The San Francisco call., 1895-12-19
efficient military force. His opportunities

AIT OF diplomacy. He is one of popular turn
to win friends. His large and successful busi
ness experience shows him man OF executive
aDlllty and business knowledge and methods
ms ms financial condition makes II possible fo
coroner must for at least year give the mos
OF ms time to the guard. He has the none!
wnich colonel will need to spend In building
up the organization. When lack of long ex
perlence is alleged, say that native ability
counts for more than experience. Colone
hoDert j. Tobin of the Third mad no expert
ence when elected and no colonel in the whole
National Guard achieved so proud success
MI. Crocker has military bent. 1t Is fad
with him, and an officer must feel deep inter
est In military. affairs to put his heart into
energy into his work
favor Mr.. Crocker for other reasons, too.
nave not a word in disparagement for Colonel
every way as a military man and a citizen
But none of the old colonies should be chosen
as matter of policy. We of the Third, for III
STANCE nee VIC would support Colonel a o,Connor II any
colonel OF one of the old regiments were elected
the other regiments would feel that that regi-
ment had gotten the best OF them. 1t would
keep, alive the old regimental feeling that
should be &llayed. We OF the Third believe
that none OF the old colonies should be chosen.
We like Mr.. Crocker. and then he was unani-
mously elected lieutenant colonel OF the First
recently ana would be satisfactory to that bat
talon.
Will the Third stand by the caucus? 1t will.
The word of National Guard officer is as good
as his bond, in the Third at least.
The opponents of Crocker argue that it
is unjust to throw over an old officer like
Macdonald for an inexperienced young man
like Crocker. They say thata few years ago
he was second lieutenant in Company G
of the Second for a while and then was
out of the Guard for long period. For a
year or so he commanded company of
the Naval Reserve and resigned. When
General Dickinson took the First to Sacra-
ramento during the strike he put on his
Naval Reserve uniform and went along as
one of Dickinson's staff, though he had no
connection with the guard. After the
strike Dickinson appointed him judge
advocate on his staff, though the regula-
tions required lawyer entitled to practice
before the Supreme Court. In three
months he went on the retired list with
Dickinson. A few weeks ago he was
elected lieutenant-colonel OF the First.
In the heat of the campaign it is charged
that Crocker has the ramifying Southern
Pacific influence to help him, and that
Gen eral Warfield is backing him with
staff and other influences that he may
command. One may learn frCm inter
ested men In good position that Mr..
Crocker lives at the California and would
open headquarters there. Governor Budd
is credited with keeping out Of the fight
and one may easily hear that Adjutant-
General Barrett has been ordered 10 keep
his Crocker sympathies out of the ness.
1t is confidently reported by Macdonald
men that several old retired officers, such
as Colonel Barry, Colonel OConnor,
and others favor Macdonald. George
H. Pippy and some others of Ma ior-
General Dimond's staff are claimed to be
supporting Macdonald, though after Mac
6fr, id Il h tho
command of his regiment he is reported to
have kicked up quite a quarrel with Gen
erai Dimond over Colonel Smedberg's de-
tail to the command of the forces left il the
City and some other things.
General Dickinson is one of the retired
officers interested in the fight. he is for
Crockcr, client and friend of his who
was on his staff short time. Dickinson
has quite an influence in local military
circles.
The situation is full of politics, too.
Most of the officers above the line have be-
come military officers through political in
Huence. Most of the company and field
officers concerned in the election are in
politics or want to be. Some have Jobs in
the City Hall, some want to GO to the Leg
islature, some have ambitions to be Super
visors and so on. So, they are amen
able to political influences. Colonel
Macdonald is strong member
of the Union League Club. One
item of gossip told in high places Yesterday
was that Macdonald had got the influence
of Police Com missioner Alvord to bear on
Captain Marshal. captain of one of the
companies of the Third and drillmaster OF
the Police Department. The Nationals,
with their six votes, are vet uncertain, but
yesterday were credited to Macd onald.
Then it was asserted that two of Macdon-
AIDS officers would not stand by him.
Sullivan may or may not be candidate
to night. While the influences of the
Southern Pacific and the people at head
quarters are credited to Crocker these
facts operate against him in certain cir
cles. Some elements are anti-Southern
Pacific and the brigade and division head
quarters and the adiutant-generais Office
are unpopular with many in the guard
Colonel William Macdonald is vigorous
fighter of forcible nature. He said yes
terday:
There's hard com mbination put up against
me, but am there and III die fighting. I've
been with the Second for eighteen years. For
dition and record of the Second speaks for me-
Ny regiment is pledged to me and will stand
by me, with the possible exception of Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Geary. l have many friends work
ing hard for me and hope to win. l think
/ deserve it.
Said Colonel William P. Sullivan:
1 don't know how the fight will turn out, but
/ am for Macdonald. / want to see him elected
as matter of justice and propriety. He is the
senior colonel of the brigade and has been an
efficient officer for many years. If man like
that is going to be kicked out for man who has
been six weeks lieutenant-colonel, what en-
couragement is there for any one to go into
the guard and work for 1t? L think most of
the old officers look at the situation that way.
There is an almost universal opinion that
the National Guard in this City will be
soon quartered in two armories, that of
the Nationals on Ellis street, and that of the
Second at Page and Cough. The Nationals
will doubtless be able to prevent the
scheme Of getting the twelve companies of
the new First under one roof. Peter Deane,
the owner of the armory at Page and
Cough, wants to build an extension fifty
feet wide on Page street, giving room for
all and providing great drillhalI He is
also ready to make the slight changes
necessary to house eight or ten companies
in the present building.
BRADY MINING SUIT.
lmnOrfant Case Of Claim ,JumnfNU An.