The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-20
NOW THE SLATE.
The II Henshaw Men Have Made Out
a New One

a New One.
SACRAMENTO. June 19-Ths judicial
contest is about settled. To-day's ma
neuVering has resulted in setting aside the
programme about which there has been so
vigorous howl and substituting another.
The original slate had upon it the names
OF Judges de Haven, Van Fleet and Nc
klnleY. De Haven was not placed there
until desperate battle had been waged in
his behalf. The story that is told here is
to the effect that the opponents of De
Haven, who do business in the railroad
corral at the bay, began early to declare
that he would not do. But the Judge has
a fine record on the bench, both as Supe-
rior and Supreme Judge, and it was soon
discovered that he could not be ignored.
Many of the delegates at the bay who
were consulted took the ground that to
set aside a faithful and honest Judge
would be ''bad politics." This means that
such an act would injure the ticket, not
only In the counties where De Haven is
known but throughout the State. So it was
finally decided by the San Francisco and
interior bosses who recently hobnobbed in
the Palace Hotel that De Haven must go
on the slate. Judge Van Fleet, formerly
of Sacramento but lately appointed to the
Supreme bench by Governor Markham,
whose confidential adviser he has been,
was put on the slate, and the third man
was left to the bosses of the southern por-
ton of the State.
Van Fleet was objected to by some
the delegates as being too close to the
Southern Pacific, but his friends have
pointed out that. although he has been
upon the bench for some time and has
tried several cases against the Southern
Pacific. his relationship Of cousin to Fred
CrOcker has never affected his judicial
opinions. The best that could be said of
Van Fleet. however, was that his char
acter and previous record justified trial,
for Judges have been known 10 rise
superior to such considerations as are
charged against him. 1t was finally de-
cided, if possible. to confer on him the
short term of two years and give him a
chance to show whether or not he is
Railroad Judge"
This left the other long term to be con-
tested by Judge Hebbard of San Fran
cisco, Judge HeDshaw of Alameda, Nc
Kinley of Los Angeles, Terrence of San
Diego and Williams of Ventura, all of
| whom are Superior judges.
At first an effort was made to defeat Van
Fleet, which would have left open two
places instead of one, but he was found to
be too strong in San Francisco. Then it
was proposed by the southern delegates
to combine on one Of their three candi-
dates and secure the long term, but it was
| found after number of caucuses and at
tempts to reach agreements that this could
not be done. The San Diego delegates
would not consent to enter such pool, and
McKinley's delegates declared that they
would never agree to Terrence. Then il
was propo sed to fuse on Williams, but
even this could not be effected. The theory
of the southern delegates is that if the
south does not get a Supreme Justice at
this time 1t will be in position two years
hence to demand the vacancies that are
then to arrive. They think this is better
than combining now on man aud ex-
hausting their claims. The view is based
upon the rivalry that exists between the
supporters of the three candidates.
The disagreement in the south gave the
Alameda delegation their chance. and they
were not slow to improve it. Early in the
morning they met aud held protracted
caucus. 1t was found that Estee had
fortyseven votes out Of the sixty in the
delegation. six were absent, four declined
TO vote and three were for Preston. All
were agreed on Judge Hensha first, last