The San Francisco call., 1896-10-24
THE PEOPLE Grin
At Rk|NEY'S YARN
Merriment Over the Story
That He Helped Un-
known Men.
Politicians Puzzled by the Action
of the Warm Springs
Sage.
DOUBTS as TO THE EFFECT.
His Support of Mr.. Phelan May Drive
Other Voters to Opposing
Candidates.
DOUBTS as TO THE EFFECT.

A broad grin overspread the political
face of San Francisco yesterday as soon as
the people read the remarkable state
ments made by Mr.. Samuel Rainey, indi-
eating that he is In the habit of support
ing candidates for office without expect
ing them to do anything for him in re-
turn.
That swas a startling story of Mr..
Rainey's, that he had elected three Demo
cratic Supervisors without having spoken
to them before their election, that he had
to introduce himself to Joe Dimond at the
racetrack after the election, and that one
of the trio is still wandering among the
political labyrinths of San Francisco seek
ing an introduction to Mr.. Rainey and
mourning because he has it not.
Two theories were prevalent among
those who have been in the habit of study
ing Mr.. Rainey's political tactics. One
was that Mr.. Kainey is really opposed to
Mr.. Phelan and hoped to hurt his chances
of success by pretending to give him
noisy support, but which IN fact would
exhaust itself in defamation, while the
real inside and effective work OF his ma
C hine will be given to Mr.. Dimond, the
Anti Charter Democratic nominee. 1t was
held in some quarters that Mr.. Rainey' S
open advocacy of Mr.. Phelan's cause
would be detri M ent rather than help
to tn at gentleman.
Another theory was that Mr.. Rainey is
actually sincere in his proclamation of
fealty to Mr.. Phelan, and that he expects
to attract that gentleman's attention by
newspaper interviews with a hope for
some kind of recognition in the event of
Mr.. Phelan's election. 1t was argued that
Mr.. Rainey, in the natural course OF po-
litical affairs, must be nearer to Mr.. Phe-
Ian than to any other candidate, and that
he would be able to bring more influence
to bear in that direction than in any
other. If he has any thing to hope it must
be from Mr.. Phelan, for it must be re-
mem bered that Mr.. Phelan was nomi-
mated by the Junta convention, of which
Mr.. Rainey was the absolute boss from
beginning to end. There may have been
a slight alteration caused by the interjec-
tion of MIR. Reynolds into the temporary
craftsmanship, but 1t was not OF sufficient
magnitude to iostle Mr.. Rainey from his
mastery OF the convention.
Another idea Is that Mr.. Rainey prefers
to be associated in the public mind with
Mr.. Phelan's candidacy rather than with
that of any other nominee in the field, and
that he would expect to rely on his ac-
knowledged ability to manage certain
members of the Board of Supervisors in
case he should ask Tor recognition" in
municipal affairs hereafter.
Whatever view may be taken of Mr..
Rainey's pronunciamento it must be ac-
knowledged by those who watch the cur
rent of events that his action will not be
without effect on the result of the election.
His open advocacy of Mr.. Phelan will
cause some others to antagonize him.
1t would be but fair for him to yield a
genuine support to the nominee to whose
cause he is ostensibly devoted, and if his
sincerity is distrusted he has himself and
his past record for selfish motives to
blame.
1t is expected, however, that all the
charitable institutions, hospitals, kinder
gartens and such organizations, learning
of the sudden enlargement OF Mr.. Rainey' s
heart and his determination to devote
himself to unselfish and disinterested acts,
will take his talk in earnest and food him
with applications for all kinds of contribu-
tions. If they do it may result in wreck.
ing he Warm Springs establishment that
Mr.. Rainey has built up by years of pa.
tient economy and thrift.