The San Francisco call., 1895-12-21
Macdonald's Defeat of Croker
Has Made New Sores in
The Guard.
HOW THE THING WAS DONE
The Story of a Secret Double.Barreled
Combination-Now New Com.
plications Arise.

the NaIlOnal OudTu III CaH L TTduClSCO were
nursing sore spots yesterday. The van
quished felt deeper wounds.
The election of Colonel William Mac
donald of the old Second to be colonel
and of Colonel J. G. O'Connor of the Third
to be ieutenant-colonel of the new regi-
ment and the somewhat unexpected defeat
of Lieutenant Colonels G. H. Crocker and
James f. Smith installs a new mess in
place of the particular one that preceded
the election. Revilings, threats and un-
ccrtainties are plenty, but they came
largely from new sources yesterday.
The result Is taken as defeat for the
administration, and so the victors, who
have all sorts of dislikes for Brigadier-
General Warfield and Ad djutant-General
Barrett and their respective staffs and
counselors, have an added cause for satis-
faction. Then the few among the de-
feated or their sympathizes who are sfor-
ninst the government" find their woe thus
tempered little.
That General Warfeld wanted Crocker
elected is universally known. He is a
friend and host Of Crocker's, and he and
Colonel Macdonald are personal enemies
much more so now than before, even.
AdjutaEtGeneral Barrett's Nsympathies
are generally asserted to have been ac-
lively with Crocker until Governor Budd
ordered ''hands off,
1t was double barreed ombination
shat defeated Crocker One of the COM
binations was successfully kept secret until
the voting was done. Besides these two
combinations host of 'pulls" figured in
the contest.
The combination between the old First
and Third regiments on Crocker and
Nd 90 ot-o. .tce fo:,
especially after the Tuesday night caucus,
when the pledges were given. But the
best made states are often broken.
Macdonald had seven votes pledged to
Crocker and Smith to gain to be elected.
He got eleven. There was hot work and
great wire-pulling for three days. One of
the early moves OF the Macdonald side was
to try to pull down Captain Marshall of
the Third, drilImaster in the Police De-
partment. Macdonald got Police Com
missioner Alvord to write to Marshall, re-
questing his support fer Macdonald. The
fact was used as an argument with others.
and the Crocker side quickly learned of it.
They hustled to the other Commissioners
and to Alvord. Alvord withdrew his in
huence to neutral ground.
The Nationals companies and g.,
with their six votes. were mainly interested
IN staying in their fine little armory.
Crocker refused any promise of his intiu-
ence in their favor, and they fixed up ali
arrangement with Macdonald which be-
came pretty well understood. Before the
election they nouitied Crocker that thew
would not be bound by the caucus and
would not vote for him. This gave Mac
donald nineteen votes. He needed two
more. One more would effect tie. Ex-
Captain Tilden of the Nationals was one
OF the most active in these operations, and
his presence in the situation caused ex-
CoIa ID
backing Macdonald in default of q chance
to win himself, to go over to Crocker. Hes
is said TO have secured two or three votes
for Macdonald, but the day before election
he brought them back into the Crocker
camp.
Then arose this com bination, which was
kept secret. Colonel O'Connor of the
Third was not candidate for the col
onelcy, there appearing no chance of his
winning, and he was supposed to be out of
the fight. He had some good friends
among the fourteen remaining officers of
the Third who were friendly enough to
their lieutenant-colonel, but who evidently
loved their colonel more. So the Nation
ais and the Second were able to secretly
effect a combination on Macdonald for
colonel and O'Connor for lieute nant-
colonel, which combination was kept very
dark.
Six officers of the Third are seen to have
gone into this combination. When it was
| made Macdonald's S election was sure un-
less it was broken, and meanwhile the
genuine Crocker-Smith people, who con-
of victory by a majority of two.
the Macdonald o. Connor combination
was the caucus pledge to Crocker
and Smith, which Smith was trying to
hold firmly to the point, declaring the
matter one of personal honor with every
officer of the Third. The OConner men
wanted to keep their pledge on the first
ballot, which they felt would relieve them
if no election occurred. 1t became neces-
sary to make tie. Lieutenant Middle
ton of the Third was secured to vote for
Macdonald In the first ballot and thus
make tie and clear the way for the rest
of the O'Conner forces to carry out the
plan.
The Macdonald workers knew that
Lieutenant Blunkell of the First was sup
posed to be In Los Angeles, but they didn't
propose to let any possible tricks be
played on them and they telegIaphed to
Los Angeles getting him hunted up He
was reported there and the tie and the
victory were sure.
That was the situation when the meet
ing was called to order Thursday night.
The first ballot showed twenty for each
candidate. Then it was that Smith fiercely
turned on Middleton in the presence of all
ard gave him the hottest in his hot vocab-
ulary. Then he withdrew his own name
for the candidacy for lieutenant-c colonel.
The second ballot followed. and the five
other O'Connor men of the Third shivered
the Crocker-Smith slate and voted for
Macdonald. giving him twenty five votes
to Crocker's fifteen. By the same vote
OConnor was declared to be the prefer
ence for appointment as lieutenant-colonei.
Ex-Captain Tilden was chosen for rec
ommenoation as one of the three majors
by the victorious com bination that flashed
up so suddenly from the wreck of the one
that had the administration, the Southern
Pacific and lots of staff officers aud pulls
behind it.
Some of the natural consequences are to
be seen. The Nationals, ever the object
of much jealousy and dislike, are being
damned by one large section OF the guard
more hotly than ever before. But they
find themselves on top as usual. Tilden
of the Nationals. now to be Major Tilden
if Governor Budd doesn't say NO" was
on the board of inquiry that criticized so
many warriors after the Sacramento
engagement, and that is another cause of
enmity and OF kicking at the way things
turned out.
1t was part of the information that got
hxr folo