The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1896-04-26
ARTHUR McEWEN TALKS
ABOUT
STATE POLITICAL MATTERS,
Democratic and Republican
A Free Thinkers Disappointment

N<AAN L Il<A4NS1OSO, <ApIli lie ~
cal Republicans are filling SO much
space in the newspapers, and share so
fully in the elated confidence which in
spires the party throughout the country
that one might easily be led to take it
for granted that the Democracy is with
out hope and disposed to let everything
slide Such, though, is not the Demo-
cratic state of mind. Yesterday 1 asked
Gavin McNab about the projects and
prospects of the party. AS he is the
head-center Of the junta he may fairly
be ranked as the foremost Democrat in
San Francisco, and the foremost Demo-
crat in San Francisco is entitled to
speak for the Democracy Of California if
anybody is.
Nationally said Mr.. McNab, ''the
outlook for the party is not bracing, l
must admit, but things are mending,
and there is no telling what the Repub-
leans may not do to help us. The decla-
ration of the Democrats of Massachu-
settS and Rhode Island for Governor
Russell the other day is a good sign
Russell is a strong man, who has twice
been Governor of Republican Massa-
chusetts. PattiSon? Well, Pattison
spoiled himself by running for Mayor ot
Philadelphia and getting the life
knocked out of him. That makes him
stale, and a reformer can't afford to get
stale, or if he can, a party can't afford
TO take him UP.
The monetary question is soaring
both the parties, and the Republicans
are getting ready to dodge it by raising
aLy iplo nd
ton. They will have to face it, how
ever, and so will we. Russell is a
straight-out gold man, and therefore all
right for Eastern votes, however it may
be out this way. The Democracy can't
elect a President without the seventy
two electoral votes of New York, which
is more votes than all the distinct
lively silver States of the West COM
bined possess. 1 think the Republican
tendency will be to placate the gold men
and the Democratic to go as far as is
safe to please the silver men,"
Mr.. McNab is not a silverite himself
but he is not in the habit, as a poll
tician, of letting his inclination inter-
fere with his judgment. According to
my observation, he said, there is a
preponderance of silver sentiment in the
Democratic party Of California. But
the difference of opinion on the question
hasn't made any bad blood so far. The
State Convention, l think, will send to
Chicago a mixed delegation, half for sill
Yer, half for gold, and leave them to do
the best they can in the National Con-
vention.
I'VE haven't any reason to be afraid
of the McKinlesy enthusiasm to the ex-
tent that 1t involves the tariff issue.
We have met and beate the opposition
On that before. On the financial ques-
ton the Republicans are divided as we'll
as We. The serious trouble
with the Democrats is that the party
everywhere is more or less disgruntled.
Right or wrong, it is dissatisfied with
the Administration and the last Demo-
cratic Congress. If the Republicans
elect the President it will be because
Democrats help them to do it by staying
away from the polls. The party lacks
cohesion and ardor, and a party that
expects a beating is pretty sure to get
one
AS to the proposal that in this State
there shall be a fusion between the
Democrats and Populists for the cleo
tion of Congressman, McNab spoke APP
provingly. Il haven't discussed the
thing with anybody of consequence yet
and don't know that it amounts to
more than a suggestion thrown out to
an interviewer by Max Pepper, but it's
a good idea The Democrats of Califor-
mia have one issue, a home issue, on
which they are united, and that's the
railroad. The Populists are with us on
that as was shown by the election OF
Governor Budd. There's no reason,
then, why we shouldn't join as against
the Republicans, who are in the mi
ncrity in the State. My notion is that
the Populists should make no nomina-
tons in possible Democratic districts
and that the Democrats should make
none where the Populists are strong
In that way we'd get in some anti-cor-
poration men, anyway.
And speaking of Congressman and
the corporations, we've got a new roo
In pickle. Sutro is to be asked to take
a nomination in the Fifth District from
the Democrats and Populists. Loud
who now represents it, got in by a
plurality last time. 1t is composed oil
part of San Francisco, together with
Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
1t has a normal Republican majority
OF about 1000, but Sutro could carry
1t easily. He is tired of being Mayor
and won't accept a denomination, but
We hope that he will consent to go tC
Congress for a change. No, the ole
gentleman has lost none of his popu-
larity with the masses. OF course, ht
is nec1liar and oyerworkS the fOctO.
pus,' but that doesn't hurt him any
He stands conspicuously for the Cali
fornia Democratic anti-railroad issue
and We ought to send him to Washing
ton to represent it there"
The determination of Sutro to have
no more to do with the Mayoralty ha:
disarranged long settled Democratic
plans. The old warehouses; are trottins
to the front privately and offering
themselves in his place, but / should
Judge from my talks with McNab anc
other local leaders that James u. Phe.
Ian has the best present chance for The
nomination. He is young. rich and Sc
ambitious that he would be likely K
prefer making a record to obliging the
powers that spoil mems popularity
Mr.. Phelan is a rather interesting per
son. While not of dazzling intellec. HI
has creditable desire to be something
more than the embodied expression d
an inherited bank account. As a mem
Der of the Bohemian Club he ha:
touched elbows with art and letters
and he likes to concern himself witt
both. His purse has been opened 10 tn,
Art Association, and he is fond of writ