course, in DAYS gone by. but as a large
maJorItT-nearly all. in fact-of bis aSsoc-
ales have been IN the same boat he will
naturally command their votes and meet
with no opposition in his fight.
Said member OF the Executive Commit
tee yesterday: 1--WE have the resignation
OF Dougherty now in our hands. and
have had for more than a week. 1t will
be accepted at meeting which viii be be
called IN few days, and OiBrien
will he chosen TO fill the place. This
Will mean that we intend to battle the
Sutter-street crowd to the end. If they had
treated US with any consideration we should
not have opposed them strongly, but they
chose 10 declare themselves as the party to
the exclusion OF all other elements, and we
propose to show them We are not going to
be shelved without a struggle. There are
men in the County Committee who have
given freely of their time and money in the
interests OF the party, and they do not pro-
pose to be doWned III this way. We are
the duly elected representatives Of the
party, and We propose to stand BY that
issue"
THE BATTLE GOES on.
On the Republican side of the house the
fight for tie control of the County Com
mIttee goes braVely On, and rum0rs and
counteE-rumors are flying thick and fast
AT one moment the Kelly and Crimmips
wing OF Inc house claims temporary adj
vaptsge, and an hour later the tables will
be reversed. The story of the PRESERVING
and recovery of L. j. Mills is already ia
millar 10 the public, but another case some
what similar has been found in that of a
committeeman named Mullins who voted
az the recent meeting of the committee
With the Mahoney faction. Mr.. Null
Inns. 1t is said. developed a sudden
ambition 10 succeed Ambrose Watson
as clerk OF Police Court 8, and agreed 10
desert the willy Senator for Kelly and
Crlmmins If the latter would Dust Watson
ana give him the coveted place This was
agreed to, aud Mr.. Watson was gone for
With battle-ax. Quhe Unexpectedly Mr.
Mullins discovers that ne does not care to
selye In the Police Court. and has decided
10 remain with his old faction.
ABOUT WATsoN's CASE.
A desperate attempt will be Iaade 1t is
CLAIMED by Kelly and Crimmins, 10 bring
Watson up for investigation, but 1t has been
found that they are not sure of the Board
OF Supervisors. If their case is clear there
IS no doubt that Watson will be-
removed. but IL is not believed that
they can make out a case, aud they
would be compelled to rely on their influence
with the board to force the matter through,
night or wrong. As it now stands, Ebert.
Hyer. Antiques, Jackson, Taber and Bur
lug are inclined TO DO as they please and
an ef1r was made yesterday to pull Taber
down. How far the undertaking succeeded
IS not yet known, but ii is thought that the
supervisor has grown independent.
" bile Watson claims to be innocent and
insists that he will demand an investigation.
his friends say that they will also call In ali
the Police Court Judges and clerks and com
pei them 70 tell what they know. This
would probably prove SO embarrassing that
the whole matter would be dropped.