The San Francisco call., 1896-04-17
AN UNPLEDGED
DELEGATION,
Opinions Expressed by Many
Well-Known Repub-
licanS.
AGAINST INSTRUCTION,
Delegates Should Be Free to
Exercise Their Judg-
ment.
THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST.
Men of High Character and Personal
influence Should Go to
st. Louis.

The editorial article in The CALL. en-.
titled can Unpledged Delegation" was
widely read yesterday and freely discussed
by Republicans. Judging from individual
expressions of opinion last evening, The
CALL reflected the sentiment of large
majority of leading men of the party.
David Bush said: ut is better that a
pledged. Unquestionably California Re-
publicans, by large majority, prefer the
nomination OF Mckinley, and it might be
well for the convention at Sacramento to
express that preference without instruct
ing the delegates to vote for him. Some
margin should be left for the delegates to
deliberate. Conditions now unforeseen
may occur and a delegation should be
allowed to exercise its Judgment for the
interests of the State. California comes
early on the call of the roll of States."
Henry Clement remarked that his per-
sonal preferences were for Allison, whom
he regarded as a statesman in the true
sense of the word-a man whose siren 9Th,
ability and influence had long been recog-
nized by the leading men of both the DO
litical parties. AS much as he preferred
Allison he believed that California should
send to the st. Louis convention an un-
pledged delegation. He maintained that
pledged delegation, instructed to cast its
vote for one candidate, went to conyen-
tion shorn OF all influence. In politics the
unexpected frequently happens, and to
keep in line with changing conditions the
delegates should be left free to caucus
among themselves and cast the weight of
their influence in the direction which
promised the greatest services to the Repub-
lican cause, and the greatest good to the
Pacific Coast.
M. H. Weed said: "The delegation from
California should certainly go unpledged.
What is the sense OF tying up the dele
gates with instructions to vote for any one
man? Let them go to st. Louis, talk with
other delegations and form opinions as to
what they should do after they have care
fully studied the situation. A tied-up
delegation can swing DO influence
Judge Waymire, VINO is an outspoken
Mckinley man and is leading the Ohio
candidates fight in California, said: ut
is my opinion that the Republican con-
vention should instruct the delegates from
this State to vote for Mckinley. He is
surely the first choice of California Re-
publicans, and l believe that he will be
nominated On the first BALLOT
+. w. Van Sicklen believed that the DEL
egation should be left free to exercise It's
judgment and exert an influence for the
benefit of the State. He said: "a dele
cation going to convention pledged to
support one candidate is at the start de-
prived of strength. The California dele
gates should be left free to form an alli-
ance with other State delegations from
the Pacific Coast. ii all the Pacific Coast
delegations could unite powerful force
might be exerted for the benefit of the in
terests cf this region"
William Sproule remarked: "It should
be accepted beyond question at the outset
that all the candidates menti oned are rep
resentative men of the highest character,
and that each one is worthy TO fill the office
of President. Therefore the delegates from
California to the st. Louis convention
should be unhampered by pledges. They
should be allowed to exercise their jude-
ment, and be left free to confer with other
delegations and grasp every advantage
presented for the benefit of the State"
George T. Bromley expressed his opinion
in this sentence: 81 think the California
delegation to the st. Louis convention
should be instructed to vote for McKin-
ley.'
Henry K. Field said: 81 am opposed to
pledging delegates. They ought not to be
tied up with instructions to support any
particular candidate. The proper thing to
do is TO send to st. Louis men of high
character, good Judgment and individual
Judge for themselves what course thew
should pursue to promote party success
and gain advantages for the State they
represent. Why, the little State of Yer
mont wields greater influence than Cali
fornia in National affairs. Her best men
are sent to conventions and they are per-
mitted margin for the exercise of a
judgment which can only be correctly
formed by immediate observation
Frank Reynolds was convinced that the
sentiment of Republicans in California
favored the nomination of McKinley. but
he said: II am not in favor of pledginp
the delegation. No one can tell now what
will happen at st. Louis. The party at
present seems strong enough to elect any
good candidate, but. conditions NAV
change and it may become necessary to
study the availability of a candidate.
California Republicans have made mis-
takes in the past by pledging the delega-
tions for favorite candidates. Let us have
delegation of able men and trust to their
judgment"