The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-04
BUCKLEY MOVES TO TOWN
The Blind Boss Is Openly
Battling for Political
Power.
RAVENsWOOD rs ABANDONED.
Divided Party and Long and
Bitter War.

Chris Buckley's open return to San
Francisco politics and the surprising
strength he has displayed at the first
charge are the topic of the hour among
citizens generally who feel an active inter-
est in municipal affairs. 1t is the most in
teresting, and, it may be, the most signiti-
cant thing that the turmoil of politics has
brought forth here or'many a day.
The thin mask of virtuous protest, to the
effect that his political ambitions are dead,
that he yearns only for the blessed peace
and seclusion of a country home and that
he merely advises in quiet way with per-
sonal friends as any citizen may do, has
been cast aside by the sightless king of ex-
bosses. Buckley is openly, avowedly and
strongly conducting campaign to regain
control of the local Democratic party.
So vigorously has he started in on his
campaign that he has forsaken Ravens
wood to live in the City. Just now he has
apartments at the Baldwin, and that
hosiery is one of his Headquarters. There
he sees a select few OF his followers and
such influential gentlemen as wish to do
politics safe from the observation that
they would be subjected to at the Occi-
saloons at which Buckley drops in occa-
sionally. Buckeyes presence at the Bald
win has already proved magnet to draw
the lambs to the lobby and the billiard
and bar rooms.
But the Baldwin apartments are only
temporarily taken. Buckley is moving to
town. Nearly all the furniture of his ele-
CANT Ravenswood home is being moved to
the City, and in few days he will have
one of his Bush-street houses ready to
move into. Buckley is again a citizen of
San Francisco and aspires to regain it's
rule.
And he travels about with little Maurice
Schmitt as in years gone by. Besides
Schmitt, his nearest factotum is J. J.
Maloney, the Trilby of the Occidental
Club, liked by the boys, who call him
Feet" The old guard clusters about him
with touching fdelity-that is, those who
have not become reorganized since the
revolution of 81, and since the Wallace
Grand Jury made him break the record to
Canada.
The 154 votes out of 339 which James H.
O'Brien, the avowed candidate OF Buckley
for the charm anship of the Democratic
general committee. received night before
last, have surprised most people That
vote was the first and was but partial
test of the extent to which Buckley had
already advanced toward the control of
the Democratic machine. The majority
for Watkins was thirty, and the securing
OF sixteen Watkins men would have elected
O'Brien and given Buckley the works,
though the machine is battered and sadly
needing oil.
The Buckley forces claim practical vic
tory, and they declared yesterday that a
landslide to Buckley in the party had
plainly begun Yesterday. 1t was pointed
out that Buckley, with no prestige of ap-
parent strength and without the magic at
traction of being a winner, had nearly
beaten at the outset the combined forces,
local, State and municipal, arrayed against
him. The majority against him would be
easily overcome.
That Buckley has landed in the midst of
the Democratic camp with a strength that
makes him at once dangerous power
and one that must be reckoned with is
plainly apparent. The party that has
bled so long must now bleed again, and
the tussle between the Buckley and the
anti-Buckley factions that is now on can
not fail to be long and hard one.
In the preparations for that meeting of
the general committee, called by the anti
Buckley leaders for the sole purpose of
electing a chairman before it was too late,
every effort of Buckley's political enemies
was put forth. The Fire Department
fought for self-preservation. Sam Ralney
was sincerely and vigorously in the fight
against Buckley, and SO was Chief Sullivan,
who believes that his scalp is chief among
those that Buckley is after
so during the one or two days preceding
the convention the red buggics few about
town as though general alarms were
coming in thickly. Eddie Creamy and
Ned Lanigan did the best that was in
them to hold and drum up the anti
Buckley votes and save the day. Gavin
McNab hustled and schemed until the
vote was counted, and Sam Braunhart,
who, with P. ]. Harvey and some others
represented slate politics, welded all their
influence. Of the Federal brigade, which
is almost entirely anti Buckley, Daggett
of the Mint and Welburn of the Revenue
Office busily summoned men to receive
orders.
The anti-Buckley faction had the men
with jobs. and the Buckley faction had the
men who want jobs. The result sent the
lambs forth with conscious strength.
1T was practical victory for Buckley"
said James H. O'Brien Yesterday. The
small majority by which l was defeated
displays the strength that Buckley pos
sesses, and now you'll see them flocking to
him. 1t would surprise you to know how
many well-known citizens have congrat u-
lated Buckley to-day, and who they were.''
The frankly say Buckley" at the Occi-
dental Club now.
How successful Buckeyes opponents
will be in checking his rising power is one
of the problems of the time. They ac-
knowledge he is openly seeking power and
that his strength is plainly formidable, as
far as the party is concerned at least.
The party elements swayed against the
ex-boss, whether for motives of virtue and
decency, selfshness or revenge, say that
Buckley could never elect ticket in this
City again. and that if he gains any control
of the party machinery he will simply be
fought to the death.
Buckley has two elements to work with
those who will actively support him and
those who will endure him. OF the politi-
cal workers-large and small leaders who
have ambitions and ward toughs who
want beer and "dough"-many are ex-
pected to hasten to join rising power
which will do politics for what there is in
it. ''Buck" is trusted to pull over to him
an army of these. To some he will offer
honors and to some 1.-The dough-
AS to the other element the high tax
levy is welcomed as trumpcard. No OPP
portunity is lost by the Buckley leaders to
urge that under Buckley's rule the dollar.
limit was never exceeded, there was always
money in the treasury and the City's debts
were maid .&They exultinply deelared at