The herald., 1894-10-22
IN SAN LUIS OB|SPO COUNTY,
A Correspondents View of the
Political Situation.
George Patton Makes Fine Impres
sion aud Gains Votes.
McLachiau's Progress Was Charaoter-
lied by Coidness-Ths Republio-
ans Abuse the Popuiists.
The Local Situation.


the state, and this year the enthusiasts
who comprise that political organiza-
ton claim that they have increased
their voting strength. This, however,
10 q matter of conjecture. and it 10 Civ
ing the Republicans great deal Of wor-
riment and many Of their candidates
are passing sleeplesa nights in an en-
deavor to persuade themselves that the
increased Populist vote will not hurt
them.
The Democratic organization in the
county is in perfect shape. 1t as COM
plete and effective "a one could wish.
John W. Bsrneberg ia chairman and
Roma 7. Jackson lie secretary of the
county central committee. Both the
officials and the members OF the com.
mittee are working together in O said
phalanx for the success Of the party.
But there ia yet another organization
here that is doing some very clever and
effective labor in behalf OF the party. IL
10 the James III. Budd Campaign club,
which, in this little city of 700 voters.
has 327 mem bers' signatures to its club
roll. The officers OF the club are: I.
T. Crittenden. president; A. A. Fox,
secretary. The club has headquarters
on the main buainess street and its
rooms are appropriately decorated and
fitted up. The membership includes
many of the merchants and business
men Of the city, but the hard and en-
thusiastic workers are tho young men.
The Populist leader in this county is
@. A. Barlow. He was. two years ago,
elected to the assembly and is now the
Populist candidate for sheriff. The Ro-
publicans are very bitter against him
and are exerting every effort to cut
down his vote. They fear him for the
reason that he has made serious inroads
on their party strength. There is moth
ing too bad or too mean that the aver
age San Luis Obispo county Republican
will not apply to tine Peoples psrty in
general and to Candidate Barlow in par
tioular.
James McLachlan, now OF Pasadena.
but referred to by the papers Of this
county as flames McLachlsn OF Ithica,
N. "" made eight speeches in this
county. This shows in what desperate
straits the party managers realize the
organization is in in this vicinity. He WAS
accompanied by "Genersl' A. B. Camp
bell OF Kansas. Mr.. McLachlan failed
to impress his auditors, outside Of his
party supporters, either with his ability
or Intelligence. "GeneraW Campbell
enacted his usual role of q political
"spsilsr" and got the Populists excited
to high degree OF antagonism by his
unealled for abuse OF their theories and
their leaders.
Here in San Luis Obiapo there was
joint debate between Mr.. McLachlan
and his opponent, Candidate Bowman.
OF the Peoples party. The audience
that assembled to listen to the presen-
tstion OF the issues by the two gentle.
men was not as large in numbers 90 the
one that gathered at the rink to hear
George 8. Patton'a masterly explanation
of the vital question in California poll
tics this yssr-the defeat and turning
down of the Southern Pacific Railroad
company. 1t is admitted by even Re-
publicans that Mr.. Bowman howled Mr..
McLachlan out. James is not ~ good
speaker as Bowman. Then, too. be has
not at his command the information
and data that Bowman has at his
tongues end. The result of the joint
debate was that Mr.. McLechlan stepped
off the stage with fewer votes than he
had before the debate opened. He did
not compare favorably with Bowman.
90 regards mental calibre and this fact
caused Z cold chill to pass down the
backs OF many Republicans.
Mr., Millard has also made speeches in
this county. The gentleman Is not q
magnetic orator, nor is he profound
thinker. His friends do not elaim for
him those essential qualifications re-
quired by q public speaker to favorably
Impress an audience that had never be-
fore had the plsasure Of listening to him.
The result of this was that the Burns
candidate for lisutenant.governor would
have run better here If he had his speech
printed in pamphlet form and sent in
for distribution.
Senator George @. Perkins was the
great attraction the Republicans offered
the voters here. His audience was not
as largo as the one Patton addressed.
This fact may be partially ascribed to
the inclement weather that prevailed.
Although the meeting was largely adver-
tised people failed to turn out on ao-
count OF rain. Senator Perkins made
the average Republican speech. but it
was not one that would bring the wav-
ering voter into the Republican ranks.
He did not do though what most OF the
Repu blican orators who visited this
county have done. He kept within the
bounds of truth and fact. Many of the
others deliberately misstated history
and insulted the intelligence of the peo-
pie who listened to them.
The campaign that Mr.. Patton has
made In this county has been produc-
tive of much good to the party in gen.
eral and to his own candidacy in par
ticular. The leading Populists here ad-
NIT that Bowman stands no show OF an
election. The bold stand taken by Pat
ton on the railroad question has at
tracted them. Those who heard him
applauded his remarks vociferously.
At frat they were little cold, but be-
fore the Democratic candidate concluded
his speech they were as enthusiastic as
any Democrat in the hall. Many Pop
ulists came to him and pledged their
support. Others said that no one could
deny the truthfulnesa of the Htinging
arraignment OF Southern Pacific meth
DDS and general railroad jobbery that
he had made. They added: HE has
certainly taken position on the subject
that /. as q Populist. can cheerfully en-
dorse." Now. when that class OF men
get into the booth ON election day, and
realizing the fact that Bowman stands
no show, what are they going to do?
Are they going to throw away their
votes or will they vote for the man who
is to be elected and who is with them
on the most important reform the peo-
pie OF California require today? The
reader can himself snswer the question.
The chances are that they will put x
onnaaita fha mama of GaorQa s. Patton