The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-22
An Effort to tremendously Sc
lect a Chairman Delays
Organization.
PRESTON SUDDENLY OPPOSED
Nearly All the Members Are Here to
Take Hand in the Election
of Officers.

The new executive committee of the
Republican State Central Committee got
together for its initial meeting in the
rooms of the State Central ommittee at
419 California street yesterday afternoon.
The committee transacted no business
of importance during the brief session
held and adjourned until 10 o'clock this
morning when permanent organization
will undoubtedly be effected by the cleo
ton of a chairman, q secretary and an
assistant secretary.
This is probably the only business OF
i'm portance that will be taken up by the
committee to-day or before the meeting of
the National Convention, but a great in
terest is bei1S I'd Gen in the disposition OF
Offices by all the members of the commit
tee.
The Craftsmanship is naturally the thing
of chief Importance. E. F. Preston, who
who has long been prominent in State
affairs of the party, had been informally
agreed upon for the Craftsmanship of the
committee by majority of the members,
but yesterday suddenly developed oppo-
sition to MIR. Preston in favor of Frank
Mclaughlin showed itself.
The opposition was considerable but of
uncertain strength, and 1t was shown
during the discussion that attended the
gathering of the members. In this situa-
ton large number of the committee
men agreed that harmonious under
standing should be reached, if possible,
and tnat an adjournment for a few hours
would be the wisest step to take.
1t was with this understanding that the
meeting was called to order by James w
Rea at the momentary suggestion of sew
ral IN no he ttaa III
themselves.
Nineteen of the twenty-one members
were present and one of the absentees was
represented by a proxy. Most of the
members from Southern California and
from other parts of the State arrived by
forenoon trains, and the large attendance
was an evidence of the energetic interest
which it had been promised the carefully
selected new committee would show.
Those present were: John D. Spreckels,
Leon Sloss, w. w. Shannon, Cornelius
O'Connor, NJ. r. Higgins, A. Ruef, Harry
n. Gray, w. A. Nicholson, Paris Kilburn,
San Francisco: E. f. Preston, San Mateo
| Frank Mclaughlin, Oroville; Allen B.
Lennon, Santa Rosa; James w. Rea, San
JOSE NJ. II. Weight, Pasadena; Irving B.
Dudley, San Diego; Frank P. Flint, II. q.
Osborne and w. F. Parker, Los Angeles
w. F. George, Sacramento.
ne dDSenleeS were II. n. Taylor or A Ia
media and Frank A. Miller of Pasadena.
F. P. Flint of Los Angeles held the proxy
of the latter.
On motion of John D. Spreckels Mr.. Rea
was made temporary chairman, and on
motion of A. Ruef Jacob Steppacher was
called to act as temporary secretary.
A motion by Mr.. Spreckels that the COM
mittee go into executive session was op-
posed by Nicholson, but it was quickly
supported by Messrs. O'Connor, Lennon
and others and it was carried. The ses-
sion lasted but a few minutes and resulted
in an adjournment until 10 A. NJ to-day.
Hervey Lindley of Los Angeles was
among the number who were there as in
terested spectators, and who helped make
busy scene of gossip in the corridor and
in the committeeman.
The members of the new executive COM
mittee from Los Angeles, San Diego, Sac
ramento and other places speak highly of
Republican prospects in their respective
localities.
H. u. Osborne Of the Los Angeles Ex-
press, who is a member of the executive
committee and close observer of politica |
affairs, predicts that the Republican vote
and the Republican majority in Southern
California next November will be the
largest ever cast in that region of
the State. Should Mckinley get the
nomination, as l believe be will" said Mr..
Osborne, "the Republican majority will
be overwhelming. There are no dissen-