The morning call., 1894-09-03
Is Chris Buckley After
Peppers Scalp?
:
:.
HE WILL PAY OLD SCORES.
The Party Workers Opposed to
Clunie's Methods.
BOTH FACTIONS ARE CONFIDENT.
A Possibility That the Proportional
. Plan May Be Adopted at To-
Morrow's Meeting.

The local Democraey-that Is that por-
ton of il which regulates the gnarled and
twisted affairs of tho party-took much
needed rest and breathing spell yesterday.
1t had painted itself into feverish state
Of excitement during the preceding two
days, and being still weak from the wear
ing labors Of the recent convention, and
remembering that mighty battle is sched-
uIed for next Tuesday when the general
committee meets, it decided to take no
= chances on being laid up with an attack of
political brain fever or some such dis
order.
The leaders who have been engaged in
a mud-slinging match during the past few
- days did not show themselves in their
usual haunts during the afternoon. Tar
Qulnius Superbus Pepper was In secluslon
all day. Whether he was simply resting
and preparing for the struggle OF next
week, or whether he was revising some
cunning scheme or plan whereby he might
even things up with his upOn-a-time
: friend, A j. Clunie, is not known.
The latter was no more in evidence than
Mr.. Pepper during the day. A friend of
his spread the report in the afternoon that
the Richelieu of the local Democracy with
the inScTutable and insinuating smile was
in the back yard of his home sweating
over a grindstOne on which he was sharp
eDing some ugly-looking knives. The re-
port was denied, though, by another friend.
who said that AnQy had gone fishing.
But if these two mighty men Of the party
we're lost 10 sight they were not forgotten
by those who are Interested in their pOliti-
cal movements. Inc situation OF affairs
in relation TO the charges which Andy has
brought against Max was thoroughly dis
cuSsed among local Democrats. Wherever
groups of the party workers and party
voters met the trouble in the camp was
talked Of freely. And, while sides were
taken upon the ISSUE and each man had
his champion, there seemed to be an I'M
dercurTent OF feeling that in considering
the matter one was strongly reminded of
that ancient legend which tells how once
upon a time a great black kettle gazed
scoTnfully at a huge iron pot, and sneer-
ingly referred to il among other nasty
names as an ugly, black thing
There were decided indications Vester-
day among those who were not intim atelv
connected with either side that the Clunie
charges were very likely TO play BOOM
ernng with him and probably deal him a
TesOunding whack
The conservative element in the party Is
not inclined to view the warfare of the
rival bosses with any favor. They feel
that the reputation OF the party as well as
Its very life Is being sacrificed to win self
ish ends.
The hubbub which the publication of
the charges caused was not so much be-
cause OF their being new revelations, but
rather that they were thrown out so sud-
denly and at such time. When the first
shock passed away cOnsiderate Democrats
began TO realize that what had been done
was not a move IN the interest of the
party, nor did 1t appear that there was
any creditable motive behind the action.
There was strong favor of job ltnger-
ing around the whole affair. If any other
tn had ,ad
they would have taken more kindly to the
charges, but coming from the source it did
they, after cooling of, began to feel that
something was wrong. This was grow
ing sentiment Yesterday.
A Well-known Democrat. who is not
identified closely with either Of the two
factions, but who takes deep interest in
the affairs of the party, said:
This act of Clunle has convinced me
that the Democrats Of this city can expect
nothing but defeat this year unless they
arouse and take the management OF party
affairs out OF the hands Of those who are
now managing them. Why, a wooden man
could see that there is crooked work
being done IN The party, and that there is
subtle influence which is gaining
strength every day. The work has very
familiar look about it to old timers.
Buckley laid his wires a long time ago
for this campaign work and his plans are
being carried out TO the letter. Any one
who Is the least bit ObseTvant and has
watched the proceedings of the local Dem
OcratS during the past few months could
not help but see the various schemes that
have been sprung in Buckeyes interest.
Every move has been just in his line OF
work. His presence was only too evident
in the convention. The fights that were
made in the interests of some candidates
were cOupterparts of the old jobs that
Buck and Fallen used to put up
Now L am not special admirer of Max
Pepper, for from his utilization Of the past
and because he lacks certain qualifications
do not think he is the prOper man TO lead
the Democracy, II we must have a leader,
But ut is, L think, sincere in his present
action and stand. He knows that Buckley
distributed among few rrusty followers
some time ago some long, sharp knives
with instructions to give Pepper the
Italian twist
Buckley is playing deep game with
more than one object in view. Besides his
desire to regain his lost power be has a
strange motive in all this. That is re-
venga. Ii you will remember when Buck
ley was in Europe two years ago, studying
the intricaces of eXTadition laws, be gave
London reporter an interview regarding
San Francisco politics, and what ne
thought of those who had once been his
political friends, and who had been so
ready to deny him, and also heap abuse on
him when he had been compelled to fee
from the wrath. of an inves tigating Grand
Jury. He expressed bitter feelings in that
interview, and iDtimated that he would one
day get even. Any one acquainted with
Buckley knows his cold-bl CODED, unfor-
giving nature. Max Pepper was his
friend, and Buckley trusted much to him
in his absence. Upon his return he soon
learned that Max had also denied him
thrice or more, and had even spoken
against him while he was away.
Then. again, he found that he was not
a naol he
= ms money dealings with Max. Now, if
Buckley Is worth hundreds Of thousands
OF dollars, he never overlooks dollar, and
II one is rolling his way he does not want
" IL headed on. lie is always willing to
make a deal for $40 or thousands. So
when he concluded Max was doing him
up he placed him on the other side of his