The San Francisco call., 1896-03-16
HOW ALAMEDA STARTS OUT
A Presidential Campaign Begins
With a Republican
Rupture.
MARKS OF MYSTERY SOLVED.
Why There Is No Star "13' Among
the Members Of the Oakland
Police Force.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALI
9OS Broadway. March Is.

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,l
9O8 Broadway. March Is.
| The stanch Republicans of Alameda
County--those whose party fealty excels
their personal desires-are expressing un-
qualified regret that at the outset of
Presidential campaign there should be
schism in the ranks. It has been hoped
for nearly two years that under the Ma
tional war cry of the campaign of 96 the
| many dissatisfied elements of the Kepub
lican party IN this county would coalesce
and win for Alameda the banner which
was carried, draped in black, to Los An
geles two years ago. Local jealousies and
| numerous internal dissensions have broken
| the Republican party into numerous
cliques to such an extent that, although
the prevailing Republican majority is not
less than 1000, the highest offices are now
held by Populists, whose luck was entirely
due to the warfare in the ranks of the old
parties. The Republican party being so
disorganized everybody hoped that this
year would witness a return of the wander
ers to the ranks. Now it seems they are
to be disappointed. There was more than
enough said at last nights meeting, and
after the meeting of the district Congress
slonal members, to show plainly that the
campaign starts out with q divided 'front.'
The present trouble presents many sides
to the intelligent observer. 1t centers on
who shall go to st. Louis to represent this
section. Senator Denison wants to go,
and ex-Mayor George C. Pardee also wants
that honor. There is much to be said in
favor of both men. Denison has always
been an answering. Republican, and has
spent money freely for the success of the
party; consequently he has a large num-
ber of friends. Pardee has earned honors
in local politics and is above suspicion in
all that he has undertaken. Either would
honor the party at st. Louis. But the
fight is between the respective factions
that are supporting the two men. In this
respect Senator Denison is at disadvan-
tage. Many politicians who live IN his
district, and who would queer political
angel, flock around Denison, announce
that they are "out" for him, and do him
more harm than hundred reputable sup
porters can do good. Yet these hang
ers-on present such a plausible proof of
their claims to the right to fight under the
accused of ingratitude by one-half Of the
party were he to disclaim them. This is
his misfortune rather than his fault.
| DR.. Pardee has no such element to bear
him down. If he remains In the political
arena long enough he will undoubtedly
| have the same enervating influence to.
| contend against, as it grows in each sue
cessive campaign and never decreases.
| Denison's S friends want the committeeman
| to name the men who shall elect a ST.
Louis delegate. Pardee's supporters want
primaries, and although compromise
motion was worked through last night to-
day the breach is wider than ever. 1t is
under such unfavorabe conditions that
Alameda County starts out on Presi-
Dental campaign.
| The mysterious markings on the sides of
doors throughout Oakland that caused
much interest during the past two days
appear not to be very simple affair. Con-
sldering the ominous Importance attached
to it, the sequel may be considered humor-
| Gus. The markings are interesting, un-
doubtedly, and even after the following
explanation they will still remain mysteri-
Gus, except to those in the secret. They
are somewhat of a directory of what the
residents are worth how many children
are of school age and in what direction the
literary tastes of the inmates tend. The
marks, it has been ascertained, were left
in some instances by deputy assessors
making inquiry of personal pro operty; in
others the offenders have been the school
census marshal. Quite large number of
the marks have been made by the news
paper carriers. and tramps and canvassers
have supplied the remainder. Judging
from the appearance of the marks, many
of them have been made for months and
few are really new. There was apparently
no foundation for the charges and counter
charges that the marking was done by
rival secret societies. as the same marks
were found on the residences of people
who are opposed to each other in all such
| matters. The most significant point In
connection with the whole matter is that
such an apparently simple thing should
create such sudden general interest.
Superstition is rife in the Oakland DO
lice force. and at present there is no one
willing to wear star 13. The circumstance
is not an accident but is due to a very pro-
nounced aversion to wear the number that
| is proverbially unlucky. The hostility to
| the star originated with Policeman Sill
about year ago. For some trivial matter
| Sill was called before the commissioners.
His examination was set for the 18th day
| of the month, and Sill remarked that it
would not be an easy matter to forget the
| date-he had only to look at his star. The
day came. and as Sill was in the board
| room fire alarm was sounded. Sill
counted the blasts carefully and turned
| pale as ghost when he heard that the
alarm was from box 13. Sill made up
] his mind that 13 was his hoodoo and de-
cided at once to have change. made.
| When he told of his trouble to Captain
| Fletcher, Sill said: 'tFor Policeman 13 to
be before the commissioners on the 18th
day of the month, while the fire alarms
blow out box 49, is altogether too much"
Sill surrendered his star and has since
been known as number DO.
When Officer Stokes was made per-
manent policeman he pooh-poohed the
idea of there being any hoodoo about star
13 and signified his desire to wear it. He
was accommodated and proudly carried
the emblem of superstition for a few
months. A few weeks ago charges were
made against him and Stokes is no longer
on the force, having been dismissed. Now
no one will wear the star, and although
there is every other number in use up to
SO there is no Is in the local force.
An officer of the Salvation Army made
very significant remark this week in con-