The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-11
BLIGHT OF BUCKLEYISM.

Chris Buckley is reported to be will
ing to compromise with the gentlemen
who are opposing him in the DEM
ocratic party. This is encouraging
news not only to the members OF
the Democratic organization, but also to
all decent citizens, provided the compro-
mise is not effected. If this offer to COM
promise means anything, 1t means that
Buckley does not feel sure of the power to
control the General Committee of his
party, concerning which he and his adj
herents have made so many boasts within
the past month.
This fact is distinctly creditable to the
members, the rank and file of the Demo-
cratic party, for no greater degradation
could befoul the Democratic party and the
community at large than to have the
shameful Buckley regime repeated, with
its Shiny scandals and its criminal trans
actions in official affairs.
While it may be true that some of the
opponents of Buckley are moved by an
ignoble desire for revenge, it cannot be
doubted that the greater number who are
following the lead of the Junta are sincere
i'll their desire to see the party purified
and freed from the vile elements that lat
terly have been identified with the devious
schemes of the blind boss.
Buckley's real power is as yet an I'M
known quantity. That he has great
strength among a certain class of politi-
clans cannot be ignored. He is ever alert
and unscrupulous in his operations, and
there can be no question as to the potency
of his methods. That he is an able
tactician, willy and shifty manager, has
been proved by many victory in his own
| party as we'll as in the wider fields Oh
general election. His plan is to concen-
trate his forces on certain offices that may
be utilized for the distribution of pat
ronage among his lambs. If given half a
chance in dealing with his opponents in
his own party he will outwit them all, and
if they join with him at all, he will use
them for the drawing of chestnuts out Of
the fire for himself and his devoted bench
| men.
Compared with Buckley as tactieians
the members Of the opposition in his own
party are weaklings. Thus far their cam
paign has been marked by incompetency
and lack of concentration. If they win al
all as against the blind boss, that desirable
result will spring from the inherent
| strength and justice OF their position
rather than from their own executive abll-
ity. Their genial incompetency is in
charming contrast with the sinister sol
idarity of the Buckley phalanx.
1t seems almost inevitable, whatever be
the result of this strife, that Buckley viii
have much to say in regard to the distri
button of such loaves and fishes as they
may hope to win. Without his help the
Junta know that they cannot reasonably
expect to elect their men. Even if be
were hopelessly in the minority, thi:
point would give Buckley formidable
standing in the councils of his party.
Happily fof the good people of the City
the internal dissensions Of the local Demo
cratic leaders are not of vital importance
for harmonious and reorganized Repub
lican party gives promise of affording {
relief from the evils that would flow from
the triumph of any form of Buckleyisn
| in municiDal affairs