The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-13
HOT DEBATE AT HEADQUARTERS
Mr.. GiIdea Disguised Because Mem
bers Laugh at the Idea of Pure
Primary Elections.


small but select audience " the puritica-
ton committee now holding nightly ses-
sions in Chairman Max Popper's room 102
at the Baldwin has quality all its own.
The DEVELOPMENTS brought to light in
the reports of the district committees as
one after the other answer TO Mr.. Pop
per's call are Of a nature to keep the audi
ence constantly prOpounding to itself the
query, what next?" with temptations
on the part of the committee 10 rush into
executive session after the close Of each re-
port by way Of clearing the room.
The crossfre of personalities and the
bite of repartee is especially entertaining.
but often has a tendency to interfere with
the quick and easy dispatch of the bust
ness in hand.
Mr.. Pepper sat last evening with A. j.
Clunie on his right and L. Y. Merle on his
left and a little in front when the report
from the Furty-fOuTth District was called
for, and Mr.. Walsh, a member of the COM
mittee of that district, responded with a
roll of legal-cap paper in his hand.
Twelve DAYS ago | asked for copy OF
the voting list of this district" he said.
II have asked for it repeatedly since then
for the purpose Of making canvass of II.
At 6 o'clock this morning, after these
tNtit6 OdyS Ul hdllluSs L lcCclfSu d liSl VI
100 names out of 609 names. his list Is
not signed by The secretary even now, and
although ] have only had time TO glance
through ii, | find ii so full CT errors Til at 1t
is practically worthless
For instance" said Mr.. Walsh, warm
ing TO his subject, here is the name of
that We4-knOwn German, Arthur Luders
who Is set down as having been born In
Ireland.
Il happen to have a neighbor, Mr.. Nc
COrmack. who l know was born in Lowell,
Mass.-a Yankee freT YaDkeedom-and
he is charged here with owning Louis
Vile, KY, as his native place. What
earthly use is a roll like that?"
Here inquiries were made for the secre-
tary, who had been guilty Of the roll. but
he was net at hand, and was cited to ap-
pear tonight and make answer.
But Mr.. Walsh was not to be suppressed
IN that way The secretary ought TO have
been on hand then, be SAID. Mr.. Merle,
at Mr. WaIsh's right hand. undertook to
interrupt him.
Mr.. Merle is from the FOrty-fOurth Dis
trlct, and at one time was considered, or
considered himself, boss out there. Mr..
Walsh evidently did not consider him
such now, for he told him he had nothing
TO do with the matter, and that he (Merle)
must not try 10 bulldoze him (Walsh).
Mr.. Merle intimated that Walsh was
trying to run the Forty-iOurth District
and Walsh promptly admitted that be
was. and that he expected to run it great
deal better than he (Merle) had ever sue
ceeded in doing.
At this Merle said it was we'll under
stood that he (Merle) was out of politics
now, wheTeupOn Mr.. Walsh replied that
politics was much he better for that fact
and advised him o stay out.
AL this went forward in the face of a
constant rapping on the table by Air.
Ia
him OF any interest in this fsetiOnal fight
and a declaration that Mr.. Walsh was
not attending TO the business in hand.
Then Mr.. Walsh turned to Mr.. Pepper
and said that be was attending to business
and attending TO it against great odds and
constant difficulties which had been
placed IN his way since we Of the Forty
fourth District voted against you, sir, for
the office that you hold"
AT this Mr.. Pepper Strengthened up, and
the smile that nearly always characteTizes
his face left it and it became vlsibly pale.
A. y. Clunie, who, as stated, sat at Mr..
Peppers right hand taking an active part
IN the discussion of reports, came to the
charman's relief with sharp reprimand.
Mr.. Chairman, l do not think it 10 the
province of this committee to sit here and
listen to the chairman being insulted.
You, sir Ito Mr.. Walsh have no right to
make any such lnsinuatiOns against the
chairman of this committee"
But" said Mr.. Walsh (Who, by the
way, is very bald-headed man and all
over the crown of whose head as he Bonded
low under the gasligbt toward Mr.. Ciune
great drops Of Precipitation glistened now
ike the morning dew, but. sir, it is true"
Il repeat that you have no right to
come here with any such insinuations,
and l move you, sir" Ito Mr.. Popper), that
this man be asked to retire."
Il did not come here TO see you," said
Mr.. Walsh to Mr.. Cunie, land further.
more L may say that while / may not be
as good lawyer as you are, I'll bet some
thing that | am better mechanic than
you are lawyer"
With this Mr.. Pepper called off the
passage at arms and promised that mem
hers of the eanvassing committee of the
Forty-fourth Dis rct would be sent copies
of the rolls, and that the secretary would
be required to meet them tonight.
Mr.. Glldea made little talk about the
primary election law on behalf Of pure
politics. He said that there was so little
confidence in the law-that is in the ma
chinery under which it can be enforced
and persons voting Illegally al primary
election punished-that be thought com
mtttee of lawyers should be chosen to pass
upon it and to publish their views in the
newspapers as a warning to those who
contemplate voting illegally.
This was discussed at some length, and
references to the purity of election laws,
as applied to primary elections, were so
lightly touched upon. and so often pro-
vOked laughter on the part of his hearers,
that Mr.. GiIdea at length became angry.
What is the use ?" he asked. You
keep laughing, and you say: Why apply a
law-you would not punish man for vot-
ing illegally at a primary. would you?'
Well, why not, if you are going to seek for
pure elections? Why net? There are
some who sit in this room who have heard
me read this law who will 60 away be-
llevng that there is nothing in it,"
1t was decided 10 act upon the sugges-
ton, and Mr.. Pepper will name three law
yers who will 90 into the newspapers as
guarantors that illegal voters may be pun
ished u1der the law, and who will offer
their services free to prosecute those who
break the law. That. at least, was a part
Of Mr.. Gildea's motion.
Republicans Ratify.
The Thirty-ninth District Republican
Club met at Scottish Hall last night and
accepted the invitation of the Rennblican