The San Francisco call., 1896-04-23
Many Leading Men of the Party
Freely Express Their
Sentiments.
CALIFORNIA ON THE R0LLCALL.
Why Send the Individual if His Judg.
ment at the Convention Is Not
to Be Exercised?

w DaI6V6I OpluIOuS may NC cntCi eoAHOU
by California Republicans regarding the
merits of statesmen who are named as
candidates for President it is clear enough
that fully three-fourths of the members OF
the party hold that the delegates from this
State to the National Convention should
go unpledged.
William Alvord yesterday expressed his
sentiment briefly by saying: at is my
opinion that our delegation to the Ma
tional Republican Convention at st. Louis
should go there unpledged."
Joseph L. King, broker and granger, was
opposed to pledging delegations. AS for
himself he doubted whether he would con-
sent to go to convention as a mere
mouthpiece.
a. s. Hallidie held that the delegation
to the National Convention at st. Louis
should not be hampered by pledges. Cali
fornia in the past had been unfortunate in
pledging delegates to the support of favor
lite candidates. In the hight of experience
the State Convention at Sacramento should
not send q tied-up delegation to st. Louis.
Sidney NJ. Smith said: THE delegates
TO the st. Louis convention ought not to
be instructed. do not mean to say that
the preference of the people of California
should not be expressed by the State Con-
vention at Sacramento, but the expression
of preference shouC not take the form of
instruction. l believe from what hear
and read the majority of Republicans in
California prefer the nomination of Nc
Kinley, but it does not follow that the
delegates should be pledged to stand for
him under all circum stances"
Colonel Albert E. Castle said: 81 am in
favor of instructing for Mckinley. think
Mckinley is going to win and we will
stand better chance of getting something
by votirg for HIM than by casting our
strength for any other candidate
Charles G. Clinch said: The Repubi-
can delegates from this State to the st.
Louis convention should act as unit.
They should meet there, fully caucus,
unite and cast their strength for the VIM
ming man. In that way something may
be done for California and the Pacific
Coast"
James B. Stetson had positive views on
the subject. He said: SThe delegation
should go unpledged. If not, why not tel
egraph the choice of the State Convention?
Why send the individual unless he is sup
posed to exercise his judgment to do the
best he can to promote the success Of the
party?"
Albert Gerberding had views on the sub
iect. He remarked: 'If the State Con-
vention at Sacramento should decide to
send to st. Louis a delegation of common
place politicians, bent on promoting their
own prospects of getting fevors under the
next Republican administration, then the
delegation should go pledged. IT, on the
other hand, it should be the Judgment of
the State Convention that California Re-
publicans should be represented in the
National Convention by able men OF high
character, sound judgment and patriotic
principles, then the delegation should De
permitted to go there unpledged and un-
trammeled. An unpledged delegation of
O M 1uh nrf 1OHt frv-
good"
Hugh Craig, president of the Chamber
of Commerce, said: 81 am personally in
favor of Mckinley, but l am a firm be-
lever in sending an unpledged delegation
to the st. Louis convention. Our dele
gates, however, should vote as a unit.
California is the first Republican State on
the rollcall. True, Alabama and Arkansas
are called first, but party success is not
expected in either. California is in the
Republican column, and for that reason
our eighteen votes may count for consid-
cradle. Ii the delegates should discover
after surveying the field and fully caucus
ing on the subject, that Mckinley could
not win, they should not be compelled by
their pledges to cast the fortunes of the
State with the losing cause. Let the dele
gates be free 10 exercise their Judgment.
California ought to be recognized by the
next National administration. The Secre-
tary of the Treasury should be appointed
from this State. California is the one
State OF the Union that has steadfastly adj
hered under all circumstances and condi-
tions to sound money principles.
The principle is recognized in our State
constitution. We have ad-minded and
capable public men i'll the State. There is
}. b. Stetson, man of affairs, of excellent
judgment and intellectually alert. There
is Horace Davis, a scholar and statesman.
Either one is capable of directing the
affairs of the treasury. The convention at
Sacramento should send to st. Louis men
of character and influence. These men
should be left free to form their own iudg-
ment at the National Convention"
Colonel William r. Smedberg said: AZ
am in favor of unpledged delegates. It is
well enough for the State Convention by
resolution to express preference, but the
delegates should not be pledged to stand
through thick and thin for any candidate.
This reminds me of a talk had the
other day with D. ]. Staples. He said
California had an unpledged delegation
when Mr.. Lincoln waa nominated the
irst time, and this delegation voted for