The herald., 1896-09-10
Novel Alliance Formed to Con-
troll the Convention
EXCITES GENERAL COMMENT
Meserve asd Overton Are to Be Rival
Candidates
Both Want to Be Named as Presiding Of
iicer
General Review Of the Entire Situation as
Nearly as It Can BE CLEANED Prior to
the Convening Of the Con.
vcntlon Today

| Perhaps the most extraordinary as
| we'll as the most novel combination that
has ever yet been formed in local poll
! tics was effected yesterday and to those
who became acquainted with the facts
and conditions upon which the new syn
dicate was founded, it was a surprise
beyond measure.
! A political partnership was formed
by Colonel Hellison Clay Otis, editor of
the Times, Charles F. Webber, the we'll
known, and eminent politician, Captain
Gilbert E. Overton, well-known gen.
tleman about town. and Colonel
Tommy Smith, the master of political
intrigue who has the Eighth ward for
| his residence.
The object of this new combine is to
control the Republican county conven-
| tion, which is to convene at 10 o'clock
this morning at New Turnveren hall,
and to dictate everything that is and will
be done and to, if possible, give large,
luscious black eye to Mr.. Hervey Lind
ley and his friends.
PERSONAL ENDS ONLY
Each and every member of the COM
|
to accomplish in making the fight for
which they have united all the strength
| they possess in the convention.
Colonel Hellison desires to secure in
structions from the convention where
| by every legislative candidate nomi-
! mated will be pledged to vote for George
c. Perkins for United States senator.
Colonel Hellison wants these instruc-
tions forced through the convention, not
| haco IIen q ia essentially a Perkins man
but because he desires the prestige such
| action will give him with the head bosses
Of the Republican party in San Francis
co. When Senator Perkins needed
friends Otis was against him, but now
| that the senator needs no particular aid
at this juncture, Otis is endeavorins
to make political point under the cover
| of the popularity of Senator Perkins.
OTIS GREAT PLAY
In order to make his point Otis has
made a combination and allied himself
with Charles F. Webber whom but two
short years ago he bitterly denounced
| as gambler, ward striker, politi-
cal cut throat" and as a man altogether
| too naughty to be associated with, in
politics, religion, or science.
He claimed at that time that Mr.. Web
ber was guilty of all the tricks and de-
vices. straight and crooked. used by
ward politicians to accomplish their
| ends.
Yet in this year of our Lord 1896, Col
| onel Hellison stultifies himself by enter
ing into alliance with the man whom he
so bitterly denounced only few months
| ago.
He makes that alliance for but one
purpose-to accomplish his own private,
personal aims and ends.
| Standing on a high platform in the
forum the colonel proclaims loudly to
the world his political virtue and all of
the Republicans who do not see fit to
| follow his leadership he denounces as
"heelers, strikers, small bosses,' etc.
Yet in the face of his lordly protesta-
tions of high political virtue, he forms
combination with one of the very men
whom he has himself held up to the
scorn of the world as an ''unscrupulous
politician
HOW 1T WAS RECEIVED
The news of the formation of this new
political syndicate caused considerable
comment among those who heard of il
last evening. Republican leaders were
amused at the attitude in which it placed
| Colonel Otis. One of the most promi-
nent Fifth ward delegates to the conven-
! tiOn said to a Herald representative:
well. this news of the Otis Web
ber Overton Smith combination
beats anything l ever heard of. While
1 am frank to say that am no admirel
of Colonel Otis, l am nevertheless sur
| pTlSeQ tHdt He WOulu eHlef 1ltO pom
tical agreement with Charles F. Web
ber, after all that he has said about
! Mr.. Webber.
Il really thought that the Colonel had
more decency and manhood than he has
given evidence Of But what he has
done now proves to me that all of his
protestations that he is possessed, indi-
vidually, of all the political virtue in
Southern California, were but the idle
vaporings of hypocritical scoundrel
IF Otis was what he claims he is--a
true friend of William McKinley-he
would not endeavor to foment dissen-
tion and discord in this Republican con-
vention which is about to meet. But
| what does he do? To accomplish lit
tie personal job he joins forces with
Charley Webber, man whom he has
repeatedly denounced for his political
methods. and hopes thereby to accom-
plish his end
''As far as Charley Webber personally
is concerned, I have nothing to say
against him. His system of working
politics, though. have never admired,
and can never indorse it.
He has Joined hands with Otis be-
cause he thinks he can make something
by the deal. He wants to set himesIf
up as boss here in politics. and he
supposes that he can get enough help
from Otis and the Times to put him
there.
l VCOoCh ICtufH W Ill no anytl1nng
for Otis that is desired by that individ-
ual If he wins This is all that there is
in the whole business and speaking for
myself as delegate. propose to see
to 1t that Col. Otis ard his newly-found i
friend are placed over a barrel''
| Other Republicans spoke of the COM
bination as most extraordinary prop
osition, and many laughed when told
of it.
| CAPTAIN OvERTON'S POSITION
As far as Captain Gilbert f. Overton
is concerned he enters the combine, and
it is expected and fondly hoped that
Charley Webber and the colonel will
be strong enough to make him the chair
man of the convention today.
OF course this is a very high honor
for Cautain Overton, and he evidently
appreciates it. for he has promised. SO
It Is said. to deliver to the new combina :
tion-Col Otis. "gernalist" Charles F.
Webber, gambolier"-the vote Of the
A. A. delegates In the convention.
"A meeting OF the A. p. A. wa hold last