The San Francisco call., 1896-02-29
REPUBLICANS WILL
MEET TO-DAY,
The State Central Committee
Assemblies This After
noon.
SACRAMENTO HUSTLING.
Capital City Boomers Are on
Deck to Work for the
State Convention.
& QUESTION OF PRIMARIES
Ideas of John D. Spreckels and Various
County Committeeman on the
Situation.

The Republican State Central Commit
tee will meet at Pioneer Hall at o'clock
this afternoon to fix the time and place
q Tor holding the State convention for the
nomination of Presidential electors and
Congressman to be voted for at the election
this fall
The place and time where the conven-
ton shall meet, and the call for primary
election for delegates to State conven-
ton which shall make the nominations
mentioned, are the main things to be con-
sldered by the committee. What else NAV
come up as II springs, unexpected, from
the brains OF the delegates cannot be fore
told.
Quite number of the members of the
committee reached the City last evening,
but a majority OF those who attend the
meeting will not arrive until to-day. The
most noticeable arrivals were those from
Sacramento, who have come to secure the
convention for that city. H. A. McCraney
and David Lubin were bustling about in
the afternoon, and by evening E. c. Hart,
"A. ]. Rhodes, William Beckman, w. F.
Peterson and Frank D. Ryan had arrived
at the Grand Hotel ready for campaign
work in behalf of Sacramento and full of
mittee-rooms, and so on, which are readily
advanced in behalf OF the capital. San
Jose, Santa Cruz, and probably Stockton,
are in the fight but those cities did not
open their cam paign yesterday.
A large proportion of the members of
the State Central Committee are expected
to be in attendance to-day, despite the ab-
sence OF the excitement attendant in a
year when State officers are to be nomi-
mated. 1t is not likely that more than
routine business pertaining to the cam
palgn will come up at to-day's meeting.
John d. Spreckels was seen last evening
and was asked for his views as to the
probable action OF the Republican State
Central Committee at its meeting to be
held to-day. MIR. Spreckels said:
There are practically but four i'm
pOrtant matters which will probably come
before the committee for its consideration
at this time. These are the date of hold
e ing the primary election throughout the
State for the selection of delegates, the
choice cf aidate when these delegates wilt
meet IN convention, the naming of place
where the convention is to meet, and the
selection of the basis of representation in
that convention.
s'If my views were sought 1 should ad-
wise the holding of an open primary election
throughout the State. particularly in the
larger and more populous cities and coun-
ties. But local self-government in party
matters should not be invaded or de-
stroyed. Since the Supreme Court has de-
clared the new primary-election law to be
invalid we have to hold the election under
the old law. The old primary law is all
right, If honestly administered. This makes
1t all the more important, not only That fair
and open primaries should be held, but also
that in their conduct the utmost care
should be used by the State and County
committees to select such election officers
and surround the ballotfboxes with such
safeguards against fraud and unfairness
as will insure the honesty and purity of
the election to be held
"The utmost effort should also be made
to get our best citizen to the polls at the
primary election, for after all the best as
surance OF honest politics is to be found in
the interest taken by honest and response
= bic men in all the political steps leading
up TO the general election"
"What have you to say, Mr.. Spreckeis,
as to the basis of representation in the
next State Convention ?''
:. Il think that the latest authentic data
by which the distribution of Republicans
throughout the State can be determined
should be used as the basis for the ap-
pointment OF delegates among the several
vote. | believe that while an apportion-
ment based upon the vote of
the last State election will lessen
the number OF delegates from the
large cities and increase the country
vote in this connection, this will result in
good to the party by conducting to har-
mony between the country and City dele
cations and giving greater satisfaction TO
the bone and sinew of the party through
out the State.
''The time and manner of holding the
primaries and the place of holding the
convention will probably be decided upon
by the State Central Committee to-day
and when that is done L do not see any
other matter of importance which re-
quires their present consideration.
$50 far as l know, the utmost harmony
prevails in the Republican party through
out the State. The City and country are
and will be together. | trust and believe
and harmoniously for the good of the
party"
The call for the primary election for
delegates TO the State Convention is per-
haps the thing of main Importance which
which will come before the State Commit
tee TODAY 1t is not likely that the call
will differ much from those of preceding
years or change the habit OF the Republi-
can party in holding open primaries every
where for the election of convention dele
gates. The County Committee of San
Francisco is unanimously In favor OF an
open primary for this City, IN winch all
Republicans shall have an equal part. de-
spite hints which have been putforward
that it is ready to adopt plan TO appoint
delegates to the State Convention itself
instead of holding an open primary for
that purpose.
Every member of the County Committee
of San Francisco who was interviewed yes
terday expressed himself as in favor OF a
primary election in this City, conducted
by the County Committee, which alone
has proper jurisdiction, and at which every
Republican should have an equal oppor-
tunity to vote and have his vote counted.
Charles w. Manwaring, chairman OF the
County Committee, said that he was un-
alterably opposed to the appointment OF
delegates by the County Committee and
in favor of primary election, which
should be fairly and unqualiiiedly open to
every element of the party He made
brief plea for harmony, honesty and clean
ness in the party.
My stand In regard to the primary is,
from start to finish. that every Republican
in every district should have an equal
show, he said yesterday. Il wish to see
primary in this City at which every Re-
publican can come. in and express his
-1shes. want to see the majority rule IN