The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-06
A NEW SITUATION.
The Political Enigma in
Alameda County.
The Old Warehouses Want to Know
Where They Are At-New Par
ties and Old Candidates.
warhorsesiwhose particular

The old political warhorsesiwhose particular
stamping ground is that portion of the "'acroSs
the bay'' country known as Alameda County
are just now vainly figuring TO find out where
they are att
The situation of party politics over there is
indeed interesting as well as puZZling. Party
nominations there this year are 10 mean little
or nothing, whereas hitherto nomination was
nearly always equivalent 10 an election.
Alameda County. as far as State and national
politics go, has won for itself The appellaiion OF
1.-The Banner Republican County of The Stale"
But locally il has OF late been sadly divided
against itself
Nominations Of the Republican and Demo.
cratic parties are not going 10 carry with them
this year their usual weight because there are
10 be TWO more parties in The field, one Of which
will be an unknown but much-Ieared guam
THY. This is the non-parIsan or peoples move
meut that swept the Oakland city politics so
clean last spring, placing George Z. Pardee III
the Mayors chair.
The motive power of The Non artisans lay in
the Citizens Municipal League. A few weeks
ago at meeting OF The league 1t was proposed
that county NOn-Partisan ticket be placed III
The field this fall.
The prOpOsitOn was not altogether in favor.
as II was argued that 1t would be Inconsistent
for the league 10 say that municipal politics
should be severed and separated from county,
State ana national politics and then put up a
county ticket. These views prevailed as far as
action by the league Is concerned, bu. the
members have decided TO get up an indepen-
dent ticket, especially as to Supervisors. Ihe
other party is the POpulists, who were re-
enforced short time ago by such prominent
ciIiZeDS as Judge Gibson, formerly RepublI-
can. and j. r. McElrath formerly Il Demo
crat. In the city election the POpullSts poiled
The second IargeSI vote. ! heir actual party
strength In Oakland Is not believed 10 eXcee d
1900 votes. All this makes the situation an
enigma 10 The old politicians, VINO have nau IL
their own way before.
For these reasons candidates are already in
tue Held endeaVOrlng 10 pull all available
strength TO themselves. For Recorder the cun-
test appears To lie between Charles Spear,
chairman of tile last Republican County Contra
Committee, and j. W. Nelson. Rod Church,
The incumbent, who has held the Office Tor Two
terms, will not run again. lie Is 10 make an
active bid for The nomination OF clerk OF the
! Supreme Court.
For County Clerk Grant l. TaggaFt and
! Frank Jordan Will seek 10 win The honor from
| the incumbent, James Crane.
! Ii. L. Dalton, Councilman from the First
! Ward, Will Try 10 lake tile aSsessorshlp away
! from Robert Leckie, the incumbent.
There will be the usual fight for The Office oil
/ Sheriff now neld by McklllicaD, a Democrat
! EXSherI1 HuSsey and Chief of Police Schaeffel
! are both after the Republican nomination
| On the Superior bench successors aIe to be
! elected to Judge Ellsworth and Judge Ogden
| the latter having been appointed by the Cover
] nor when the fourth ludgeSnlp was created by
/ the last Legislature.
| Alameda County has always been conserva
/ tive In lis Superior Court nominations aud There
| seems little chance that either OF these Judges
Will be displaced. Judge Ellsworth IS the only
member of the bench not living III Oakland anC
| that j. considered a point In his favor.
However, Supervisor Pluukett wants the
! nomination and his only chance seems To bt
! the vacancy that Will be created should Judge
Henshaw be elected 10 the supreme bench.
1t is right here that prominent and notable
/ struggle Will take place. Ii is generally con
| ceded that both Judge HenShaw and Roc
! Church, both of Oakland. cannot receive Iht
Republican nomination for Supreme Justice
! ana Supreme Clerk respectively. There vii
thus be hot fight in Tie primaries between
these TWO gentlemen.
/ The office of supervisor has hitherto been q
neglected quantity. Owing u the various re-
I cent uphe connected with this body more
attention Is 10 be concentrated on IL. especially
/ by the Non-PaTlisans, who argue rightly tina
! IL is The head of the whole county government
| and hence responsible. supervisors Martin {
/ Burt and Morgan Will both retire and DO mo-
/ desire a denomination.
For State Senator Ell DenlsOu has thus far
/ had his own WY. while Senator Simpson o
/ Alameda has TWO formidable candidates In th
! names of Columbus Bartlett and Frank FOw
| Ter. Senator Guy G. Earl is a hoidOyeT.
For the Assembly Dodge is in the field again
and II elected lie has declared his intention L
ny for Tie sueakership.