The morning call., 1894-07-23
POPPER'S REVOLT.
How 1t Is Viewed in His
Own Party.
DEMOCRATS ARE DISGUSTED.
They Think That He Acted All
Too TASTY.
Pepper DEFENDS HIS COURSE.
He Denies That He Ever Spoke Dis
paragingly of the President.
Purging the Rolls.
Pepper DEFENDS HIS COURSE.

Max Pepper was much talked-about
man yesterday.
Not but that Max has not been talked
about many times before during the course
of his political career, but the remarks
which have in days gone by been passed
upon his acts and abilities were not of the
same tenor Of critical harshness as those
which might Irave been heard yesterday.
They came even in flowing streams from
the lips of those who have been warm sup
porters OF the Napoleon of pure poll
tics"
1t was ali on account Of Peppers action
of Saturday night in so suddenly announc-
ing his determin alton to withdraw his
handsome physique from the van Of the
Democratic hosts to an obscure position in
the rear, where he might watch the COM
ing primary struggle and hearken in safety
To the din Of the tactOnal battle in which
he had such an aversion 10 taking an &C
tive part.
If Max's resignation was anticipated in
the inner circle of the party at the head of
which he was supposed to stand, the secret
was carefully kept up to the last moment,
for each one of the committee of purifiers
is willing to make solemn assertion,
backed up by affidaYits II necessary, that
thew believed Mr.. Pepper was one of
them, heart and soul, until early on Satur-
day evening,
As Democratic diSinfectors of mass of
decidedly unhealthy club rolls their words
might be accepted, especially as circum-
stances tend to show that they speak the
truth.
"Of course" said one of them yesterday,
I'VE know that Max has seemed awful
uneasy of late and did not appear salts
fed with the way things were going. Why,
even his laugh has had an artificial ring in
il for weeks, but we did't think he'd fail
the party when it most needed mis- SER
vices. Wasn't everything going along as
nice as could be?" and the lnQulTer'S voice
became piteOusy plaintive. Weren't we
cleaning the rolls and doing all that we
could to show that the Dem ocratic party
was going TO give every one a square deal
this eampaign?' and this time the speaker
wiped away tear Of vlrtuOuS indignation
at the possible reflection that might be
cast upon the motives OF the emaInIng
members of the publication committee by
Mr.. Peppers action.
1t was not around any Of the beadQuar-
tiers that Mr. Pepper was discussed the
most, In fact headquarters, OF what has
been locked upon unoficaliy as headquar-
tiers, were well nigh deserted.
The marble floor OF the Baldwin Hotel
lobby resounded only occasionally yester-
day to the nervous tread OF the anxious
Democrat who had dropped in TO see the
boys and talk things over. When he
found that the boys" were not there he
fastened out with a mingled uneasy and
what-the-deuce-is-the- look and lost
himself in the surging crowds on Market
street
But things were different in the various
lotteries Of politicians that meet in back
rooms and other places where rows OF
steam-beer kegs and vistas of glittering
glasses and bottles share ornamental hon.
ors with yellow chairs and green-topped
tables. II is at these points OF Interest In
the different districts that political opinion
upon vital issues Is nodded.
Here it was that the Tarquinius
Superbus OF the IrOquois Club, who had
laid down the seeDter of leadership, was
handled with ungloved hands amid the
blinking of foam-tipDed glasses.
Had Mr.. Pepper heard some Of the COM
ments which were made upon his action
he would have felt like following the
example Of that bereaved English King
who never smiled again"
Il was not by any means the loss OF
leader which seemed to affect the gang"
so much AZ it was the display of weakness
shown by the man whom they had
always been so ready to get out and cheer
for. Among these henchmen of the party
were many who had held fat City Hail
anu OIU6f DIl6tS uuElDS Iu0 IeISu O1 HIS
all-cash highness Chris Buckley. and who
could still show scars from the wounds
received when they were so violently cas- /
from the walls of his castle into the mOat
of political ObsCurlty.
Manv Of these had rallied around Pop
per, and were building great expectations
upon his growing power, although it must
be admitted that in the past few weeks
they had begun to weaken regarding him.
II used to think Max was a good leader, "
said one of these representative Demo-
Gratis, but | had my doubts about him
ever since he threw up both hands and
howled some weeks ago when it was first
said that Buckley was in politics again.
Why. he squealed before he was hurt even,
and made fools of US all. What kind OF a
man for leader is that? Suppose Buck
was working his points. couldn't he keep
a stiff upper lip until he was hurt? He
ought to know that we boys would stand
with gooQ leader against Buckley. But
no, he must 90 ana give his whole hand
away.
Oh, and because he thinks Buckley got the
upper hand of him in the clubs he lays
down and blubbers like boy. 1 give in
don't hit me- Bah!' and the speaker had
to find soIace in his beer glass.
well, it looks as if Buckley did have
everything his own way" suggested an
other representative Of the district.
Certainly. but how did he get it?''
asked the other. sarcaStically Did Pop
per do anything TO stop the work? While
he was talking about pure politics-il
ought to have been poor politics-and
Boosting how he could manage primary
Buck was fixing the clubs and getting his
men in line. Look at the smooth work OF
Billy Fitzgerald in the Forty-ffth District
Look al the Thirty-sixth District. Look
at-oh, ii makes fellow sick-and on tor
Of all Nov <rafc in ic
shocked at the corrupt state of affairs.
wonder what he ever got into politics
forP and then they all fell to wondering
while the glasses were being replenished.
MIR. Pepper. as deDonair as ever, and
with his gray hat tilted at a slightly
jaunty pitch, was as conspicuous as usual
around the Baldwin lobby last evening.
There were but few politicians around.
but those who did drop in chatted and
joked with the self-deposed chairman of
the general committee just as if things
were as usual. Oace or twice Max was