The San Francisco call., 1896-02-05
A Budget of Some Interesting
and Timely Political
Epigrams.
SAM AND CHRIS ARE DOOMED.
1t Is Said That the Fire Department
Is Kept Very Busy Escaping
From Politics.

Ihe exact position OF the Junta in
municipal politics has been clearly sci
forth by Gavin McEab.
When the Junta was organized by the
Democracy it was heralded to the COM
munity at large that one Christopher
Buckley and another Sam Rainey, who
had hankering after fire apparatus,
plugs, ETC., would be smitten upon their
political hearts until they went down in
the contest waged against them.
One of the foremost men in this fight
against corruption, ballot-stuffing, corpo-
ration control, Buckleyphobia and Rainey-
rabies was, and is to-day, Gavin McNab,
whose tongue and arm have been lifted
again and again against the influence and
prestige of these two bosses.
Last night Mr.. McNab, after due thought
and care in the use of words, gave up the
following, which appears to be clear and
concise answer to most of the questions
that are likely to be asked regarding the
intention of the Junta as regards Sam and
Chris:
There is no change" said he, Gin what
is termed the Junta toward Buckley or
Rainey. We are opposed to both or either.
There Is but one thing that is worse than
Buckleyism and that is Buckleyism and
Raineyism. There are worse people
than Rainey - Buckley and Rainey
for instance. Those people who
have refused to believe that we
were sincere in our professed attitude TO-
ward Buckley and Rainey were mistaken.
The organization presided over by Colonel
W. 2. sullivan has been just as deter
mined to resist interference on the part of
Rainey as on, the part of Buckley. A
domination OF Rainey would be an evil
less in quantity but not differing in quail
lty from domination of Buckley.
ut is true that our organization has had
friendship, sympathy and tacit support
from friends of the Fire Department, 1t
also true that Rainey has always been con-
sidered potential in the affairs of that in
stitution, but Chairman Sullivan hasmade
the Fire Department one of the brightest
and best-administered features of our
municipal government. He declares that
his only desire is to have the Fire Depart
ment left alone.
IF may use paradox, as we under
stand the Fire Departments position, its
only participation in politics is to prevent
itself being dragged into politics. That is
clear enough to accommodate all the
friends of good government and good citi-
zenship generally; and we have accepted
Sullivan's statement as defining the posi-
tion of the Fire Department, and our Or
ganization expects the department and its
friends to live up to their promises.
II am only one among many in the or
ganization and can only speak from views
of leaders as have heard them expressed.
On one point, however, can speak as an
individual. |, more largely than any
other person, have been in communication
with members of the State committee
throughout the State. They are nearly all
friends of mine. These men are unani-
mously against Buckleyism in any shape
or form and also against Raineyism.
II have assured these men that when
our organization comes before them and
asks for recognition it would come before
that body with clean hands, not asking
the committee to choose between Buck
Ieyism and Raineyism in any form, but
offer our organization composed of men
plighted to honest government and de-
cency and opposed to all forms of bossism.
/ am assured by membe of the State
committee with whom I have conversed
that an organization partaking OF the
character that these men have shown
would not be recognized at ALL"
"Has not Rainey many friends in the
Junta?' was asked of Mr.. McNab.
"Weli, yes perhaps 10 per cent of them
are Rainey's friends, but they will be lost
in the rank and file of the organization.
That is bound to occur in all new move
ments. 1t is safe thing to say, though.
OF the Buckley organization that ten
tenths of them are Buckleyites.
There is one thing in relation to the
Junta that want to call attention to, and
that is that none of the members of it are
Office seekers or candidates for office. If
they win their only satisfaction will be in
knowing that they have done good work
in the matter of bringing about a good
government.
1.-THE real enemy of good government is
the conservative citizen. If he be rich he
prefers boss, because wealthy men have
many interests of such character that they
profit out of public disadvantage.
"ln few words boss is the bridge
over which the aristocratic evil-doer can
reach and traffic with the criminal"
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