The San Francisco call., 1896-02-09

10 Calling JulS UIil AA'S t1h1S, bSSs.NoCi
sir, it is matter, sir, in which, as L take
it, the people of Kentucky generally have
little interest. And, besides. sir, we have
many matters.of more urgency and much
nearer concern to which we should devote
our attention" etc., etc.-killing good
half hour before he gets through.
The major was not elected to the Senate
solely on account of his perspicuity of
speech. 1t seems as if his long connection
with the Southern Pullman Sleeping Car
Company had made him as pompous as
one of the porters. His long experience in
Legislatures and lobbies gives him some
advantage over Weissinger in handling a
case like this. Though he is not so quick
and vigorous as his colleague he has
better equipoise. and can. support job
with straight face where Royals clean
shaved face would betray the part that he
was not acting just as his better nature
told him was right.
Royal 'Weissinger lacks the brass that
Mr.. Huntington needs just now. He has
the best of advice on the outside. but when
on his feet in the Senate debating this bill
he will not be able to come up to the
mark, because he is not built that way.
His announcement yesterday that he
wished the record to show that two of the
committee voted against reporting the
bill was not of much consequence, as
everybody knew beforehand that he and
Hays would fight it all along the line, but
as the chairman did not state that the
committee was unanimous on the report
Weissinger's reasons are not quite clear,
unless he wanted the fact published that
NJ barc a him Golf
and Senator Hays were the ones opposing
it, for the sake of the effect on the other
members of the Senate and most of the
House.
His declaration that the railroad would
fight the passage of the bill over every inch
of the ground might have been spared.
The advocates of the bill, especially Sena-
tor Goebel, know this well enough, but
they are too willy to be fooled for moment
as to the kind of a fight Huntington's
men are making.
The show of vehement opposition in the
Senate is not going to throw them off their
guard as to the House, where the other
party expect TO get in their fine work
while the bill is delayed in the Senate un-
til they are ready to let it go 10 the Honse.
Goebel cut his eye teeth good many
years ago. He is q man, and good one,
take him as you will He is an honest
and conscientious representative of the
people, and during a long service in the
Legislature, antedating the passage of the
charter in 1884 some two or three terms,
his record is a clean one. There are no
Cotton letters hid away to be brought out
in after years to put his cheek to the
blush. As a tactician he has no superior
IN either house, nor do any excel him as
lawyer and a parliamentarian.
1t is indeed a most fortunate thing that
the championship of this bill, which is so
pregnant of future disaster or prosperity
TO the people of California, has fallen to
him: and he has able coad tutors. Sena-
tors Bronston, Fulton, Sims and Landes,
the members of the committee with him,
are men of high standing and much infu-
ence, and they will fight to the last in sup
port of their report. They are all popular,
respected men with their colleagues, ire
spective of party, and will command many
a vote just because they are interested.
On the other side, Senator Burnett is
well liked by all who know him, is good
mixer and well posted; but until some
one is elected Senator he will not take any
NCAg oOb4hC pdANg dS LIS Aa11lC las OCCi
mentioned as a possible candidate in case
Hunter cannot be elected, and he is not
going to jeopardize the chance he may
have by antagonizing anybody on the re-
peal bill or anything else if he can help it.
Outside his own set Weissinger is not at
all popular among his colleagues, and his
set are very few in number He is entirely
too exclusive, and that is thing that the
rural Kentucky legislator does not like,
whether he is dignified with the name of
Senator or is only mere Representative.
He considers himself a gentleman and is
naturally inimical to any one who in the
slightest degree, either directly or in
directly, fails TO accord him the privileges
and recognition due him.
Evidently the Huntington people are not
relying on Royal Weissinger to make votes
in the Senate against the BILL but using
him as an obiector and delayer. They can
hardly depend much on Senator Hays,
either. Nearly every one in the State
understands his reasons for opposing the
bill and his connection with and obIlga-
tions to the railroad company. The major
is not exactly duke" but he is a little
'tonv" and does not really love the
average member.
With General Duke it is somewhat differ
ent. While he is one ofsthe 'kid glove''
fraternity that frequent the Pendennis.
Club he has record as good soldier and
considerate commander; and then he al
ways remembers the boys when they
come to town, calls them by name, shakes
hands and is not afraid of getting hayseed
on his coat-and this tells with the boys.
Nobody knows the generals power in this
regard better than those who have been
opposed to him.
Weissinger's persistent refusal to sup
port Blackburn will also initiate against
his influence. He was elected as Demo
crat, and as Blackburn is the choice of the
major part of the people he represents he
should give him his vote. That he does
dot do so is surprising to many of his best
friends in Louisville. He has, however,
the support of the Courier Journal, if no.
body else, in his cause-which will help
the cause of repeal.
The "lobbyers," as they were called to-
day, have been on the go all the week,
working hard. They will have additional
holr