The San Francisco call., 1896-03-31
County Committee to Issue the
Call and Start Activity
This Week.
VOTES WILL BE COUNTED,
John D. Spreckels on a Story About
the Railroad and Local
Politics.
This week will see the completion OF ar

This week will see the completion OF ar
rangements for the local Republican
primary for the election of delegates to the
State convention, and likewise the in
creased interest and activity that will fol-
low the call for the election.
A meeting of the County Committee
will probably be called to-day by Char
man Manwaring for some evening later in
the week. AT that meeting the represen-
tatives of the Fourth and Fifth Congress
sional districts will form separate official
bodies and issue separate calls for prima-
ries. The calls will be similar, however,
and provide the same date, so that the
election will practically be Is though con-
Quoted by the entire committee as usual.
Republican headquarters at $50 Market
street were crowded last evening with
members Of the County Committee, repre-
septatives of district organizations and
active members of the party. Each day
increases the general interest in the cam
paign just opened, and removes still fur
ther the little factional dissensions that
bobbed up as usual in the start. The
regular party organization, under
the leadership OF John D. Spreckels,
now possesses such overwhelming
control of the affairs of the party ana has
so clearly set forth its policy of letting the
voters, and none others, say who shall
represent them in the convention, that all
elements of the party are practically
united in support of regularity. fairness
and decency. The very small following
which Martin Kelly and Jerry Mahoney
were able to rally at the outset has already
largely deserted these tricksters ana moth
ing has been heard from them for some
time.
The County Committee will call the
primary this week, and everything prom
+ ises quiet election, saiG Chairman Man
waring last evening. mo one who has
not made special efforts TO canvass the stu
alton can realize, after the recent talk that
has been going on, how solidiy the people
are standing together in support OF John ID.
Spreckels and the policy he is carrying out.
l have been about great deal all over the
City, and everywhere the people inter
ested in party affairs realize that the COM
ing primary Will be one in which their
votes will be honestly counted; that it
Will not be dominated by corrupt bosses,
and that the party is on the high road to
success in the Nation, State and City.
The party is going 10 pull together, and
the campaign will be carried out without
scandals and corrupt iobbery on the part
of those In control"
3 An evening paper published last night
story to the effect that the railroad was
going TO support John d. Spreckels and
his friends and the rumor set the politi-
clans talking and wondering. So far the
tracks of Steve Gage have not been discov-
cred in the San Francisco political field,
and while in the Second, Third and other
Congressional districts the railroad hand
and its victories have been plainly evident
the relations Of the railroad to the politics
of the Fourth and Fifth districts
have been mysteries abOut which people
have been able TO only guess and wonder.
There has not yet been a move on the local
checkerboard that has been ascribed
to the railroad with the exception of the
desperate and futile attempts OF Kelly and
Mahoney to get hold of something. Many
have supposed that the railroad was
quietly backing these two politicians.
What the railroad proposes to do in San
Francisco remains as much of mystery
as ever. That it should decide to have
nothing to do with Kelly and Mahoney is
not strange, for the railroads power could
not now put vitality into that disreput-
able com bination. John D. Spreckels said
last evening that the report was al news
to him.
"If the railroad is going to support the
Republican organization l don't know
it," he said, "but L will be glad
to have all Republicans support the
ticket, whether they are railroad men
or not. | have had no conferences with
railroad people and there is no agreement
or understanding looking to their support.
If the railroad wants to come in and sup
port the Republican party without con-
trolling it suppose there will be no objec-
ton. That is all | know about the story
The Howard Republican Club Will hold
one of It's rousing fortnightly meetings at
Pythian Castle, on Market street, near
Fifth, this evening.