The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-27
IT'S HIP. TUCK AND WAR
The Local Contest Will Deter.
nine the Greater Issue
That Is On.
a CONVENTION FORECAST.
Strong Is the Federal Machine-Both
Financial Factions Confident of
Victory.

Will the California goldbugs control the
State Convention when it convenes in
Sacramento June 16?
The heavy ights of the Federal Bri-
gade and the gold men generally who are
taking an active interest in the financial
record the party is about to make all say
so% Most of them say so with great conf
dence.
The silver Democrats are Just as san
guine that silver will run the Sacramento
convention.
Which faction will rule is quite uncer-
tain at the present writing, but there are
some things that are certain enough to
give long odds on. One is that if the
Junta delegation from San Francisco is
seated it will be nip-and-tuck on the great
issue that is rending the party from the
Muskingum to the San Joaquin.
Another certainty is that it will be the
fercest Democratic convention that ever
entertained California and made political
history hereahouts. The probabilities of
its horrors appear really appalling. The
financial question may split it wide open
and there are the Endorsement of Cleve-
land, the Endorsement of Budd the big
troll OF the local party and some other
things calculated to add gore to the field
OF carnage.
Tne convention Is three weeks off, out
100 of the 900 delegates have been ell ted
throughout the State by sixteen counyies
and the situation is just beginning to take
definite form and present tangible pros
poets.
1t appears likely that there is to be
another Michigan convention out here
The administration whip is being well
laid on and the Federal brigade is con-
Quoting hard and persistent campaign,
with the assistance, active or passive, of
the large gold element IL the Democratic
party in this State.
There is little question in any obseryant
minds that the party in its mass is by a
very great majority for silver. The silver
men would easily rule the convention il
the 600 delegates came naturally and
spontaneously from the people, represent
ing the views OF their constituents. But
there is no active silver campaign being
conducted by strong leaders OF wide prac-
1t is different on the other side. The
Federal machine has been long at work.
1t Is working faster every day. The Dag
tt-McNab-GouId combination is the
oyerShadowing power in the gold ranks,
and Daggett is the big man OF this COM
bination as far as this issue goes Chair
man Gould being under his control and
his co-worker, McNab, being chiefly con-
cerned with San Francisco politics. Adj
ministration forces and gold men who will
cooperate are scattered all over the State,
and the Federal office-holders have no.
where lost a trick that could be taken.
The strength Of the gold faction in the
convention will hence be much greater
than it is in the party.
Superintendent of the Mint Daggett will
dominate the gold forces at Sacramento.
He is the especial representative of the ad-
ADMINISTRATION here because he is the strong
est force. From the day he took his Office
he has played his patronage power for per-
sonaI power His style Of doing politics
is ruthless, but strong. His work has
been aggressive and relentless, as has been
shown chiefly in the local fight. He has
quit at no rebuffs or defeats, but has
cursed his enemies and tried again for all
he could get. After all the shouting not
long ago that the Daggett-Rainey combi-
nation in the Jun:a was beaten it has
quietly come to pass that Daggett and
McNab are absolute masters of the Junta
delegation that has practically been Sc
lected.
Daggett's scattering strength through,
out the State is large and ST Sacramento
he will be the chief manipulating power
of that wing of the party. He expects &c
carry through the administration pro
gramme, gain control of the State Cen
trail Committe with the assistance of Nc
NaD, OOulO, ndln6y anu OLQeES anu nell
turn the local machine over to McNat
and Rainey.
In figuring out the prospective compar
alive strength of the gold and silver con.
vention forces the chief consideration i:
at once the local contest. The Buckley
regular general committee will send VI
161 delegates, with every man personally
pledged in writing to silver. The Daggett
McNab delegation will yield at least 15t
votes for gold and il is likely that not
half-dozen silverltes will be found mixeC
up in it. If the unit rule is adopted tn,
delegation will yield a solid block of 16
votes for gold and all the rest of the pro
gramme.
The 161 votes from San Francisco ar,
likely to control the convention. If tn,
Junta Is seated and the rival thrown ont
the gold faction will need but $50 vote
from all the rest of the State to have ma
iority, as the delegates will number 800
The goldbugs count on the Junta beinj
surely recognized, and hence their conf
dence.
To seat the Buckley delegation would
give the silver men an overwhelming con
troll. To divide the representation woulC
undoubtedly give the silver faction gooc
majority. The local contest is thus closet.
bound up with the great convention issue
and the Buckleyites are as certain of a
least seating half their delegation as OF tn