The herald., 1896-06-13
Old Guard Says Merrill for
Chairman
THE MAN FROM POMONA
Ne Has Strong Southern Pacific Connec.
tl0ns
usstln narsh Says That He VIII Be Repre-
sentsd In Today's Convention bv Proxy
OnIy-An Hands Smiled"

Governor George w. Merrill of Pomo-
ma, whom the old guard is using as
catspaw with which to obey the Pc
hests in this county of the Southern "a
cific Railroad company, is distant rela-
tive of Col. Fred Crocker, vice-presi-
dent Of the big corporation. The rail-
raod at one time had him elected lieu
tenant-goyernor of Nevada, the same
influence subsequently having him ap-
pointed as minister resident to the sand
wich Islands. Governor Merrill Is man
of ability, and incidentally the small A.
p. A. element in the local Democracy
are his staunchest supporters. This fact
has given rise to the charge that ne IS
q member of that organization. which
charge 1t Is keeping the friends of George
Patton busy denying upon principle.
Merrill in the Democratic congress-
ional convention Of two years ago maoe
the nominating speech for Colonel Mes
more, who was then the old guard can
didate against George Patton.
The Buckley-Southern Pacific crowd
are hungry for the chairmanship of the
convention, hence their energetic BOOM
ing of Merrill, upon whom they some
time since laid their fms as q good
enough Morgan for this occasion. They
want the Craftsmanship first because IT
will give them the organization with all
which that implies of the convention,
and, second, because they wish to down
Patton on account of his bold and ag-
gressive night against their schemes to
compass the ends; of the railroad monop-
oily and Buckley.
Merrilrs supporters say that he will
today have at least 300 votes for chair
man Of the county convention, which
claim Is laughed at good and hard by
the anti-railroad and anti-gang people.
Del Sur precinct reported its delega-
tion to the county convention to Secre-
tary Herzog of the county committee
yesterday, leaving Spadra, Ballona and
Rowland precincts still unaccounted for.
The Del Sur delegates are l.. H.. Mayett,
c. Hahn and j. Heffner Rowland will
be represented in today's convention
There is a contest in the Fourth precinct
of National two sets of delegates claim
ing to have been regularly elected. The
primaries in the precinct were held in
the morning of June I'd, instead Of in the
afternoon, as was stipulated in the Of
fetal call, the cause for the change being
that the hall for the purpose could not be
procured for the afternoon. The crowd
not successful at the first primaries held
another election and will send it's own
delegation for seats in the convention.
Martin Marsh reiterated yestrday for
the fourth time thatlhe Is. out of politics.
stating that George Retzer would vote
his proxy in today's convention. Then
Martin invited everybody to have a
ever after.
Johnstone Jones is developing con-
siderable strength In his candidacy for
congress. 1t looks now as IL either he
or c. C. Wright would capture the NOM
ination. George Patton has only to lift
his finger to secure the honor. Wright
will probably be delegate from his
supervisorial district to the state con-
vention.
Despite his public declarations printed
elsewhere, Senator Stephen M. White
may yet be persuaded to take hand in
the contest today. He knows, If his
friends do not, that the present skir-
mish was conceived in the idea of weak
ening the senator's political prestige in
his home county. Part Of the plot, and
the real beginning Of it, was to prevent
Whites election as a delegate-at-large
to the national convention, Fire Alarm
John w. Mitchell having been selected
to go to Chicago as the man from this
end Of the state. Mitchelps singularly
unforeseen defeat in his own precinct of
noble Cahuenga Is the only thing
which nipped the plan while yet in the
bud. The thing had gone so far, in fact.
that Riverside county had already
pledged itself to Mitchell Behind the
plot was the railroad company, which,
smarting under the signal defeat ad-
ministered to Coils p. Huntington by
Senator White in the harbor struggle.
is determined to prevent his reelection
to the upper house Of congress at any
coSf