The San Francisco call., 1896-04-11
The Senator States That He Is
Not a Candidate for the
Vice-Presidency.
WHAT CALIFORNIA CAN GET.
With a Delegation Unpledged The
State Will Secure Cabinet
Officer.


Presidential horoscope, with Senator Per-
kins in the sky as a star of the first magni-
tude for Vice President. 1t believes that
the treatment by the convention of Per-
kins will have considerable to do with
which way are swung the forty-one votes
of the Pacific Coast States and near-lyine
Territories, and of Utah.
The fact that the Pacific Coast would be
so fattered by recognition on the National
ticket is being taken into account by those
who hope TO stem the Mckinney current,
said to be strong there. says the Post.
The opponents of Mckinley, when they
say that they hope to defeat him at the
convention, but do not yet know how they
will accomplish that, are holding the Pa
ciic Coast card up their sleeve. There is
no question of Perkins availability as a
man, nor that his candidacy would receive
wide support among his party. But the
Mckinley men will probably not look fa-
vorably upon him unless circumstances
compel them 10. They will wish rather
for a man from the Atlantic coast. This
will be used TO advantage by the friends
OF Reed and of Morton at the convention.
Continuing, the Post says:
The managers for Reed and for Morton un-
derstand the situation. They also see that
considerable prejudice will have 10 be over
come IN order TO swing the far West in favor of
their candidates. Morton is regarded as an
avowed enemy of silver, and the bimetallic
sentiment is in mood TO kick over the traces
unless properly soothed. Platt would be in
clined 10 do this soothing by attaching to
the ticket 4 man like Perkins, which would
please the Pacific Coast hugely, and all
out of proportion to the real benefits that
Ia Perkins pOuld he
attached to the ticket without much oppo-
sitiou from the gold men, as, though he
is q silver man, he is not fanatic and re-
fuses to identity himself with any of Stewards
raids in the Senate. He has fought out all his
victories on the broad open territory in day
light, and is a man who moves with modera-
ton, but keeps moving. He would not be
party 10 any conspiracy to embarrass the coun-
try's revenue for sake OF silver.
Senator Perkins will doubtless go to ST. Louis
with q strong backing from the Pacific Coast
He is not taking an extraordinary interest in
the matter, however, though he understands
his own value in helping out on ticket
headed by Reed or Morton, or any other man
from east OF the Missouri.
Senator Perkins attention was called to
this publication as well as to the fact that
q great many papers, not only in the West,
but all through the East, have spoken
second place on the ticket.
''I am, of course, very highly gratified
at the compliment of the unsolicited
movement" said the Senator, in reply.
land particularly at the manner in which
the public has manifested its confidence in
me and the kind words which have been
written and spoken by my friends and ac-
Quaintances. All this has given me the
long after the movement has been forgot
ten
Continuing, he said:
There seems to be still belief in some
quarters that l am candidate for the
nomination, but l am not. [ do not as
pire to the Office. While am in public
life my desire will be to secure as many
benefits for California, as well as for the
entire country, as are possible, and for this
I deem that my present position will en-
able me to be of greater usefulness than
any other / could occupy
Have you any notion as to the geo.
graphical location of the Vice Presidential
candidate p was asked.
''I do not think that the Republican
National Convention will select a candi-
date for the Vice Presidency from any
r.
Senator Perkins" The great Northwest
and the East will, in my opinion, be the
two fields from which the two men to
head the ticket will be taken. With an
honest. able, experienced and strong man
from one of the States between the Ohio
and the Missouri for Presid Dental candi-
date and the second name on the ticket
taken from New York or New England, l
am of the opinion that the Republican
party will sweep the country from ocean
to ocean in November"
But is California to be left out of the
machinery of the National Government, as
usual2"
in the convention which is to meet at
ST. Louis in June California can, if it
chooses, make her influence felt as she
never has before on such an occasion. 1t
Is in position to secure that which it has
long desired and which is her due-a
Cabinet officer
Are you in favor of the delegation to
the convention being instructed?''
ITO become power in the conven ton,
however, the California delegation must be
unpledged and act as unit The dele
gates should be left absolutely free to vote
for the best men brought forward, and in
voting they should be actuated solely by
the idea OF the greatest good OF the entire
country. The great issues which are in
VOWED render it incum bent upon conven-
tions to send as delegates men OF the high
est character. ability and patriotism, and
California should send to st. Louis some of
her best citizens, who are not to be in
'fiuenced by political considerations on
account of holding Office under the Govern