The morning call., 1892-06-30
THAT VACANT CHAIR.
The Democratic State Central
Committee in Need.
J. n. Wise, Ex-Judge Sullivan and Max Pop
per VIII Fight for the Presidency and
the Contest Will Be Bitter.

A considerable amount Of feeling is dis
played in local Democratic circles, with re-
gard to the alleged undue haste which is
being exhibited to force through the cleo
tiOn of the chairman of the Democratic
State Central Committee, in the absence of
ex-Judge J. f. Sullivan. who is one of the
candidates for that Office
In an interview with a CALL reporter
yesterday, q prominent member of the
Democratic State Central Committee thus
declared himself anent the contest over the
craftsmanship of that body: 81 consider the
present contest over the election Of chair
man Of the State Central Committee mat
ter OF vital importance to the Democracy OF
this State. The Buckley gang, having
through the herculean efforts of the Reor-
ganzed Democracy been dislOdged from
their intrenchments in San Francisco now
seek to capture the works Of the State
Democracy. The State Central Committee
is and has ALWAYS been recognized as the
arbiter Of all disputes in the ranks Of our
local Democracy. a few far-sghted mem
bers Of our party see IN this effort to
elect Max Pepper a shrewd attempt on the
part of the odd machine politicians 10 re-
gain their lost control. The chairman OF
the committee exercises almost unlimited
power over that BODY. His Intimate ac-
Quaintance with the members throughout
the State, his right to appoint committees
and call meetings, and the prestige of his
position enable him practically 10 dominate
the affairs and policy OF the committee.
Perhaps this year, undoubtedly two years
from now, the dissatisfied Buckley lambs
will create dissenSiODs in our ranks. If an
appeal be taken TO q state Central Com
mittee presided over by Max Pepper for the
purpose of settling factiOnal disputes, the
ReorganiZed Democracy OF san Francisco
know. and the Democracy throughout the
State ought to know, how that appeal
would be decided. ! am not especially
friendly 10 John II. Wise or Judge Suli-
van, rival candidates for the place Either
of them would prove acceptable TO the
party. Max Pepper in personal address and
executive ability, may be equal or superior
to either, but his political record and aftlll-
atiOns are and have been such that his Sc
lection would mean the loss of thousands Of
votes TO the party.
POPPER's STATEMENT.
During the discussion Of tho plan Of the
ReOTganiZad Democracy before the State
Central Committee last April | heard MT.
Pepper publicly proclaim, and without
blush that no man present. had been closer
10 Buck than he had been during the
last 10 years. He spoke the truth. He has
been the blind white devils closest friend,
his adviser and spokesman. In 1855 Buck
ley made him chairman Of his County Com
mlttee.
"He served in that capacity two years.
During his Craftsmanship of that committee
he did not dare TO oppose his friend, who
acquired and was then accommodating d for
tune in barteTing away the rights and suf-
frages Of Democratic voters
Though personally Mr.. Pepper may not
have been aware of the payment of a yearly
salary 20 his friend by the Southern Pacific
Company, though Mr.. Pepper may not have
known that his friend was selling nOmina-
tiOns elections and franchises to that cor
poration, the Spring Valley Water Com
pany and other corporations and individuals
willing 10 purchase Buckley's commodities;
yet one so close TO Buckley as he was
ought TO have known these facts. In 1890
Buckley made Mr.. POpper a member Of the
State Central Committee and member OF the
executive committee Of that body. How
well the executive committee performed its
duty il evidenced by the election Of Leland
Stanford TO the United States Senate.
in 1858 Buckley's County Committee,
headed by Max Pepper engineered the
election Of Buckley's Solid Nine OF
Ubiquitous memory Mr.. Pepper from that
same solid nine obtained a contract for
sweeping the streets of San Francisco
streets unparalleled for uncleanlness
Through Buckley's influence that contract
was obtained Common rumor says. and l
have never heard it denied. that Buckley
shares with Pepper the fruits Of that con-
tract,