The San Francisco call., 1896-07-31
County Committee to Decide
Method Of Choosing Officers
for Primary.
MANY SILENT POLITICIANS.
Not Anxious TO Commit Themselves
Till the Congressional Cat
Has Jumped.
oAk1ANp orrrcr Sac FRANc1sco cA11.

Not since the Seventh Ward has been a
strong Republican district has there been
such wide split as exists at this time.
The cause of the breach is the failure to
agree on candidate for Congress. The
Regular Seventh Ward Club is supposed to
be decidedly favorable to Hilborn, and it
was thought there would be but little OPP
position and that not of an organized
character. But this calculation has been
entirely upset.
The Union League Club has Just been
organized and its growth is rapid. While
1t has not declared itself openly on the
Congressional fight it is well known that
1t Is favorable to Frick. Nearly 100 mem
bers signed the roll, and in a few days it
will have Twice that membership. Many
men who were the strongest supporters OF
Hilborn are in the new club. Robert
Leckie, ex-Assessor, c. W. Wilkins, E..
Nushaumer, George Chase and William
McGrath are Union League men and each
one is an accomplished organizer.
President Dow of the Seventh Ward
Regular Club has called a meeting for next
week, and both Congressional candidates
have been invited TO be present.
The four men who have as much influ-
County Clerk Jordan, ex-Mayor Pardee,
Councilman Dow and Assem- blyman
Dodge. Their positions on the predom-
mating question of the hour it would be
bard to define. Dr. PaIdee is certainly for
Hilborn; Dodge and Dow have not said
anything, and Frank Jordan is credited
with being in the Frick camp, though he
will not say so. Robert Leckie's position
is not in doubt. He worked like a hero
for Hilborn at the last election, and now
he feels that Hilborn's friends have gone
back On him and he has jumped the
traces. Friends of Frick have already
held meetings az the houses of E. Nusbau-
:ner, z. Leckie and Charles Wilkins, but
so far little has been heard of Hilborn's s
campaign.
The situation in Alameda is not any less
interesting. Hilborn's speech at ST. Louis
favoring the anti-Denson delegates to
the National Conven ton was very much
against the position taken by E. K. Tay-
lor, who controls the Republican machin-
cry of the Encinal City. and it is expected
that FricE will have an equal chance with
the delegates.
The County Committee has not vet
named the officers for the primaries and
neither is it decided how they shall be
elected. Chairman Mautalen has called a
meeting for next Saturday at which the
matter will be settled. The State Central
Committee advised that the County Com
mittee call the primary for August 16
and that the warning Congressional Com.
mittees shall each name half of the cleo
ton officers. VIII Church, County Com.
mitteeman and the leader of ''the four"
Supervisors, says that the State Com nit
tee merely made Recommendation re-
gardIng the appointment of officers, and
is in favor Of rejecting it and appointing
whom they please, irrespective of either
Congressional Committee. Such a high
handed proceeding Is roundly condemned
by the friends OF Frick. They say that
such course would hurt him and that he
is too young politician to advise or
countenance any such measure.
Every ward and township is interested
in the contest and all kinds of guesses are
being made as to the result of the Con-
gresslonal Convention, which will be held
at Vallejo on August II.
a long letter has been sent to Mr.. Hill
born by some prominent Republicans.
the concluding paragraph, which is a
We, as Republicans, to the end that there
can be no question as 10 where you stand ash
you, Will you if elected stand for and vote for
the financial policy adopted at St. Louis, which
is the policy to which our candidate for Presi
dent and our party is committed? Or do Won
propose if elected, to ignore our financial DOL
icy as outlined by our National Convention
and vote for the free and unlimited coinage Of
silver. party or no party?
49, 1rsrro
ciples enunciated in the Republican platform.
have you any right TO seek a nomination at
the hands of that party? Is it not your mani
fest duty to withdraw and allow the Republj-
cans TO nominate some one who can and
will stand and If need be fall by the
principles, who can and will make his
success depend upon the success of those
doctrines which Mckinley represents, and
who will not be compelled TO seek his per
sonal advancement by the surrender of the
cause of Republicanism as announced in our
National PLATFORM No excuse need be offered
for asking you for an answer to these questions
They are political questions of the utmost
importance to every Republican voter within
your district. They, in common with our
selves, have the right to direct unequivocal
and explicit reply from our representatives in
Congress, who asks that We again return him.
Awaiting that reply with all the anxiety
which the gravity of the situation engenders
we are very truly yours. T. L. Barker, A. C.
Henry, c. B. Morgan, Victor H. Metcalf
Mr. Hilborn to-day made the following
reply:
The State Central Committee OF California
and the leading Republicans are now consid-
ering the question as to the lines upon which
this campaign shall be conducted. am Re-
publican and whatever the position of my
party is will be my position. Our party has
made but few mistakes and ] have confidence
In its wisdom now. When the party in Cali
fornia has announced its position shall take
pleasure in replying to the gentlemen
S. G. HILBoRE.