The San Francisco call., 1896-04-24

wrong. The interests of the country to be
considered bya National Convention are
vast and varied. Conditions which are
not contemplated now may arise when the
leaders OF the party meet at st. Louis and
exchange views"
Lieutenant-Governor Thomas Flint Jr.
said: 'The delegates to the National Re-
publican Convention should, in my iudg-
ment, go there unpledged. A pledged
delegation is without influence. 1t can do
nothing to gain any advantage to the
State which it repre- sents. Its influence is
disposed of before it gets to the conven-
ton. OF course l hold that our delegates
should act as a unit, and being left per-
fectiy free and acting in harmony, an alli-
ance ot great advantages might be made" !"
Samuel McMurtre, the railroad builder
who has had wide experience in Eastern
conventions, frankly expressed the opinion
that q delegation bound and hampered
with instructions to vote for one candl-
date cats very small figure indeed IN a
National Convention.
"i hear men talking at the Union League
Club that Mckinley is as good as noml-
mated. l heard the same kind of talk four
years ago, and won $50 from q man who
knew, as he thought, just what the con-
vention would do. There is no certainty
that the convention at St Louis will
nominate Mckinley. This is q big coun-
try and the Republican party is a great
party and when the leaders get together
and study up the whole situation and ex-
amined the merits and availability of each
candidate it may be deemed wise to nomi-
nate some other candidate. The Cali
fornla delegates ought not TO be tied up
and set aside, so that they cannot confer
with representatives from other sections
of the country. Mr.. Chadbourne says ii
the delegation is to be pledged we might
as well send messenger to cast the
votes"
Paris Kilburn is decidedly in favor of
the convention at Sacramento adopting 8
resolution requiring the delegates to the
st. Louis convention to act az a unit and
use all honorable means to secure the
nomination OF Mckinley. Mr.. Kilburn
said: Let any one study the history of
the unpledged California delegation at the
Minneapolis! convention four years ago.
Our delegates were divided into three
factions. There was no instruction or con-
cert of action, so no influence was exerted
and no laurels were gained. Now, the
convention at Sacramento should instruct
our delegates TO act as unit that would
be equivalent to an instruction for McKin-
ley, Ior already a sufficient number of
Mckinley district delegates have been
practically chosen to constitute majority
OF the whole delegation from this State.
:" 1t is the duty, l take of it, of
the State Convention to ascertain the
sentiments and desires OF the Re-
publicans of California, and to see
that expression is given at st. Louis to
such sentiments and desires. The dele
gates will go there to represent the Repub-
licans of California. If you study the
subject closely you will find the opposi-
tion to pledging comes from those who
do not want Mckinley nominated"
Alfred Bouvier said: 81 want the dele
cation to act as unit"
Vanoerlynn Stow said: "The delegation
ought not to be pledged to support any
candidate. The member should have the
right to be guided by their own wisdom
when the convention meets at st. Louis"