The San Francisco call., 1896-10-23
The Junta Nominee for Mayor
at Last Declares His In.
dependence.
CHOICE JOKES PRO AND CON.
Marvellous Story of the Alleged Dis
interestedness of the Fire De.
rartment Boss.

told that Statesman Sam Ra1ney says lie |
is supporting as a candidate for Mayor |
James D. PheIan, from whom he has no |
expectation of patronage in the event of |
that gentleman's election.
Marvellous as this may appear to the |
minds of the people of San Francisco Mr.. |
Rainey is dong just this thing-unless |
Mr.. Rainey is jesting, and the sage of the |
Warm Springs is known TO like joke once
in while, even if it be at the expense of
his friends.
That is not the strangest part of the |
situation, for Mr.. Phelan. the candidate |
whom NJ. Rainey says he is supporting, |
utterly discredits and repudiates Mr..
Rainey, and in some degree casts doubts
on his sincerity in the present campaign.
He has heard that members of the Fire
Department are for Mr.. Dimond. the
nominee of the Anti Charter Democrats,
and as Mr., Rainey holds tight rein on
the political activities of the Fire Depart
ment it is not difficult to guess Mr.
PheIan's opinion.
81 am not Mr.. Rainey's candidate in
any sense Of the woro, F" said Mr.. Phelan
to a CALL reporter. ''It is known we'll
enough that l was not his choice for the
nomination. He favored Colin NJ. Boyd,
and he would have tried to nominate Mr..
Boyd if it hadn't been tor break in the
convention, caused by the election of Mr..
Reynolds as TEN porary chairman.
when Mr.. Reynolds was elected it was
not known that he was an a. P. a. As
soon as that was found out it caused q
commotion and Mr.. Rainey was no longer
able to control ali the votes with which he
started. Several men who were opposed |
TO the sentiments represented by Mr.. |
REYNOLDS openly demanded that some /
thing should be done to show that Mr.. /
Reynolds did not represent the senti- !
ments OF the convention on that point. |
Notably among them was Mr.. Fenton of
the Mint, who controlled one or two As |
sembly districts and who was independent
of Mr.. Rainey. He insisted on taking his
own course and was joined by enough
others to force the issue. Mr.. Rainey was
compelled 10 consider these demands, and
that was the way in which my nomination
came about.
"Mr. Raiuev had much influence in that
convention; the balance of power, no
doubt, possibly the ma iority under ordi-
nary circumstances. but he couldn't con-
troll all the elements after that storm had
been raised on account of the election OF
Mr.. Reynolds"
You know that Mr.. Rainey says he is
giving you his support, and that If this be
true ne WOulG expect 10 COntTOl Ills
share OF the municipal patronage in the
event of your election, do You not?' was
asked.
''I don't know anything about Mr..
Rainey's expectations, anG, as matter OF
fact. don't know that he is supporting
me-" said Mr.. Phelan. ''1f he is doing so
it is entirely voluntary on bis part, as l
have not asked for his help IN any way.
at has been reported to me that some
members of the Fire Department are op
posed to me, but / have no personal
knowledge on that point"
Mr1 Phelan smiled pleasantly as he
thought of the joke involved in this Pc
culiar state of affairs.
us there any tacit understanding that
Mr.. Rainey is to WELD an influence in
municipal affairs, should you be elected,
in exchange for his support at the polls?"
None whatever"
politicians of San Francisco marvel
that Mr.. Rainey has all at once become so
disirterested as he pretends to be in sup
PORTING you," was suggested.
Il am not responsible for Mr.. Rainey's
acts or words; he will probably do as ne
pleases," said Mr.. Phelan. ''Mr. Raiuey
is man with whom l have no acquaint-
ance and ] have sought no aid from him.
ii should be chosen Mayor / would not
consider myself hound to him in any
manner eithef as to policy or municipal
matters of any character The Mayor has
very little patronage under existing laws.
1t is scarcely worth mentioning. But in
any event | would not have any coalition
with Mr.. Rainey."
This GOODNESS and indifference on the
part OF Mr.. PheIan may be regarded as all
the more remarkable when MIR. Raney's
simulated warmth for Mr.. Phelan's inter-
ests is taken INTO consideration.
ooh, yes; I'm for Phelan. I'm for
Phelan for Mayor" said Mr.. Rainey when
bad hnx ho in ho naI fiUh
As he uttered these words Mr.. Rainey's
broad, good-natured face was a study. He
looked shrewdly at his questioner as if to
judge the effect of his declaration. The
interviewer had negligently left his x-ray
apparatus at home. and, therefore, was
not prepared 10 cast a penetrating light
within the brain-cells of the Fire Depart
ment boss. If one might judge by out
ward appearances, however, the word s
were of the lips only, not from the heart.
The manner was trife too demonstra-
tive-too declamatcry.
It may be an injustice to suspect Mr..
Rainey's sincerity. but such has been the
fate of disin crested, se!f-sacrifcing pa
triots from the beginning of time, and
those who know Mr.. Rainey best may be
pardoned for the superstition that he has
not changed the nolicy, so long acknowI-
edged by him and his friends of being in
politics for substantial returns. Possibly
he has maintained lis position as boss
by following this broad-minded generous
plan. Then, again, maybe he hasn't.
1t may have been only phantom, but
when Mr.. Rainey declared, Il am for
Pheian, there appeared in the mind of
his auestioner a scene wherein plethoric
turkey gopDler was ''going for" defense
less June bug.
but Mr.. Phelan says that he is under
no obligations to you; that he has not
asked for your support, and that II elected
would not be influenced by you in his OFF,
cial acts, said the reporter.
"Oh, that's all right. Mr.. Phelan is
right; but Pm for him just the same.
horse on the opposite side of the street
laughed outright at this witty remark by
Mr.. Rainey, and the interviewer said:
pardon me, Mr.. Rainey. but will not
this voluntary and disinterested devotion
startle some of your old acquaintances.
who have been accustomed to look upon
you as practical politican?"
Mr.. Rainey smiled blithely, even be-
nipnly, as he replied:
ION, guess they'll be able to stand it.
I've done such things before.''
For instonce?"
"Well, two years ago helped elect three