The San Francisco call., 1896-10-07

presents a spectacle that would be pa
thetic were it not grotesqIe. The leaders
of the party, the wheeihorses of the or
ganization, the men who in the past have
been relied on for support, the brains and
worth OF the party have voluntarily re-
tired from the heat of battle, because they
see that Organism cannot win in this
State this year. The places of these old
time warriors-the grizzled veterans of
thousand ields-are occupied, but not
filed, by striplings of no experience or
executive ability, to whom are joined a
few venerable political hacks who are
willing 10 scrape up any crumbs, however
trihing, that may happen to fall to them
from the party lunch-counter.
The situation at the Democratic State
headquarters in the Califorl lta Hotel on
Bush street in this City may be taken as a
fair index of the actual state OF affairs
throughout California. Visit the head
quarters and You will see for Yourself the
evidences of depression and hopelessness.
a plain, unvarnished description of the
place will carry convection to every candid
mind that the adherents of Bryan have
practically abandoned all expectations of
carrying California on the Sd of next
month.
Nothing will convey better idea Of the
outlook tnan to compare the present con-
ditlon OF the rooms to their appearance
during the campaign Of two years ago,
when Frank Gould of Stockton was in
command and the master spirits OF the
old party were on deck day and night
booming the cause to which they were all
devoted. You can see nothing of that
kind now. The rooms are practically de-
&c e.
thusiasm. In the secretary's room are
several tables, but only one solitary clerk
sits there hour after hour writing his
name over and over again with q blue
pencil on an immense sheet of bIotting
paper, only varying the monotony Of this
exciting performance by cutting unused
telegraph blanks into small fragments
with brand new pair of scissors. There
is one typewriting machine in the room,
but its keys do not click to the music of
stirring messages to the erstwhile faithful
throughout the length and breadth of the
land; for the reason that the aforesaid
erstwhiIe faithful have lost interest in
such mmuLications. The inventory OF
Office furniture includes one telephone
y lsi!ent) and two messenger call boxes (not
in use).
Then there is a picture of Mr.. Bryan.
In fact there are two pictures. But the
one that attracts most attention Is col
ored lithograph from a st. Louis pub
Usher representing the Democratic noml-
nee as a rosy-cheeked young aan OF bucoiic
appearance, with a smile like seraph and
neckscarf like that worn by the tamborIne
endman in a minstrel company.
tits pity TO put up hashy picture
like that" admitted the lonesome clerk,
pausing for a moment in his work OF sign
ing his name, "but it seemed to please
some of the boys, SO we let it goat that"
In the next room sis the Hon. W. II.
Afford, the boy manager of the boy ora
tors campaign in California. He list
lessly rests his patent leather shoes on his
patent roller desk and patiently waits for
the important political visitors who never
come. To relieve the ennui he chats with
the janitors and messengers that now and
again happen in with unimportant infor-
nation about inconsequentlal matters.
But you should see the visitors If you
wish to size up the situation as it actually
exists, for they really do have some visi-
tors at the Democratic State Central Com
mlttee rooms.
The most prominent caller on Mr.. Al
lord yesterday was gentleman who pro-
claimed himself as a polvglot politician,
snd s!.a offered his services to speak in FIVE
dl!1erens Languages in as many successive
minutes at any public meeting that might
be called by the committee.
This was thought to be pretty good
proposition and was taken under advise
ment by the manager of the orators cam
paign.
After that came a painter who was will
Ang to linn Mr.. Bryan's pleasing counten-
ance on the dead walls of the City and the
Seal Rocks at the Cliff House for So per
linn.
Ihen came procession of bill posters,
dlstTiDutors of campaign documents,
would be stump speakers, grafters,
the boy manager of the boy orators cam