The San Francisco call., 1896-10-04
The Party Said to Have Ruined
It's Influence by Mixing
Politics.
STEVE WHITES FRIENDS WIN.
Members Declare They Were Opposed
to the Action Pointed Against
Protection.

And now there is all sorts of trouble
brewing in the ranks Of the Nom Partisans.
1t begins to appear to many that the late
convention was worked in the interest OF
Stephen M. White for United States Sena-
tor.
At all events the action of the conven-
tion in putting up nominees for the Legls-
lature is recognized as a complete AMI un-
warranted departure from the original
purposes of the Non-Partisan party. The
Non-Partisan party was organized to Sc
cure to San Francisco business admins
tration-to lift the municipal government
out OF party politics
Republicans and Democrats joined in
the movement in the confidence that they
would not be expected to renounce their
allegiance to their respective parties in
State or National campaigns.
The ticket put up by the recent Nom
Partisan Convention, however, calls upon
those who vote it to support men for the
State Legislature, whose most important
duty will be to elect United States SEN
ator.
This fact is provoking the loudest kind
OF a roar in the Non-Partisan ranks and
bids fair to entirely disrupt, if not to dis
integrate, the Non-Partisan following.
Certain it is that the municipal vote will
be greatly weakened by the presence upon
it of the legislative candidates.
Thomas Pollard, senior member of the
firm of Pollard & Dodge, lumber mer-
chants and shipping agents, declared that
be was strongly opposed to the Non-Par-
tisan party taking a hand in politics,
either State or National, and he wisely
maintained that such unprecedented
action might have the disastrous effect OF
injuring the country's chances for protec-
tion and Mckinley.
"There undoubtedly was a strong feel
ing in the convention last night
against such action" he said. THAT is,
the sentiment was that the Non-Partisan
party should not go into politics outside
of municipal affairs. The feeling was
quite pronounced on this proposition and
the majority was against enter .ng the
political arena, although certain num-
ber wanted the Nom Partisan party to go
into politics. am positively opposed to
IL.
"The main issue of the Nom Partisan
party is TO confne itself strictly to local
affairs for the sake of good municipal gov
eminent and better order OF things in
San Francisco, and | do not believe in GO
Ing beyo ond that, because we are composed
of Republicans and Democrats and it
would not be wise to introduce party in
huences.
.'In National affairs we members of the
Non-Partisan party are divided.
For my part l am strong Republican
and stand for the principles of my party.
So, for that reason. am opposed to put
ting men into Sacramento who will elect
Democratic Senator. believe in Nc
Kinley and protection and consequently
would send to Sacramento only the man
who would support them"
George Cummings. the manufacturing
machinist ana director of the Mechanics
Institute, is another prominent mem ber
of the Non-Partisan convention who has
risen up to protest against the machina-
tions which led the Non-Partisan conven-
ton into National politics. He did not
even speak for himself last evening. but
for the whole committee on municipal af-
fairs, which to a man was against the
party killing Itself by going beyond the
bounds of its original aims and purposes.
Here is what Mr.. Cummings said. with
good deal OF frmness and apparent feel
ing:
81 know that almost all the committee