The herald., 1896-08-12
POLITICS ARE BOOMING
But Business Is Depressed in
San Francisco
SENATOR PERKINS TALKS
His Predictions as to the Issue Of tn.
Campaign
Conmends Tho Herald for Its Broad and Lib
eral PoIicy-Openinx Of the Camp align.
Women Ia Politics

not tnere are several Otner places Ill tuc
United States where business conditions
are not at all satisfactory to the masses,
and where the words hard times are, met
aphorically stamped on the doors of
business houses and on the faces of the
population. In the matter of business
depression San Francisco is probably no
worse off than are hundreds of cities no
larger and smaller than this.
THE BOOM IN POLITICS
In matters political. however. there
is good deal of activity, and it is in
creasing day by day. The contendng
forces arrayed against each other are
rapidly organizing and equipping them
/ selves for the great contest soon to open
in dead earnest. 1t will be fight to the
finish, and the indications are that
gentleman named Mckinley will be fin
| ished so far as his presidential aspira-
tions are concerned. Today L visited
! the headquarters of the Democratic
! state central committee. where a meet
! ing of that body was held. 1t was the
| regular monthly meeting, and the at
| tendance was large. All the members
present got down to business in prac-
teal way, and seemed inspired with
we'll grounded hope of a grand victory
next November, not only in California,
| but throughout the country. Every
member had encouraging words to offer
and interesting facts to present. One
| of the most important matters of busi-
\ ness transacted was the selection of
| committee of seven to confer with the
| Populists, looking to union of the two
| parties on presidential electors and con-
gressmen. Chairman Afford was made
a member of that committee by the
unanimous desire of the others. He in
| formed your correspondent that favora-
| HE still coming in from a ii
| directions and that there was growing
! belief among we'll informed Democrats
that even Los Angeles and San Bernar-
| dino counties were almost sure to go
| Democratic.
SENATOR PERKINS INTERVIEWED
1 have just had a pleasant chat with
| Senator George c. Perkins, who is gem
| orally considered the cleaneSt and ablest
| Republican senator California has ever
had. He frankly expressed his views
on the political situation. commended
| The Herald for its broad and liberal
policy towards all Sides spoke most
kindly of his colleague, Stephen NJ. White,
| and in every way impressed me as be-
ing first class gentleman of ability and
honor. In reply to the question as to
| what he thought would be the outcome
of the campaign, Ex-Governor Perkins
said:
Il think that if the election were held
today it would be very close contest be-
tween the two tickets, but my opinion
is that before election day the people
will have become so well educated on
the questions at issue that they will
elect Mckinley president. 1 have voted
for free silver because my constituents
evidently wanted 1t. l do not think
however. that the free coinage of sill
yer will accomplish the good that many
people expect"
Asked if he would participate in the
| c1mnajQn "a ba tad = hat
he would. He expects ere long to be in
| the field doing some work for his party
and perhaps incidentally for himself, as
the Legislature to be elected this year will
| have to elect senator.
S. p. OPPOSES HIM
In this connection I would state that
very prominent and we'll posted resi-
dent of the city informs me that the
| Spreckels interests and the Southern
Pacific managers have practically united
for the purpose of defeating Perkins If
| possible. To this end they now have
emissaries, it is said. at work in Los
Angeles, San Diego and other southern
| counties. using such methods as they
might be expected to employ, consider
ing whom they are serving Sam Short
ridge, the eloquent lawyer of this city.
is candidate for the senate, and is
being backed by a strong coterie of poll
tical and personal friends. 1t is under
stood that Shortridge would be per-
fectly satisfactory to the Spreckels- -Octo-
pus combination. 1t is said to be the plan
of the powerful combination to also
boom some popular man in the Demo-
cratic party, 50 that whichever party may
have majority in the senate on joint
| ballot the Combination will feel sure of
having satisfactory tool there in place
of Mr. Perkins, who cannot be intimi-
dated or bribed. The Combination cares
not fig for either Republican or Demo-
cratic principles. What it wants is men
in congress who will legisate as if there
We're nobody in California possessing any
rights which the Combination is bound
to respect.
If the state is to be represented in
the senate by one Republican, there is
no good reason why that Republican
should not be George c. Perkins, whose
integrity, ability and fidelity to his
| constituents cannot be questioned
OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN
1t is not yet known to the public how
soon the campaign will be formally
opened on either side, but sometime dur
ing the present month orders will issue
from headquarters in this city and there
| Will be heavy cannonading all along the
lines. 1t is probable that this campaign
will prove the most exciting and absorb
ing of any ever yet witnessed on the
coast. a few Democratic meetings by
way of sideshows and preliminary skirm
iShes have already been held in this vicin-
ity, and on Friday night Judge Mcguire,
who happened to be at Sonora on private
business, was inVeigled into addressing
a mass meeting of enthusiastic support
ers of the Bryan and Sewall ticket The
meeting proved to be rouser as might
have been expected
WOMEN IN POLITICS
At the woman suffrage headquarters
activity is on the increase. The state cen
trail committee is composed of Miss
Mary q. Hay. chairman: Mrs. A. A.
Sargent, Mrs. John f. Swift, Mrs. Nelly
iiolbrook Blnn Mrs. Austin Sperry and
Miss Susan b. Anthony. the latter being
The general director Of the movement
Among the active workers at the spa
cious headquarters are Mrs. Emma B
Sweet of Rochester. n. Y. Miss Sarah
f. Donnelly of this city, and Mrs Biinn.
The plans of the committee contemplate
the organizing of every county in the
state and in fact every voting precinct
In each, precinct q chairman has been
OF will be, appointed whose duty 1t is to
ascertain the political status of voters
and raise money for campaign purposes
Several speakers are already in the field
and many more are expected soon.
Prominent among the advocates of the
suffrage amendment to the constitu-
tion will be Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait
Of New York; Miss Mary Garrett Hay
of Indianapolis; Rev. Anna Shaw, Mrs