Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-30


Correspondence Of The Evening Star
SAN FRAScIsco, Nov. 20, 1892
The result Of the presidential vote in Cali
fornia has been in Q state OF uncertainty ever
since the election, but IT is now pretty definitely
settled that Cleveland has received small
plurality. There are only few remote interior
precincts to hear from, and it is conceded that
their vote will not turn the scale.
This outcome was foreshadowed in my letters
to The STAR prior to the elec -.on. although it
was impossible to get confirmation Of the
prophecy from democratic sources No demo-
GRAFT believed it possible that California would
leave the republican column. The man
who abstains from political prophecy is
to be commended, but there were too
many little currents of popular feeling that had
changed their course and were cutting new
channels toward the democratic food. The
high tariff had become immensely unpopular.
The people were tired of their long enslavement
to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company,
which has nearly always worked through the
republican party. President Harrison had
been unfortunate enough to offend the people
OF Oakland-a republican stronghold-on his
visit to the Pacific coast. This last Was a small
matter. but it cost him . few hundred votes
The republicans throughout the state had nom
mated some very weak men. All these things
were noticeable, and, together with hard times
which caused desire for a change, we're the
reasons for democratic victory. The conse-
quences are democratic presidential electors,
four democratic Congressman out Of the seven
and democratic legislature by q majority Of
two on joint ballot, which means q democratic
United States Senator to succeed Mr.. FELTON,.
roLLr OF POOR NoMISArIoNA
The folly of poor nomination. in county con-
ventions is here made strikingly apparent.
Placer county. up on the slope Of the Sierra
Nevada, has always been a strong republican
county. Nobody dreamed that Placer would
return democratic members to the state legis-
iatrre. but the republicans of Placer this year
nominated two of the very weakest men thew
could find, and both are defeated by over 100
votes, while the county gives Harrison u ma
lorlty Of over ZOO BY this careless work Of a
little county convention, ordinarily not very
important TO the country at large, the repubi-
cans have lost the advantage of q tie vote and at
least the possibility of n United States Senator.
The senatorship is now the great topic in
California politics. The democrats have the
prize to bestow and they do not know what to
do with 1t. Ii il very much to be feared that
they will throw it away.
Just at present there seems to be no democrat
with the ambition and the disposition to trv
for the place. 1t is a curious and lamentable
fact that not one of the higher class Democrats
III the state is a candidate OF il being pushed
or even mentioned by his party the demo-
cratic press.
SOME WHO ARE MENTIONED.
Those who are mentioned are Stephen NJ.
White of Los Angeles, bib" English Of
Alameda Col. John P. Irish Of San Francisco
and Billy Foote of Oakland. Mr.. White has
respectable capacity, but he represents the
raiiroad interest Of the state To get rid Of it
Is one reason why the state went democratic
L = n rio list rh,l
never wears n crayat, and has been in the en-
plOyment of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company ever since be came into the state. He
Is brilliant in soIae respects. He can make a
splendid speech. He writes well about rail-
roads and corporations and millionaires Irish
was one OF the commissioners who selected the
new San Francisco post Office site, which, it is
claimed, cost the government three times what
it is worth.
Mr.. English of Alameda is the boss demo-
cratic politician of California. Everybody calls
him Bill" Mr.. English is bound to get
something-the local democracy comedies that
but they would be satisfied if it proves to be
no bigger than the local custom house or some
thing Of that kind.
BILLY" Foote IL another gentleman who may
never have been heard of in Washington. He
is a successful criminal lawyer of local reputa-
ton. The chief difference between him and
Mr. English is in the difference between Bill
and Billy" |
GOOD SENATORIAL TIMBER. |
The democrats of California, however, are
not without good senatorial timber. For some |
reason they are not mentioned, but there is |
Jackson Temple. an ex-justice Of the supreme
court: Z. W. McKinstry. another ex-justice; |
Niles Searles OF Nevada City, an ex-chief JUS !
tice; William I. Wallace of San Francisco an
other ex-chief justice; Lawrence Archer of
San Jose. man Of reputation all over the
coast and a man who has had much to do with
our best state legislation C. T. Ryland. also Of
San Jose, and of character similar to Arch
ers; j. V. Coleman, who, although he has
money. also has brains and character. There
are others, too, but anv of these mentioned
would make a Senator of the kind California
has long needed. The two lists of men-those
who mentioned and those who are not
merely represent the two classes of democrats
the Legislature has to choose from. Unfor-
tunately the indications are that it will choose
from the former. JAYT