The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-18
CHANGES THE STATUS.
Three Democrats Will Vote
for Perkins.
MARTIN is ONE OF THEM.
And He Gives the Reasons for His
Intention.
NOW TT WILL BID A FREE FIGHT.
That Candidate viii Be Chosen Senator
WhO Gets the Most Votes Regard
, less of Politics.
NOW IT WILL BE A FREE FIGHT.

SACRAMENTO, Jan. 1.-THE Democratic
legislators have become a factor in the Re-
publican Senatorial fight. Senator Deni-
son declared to-day that three Democratic
members OF the Legislature would vote to
elect Senator Perkins, and that Noble
Martin, Senator from Placer, was one of
the three He would not designate the
other two. This statement as to Senator
Martin was confirmed tonight by that
gentleman himself. 1t was Just after the
executive session of the Democratic legis-
lators in room Is of the Capitol building,
where they held what they termed, not
caucus but a conference. As Senator
Martin stepped out of the star chamber
into the rotunda, ne announced his inten-
ton to vote for Perkins, as the friend Of
the miners and good man.
The Perkins forces have made much Of
this. They declare that they have 81 Re-
publican votes, and that three Democratic
accessions give them within one vote of
victory.
The De Young men claim that Perkins
has not 81 Republican votes; that the
number is much less; that he cannot win
on the first ballot, and that after that his
strength will disintegrate.
An independent authority without lean
ing to either side places the strength Of
Perkins at Just 80 votes, with one more in
sight if Llewellyn stays in line, and so they
disagree. One thing is certain. If Demo-
cratic votes go to Perkins, there will be
Democratic votes, and it may be in greater
number, cast for some other Republican.
Senator Arms issued call at noon to-day
for conference tonight of the Democratic
Senators and Assemblymen. The call
limited the meeting to an exchange of
ideas in executive session looking toward
agreement as to some policy to be taken
in the Senatorial contest The terms of
the cali were so restrictive that it was not
pronounced caucus, and those invited to
attend were consequently not bound by
caucus rules.
Senators Dunn and Fay of San Francisco
refused to sign the call. Assemblymen
Langenour of Yolo and O'Day of San
Francisco also refused to sign the call,
and their. presence at the meeting was not
expected. These are the legislators who
signed the CALI Senators Arms, Biggy,
Burke. Henderson, LangfOrd, Martin,
Mathews, McAllister, Mitchell, SeawelI,
Toner and WhitehurstSand Assemblymen
Rachman, Coghlin, Devine, Dwyer, Healey,
Holland, Mccarthy, Mcdonald, Reid,
Robinson, Sanford, Twigg and Wilkins.
Strange to say, the four who refused to
sign the call when presented at noon at
tended the conference, and one of their
number, Assemblyman Langenour, was
elected chairman of the meeting. Senator
Gesford returned from Napa and was pres
ent. The only absentees were Senators
Langford and Mitchell, both of whom
signed the call. The meeting accomplished
nothing, but it was revelation. It showed
that the Democratic minority was worse
divided into factions than the Republican
majority, and when it broke up there were
faint discOrdant cheers. Langenour was
technical chairman and those who expected