The San Francisco call., 1896-10-09
SMOKING THEM OUT.

The Democratic party of California and
elsewhere appears to be occupied this
year in smoking its leaders out of their
holes. A few days ago it came to the at
tention of the reading public that the
New York Democrats were quite indus
triously engaged in smoking David B.
Hill out of the hole into which, he had
withdrawn himself and apparently pulled
the hole in after him. The effort has not,
however. up to this writing appeared to
have been much o: success, and the willy
David still remains in his hole.
In addition to the effort of the New
York Democrats there has been going on
for some time very persistent and not
altogether futile effort to smoke the ad-
ministration, including those who now
compose and in the past have composed
its Cabinets, out of its hole. Democracy
for some time waited with its hand to its
ear for decla -ation from President Cleve-
land as to his attitude toward the party
candidate and the platform upon which
he stands. Its patience was finally re-
warded, and the President will not prob
ably be asked for another emergcnce until
the candidate and his platform are each
sadly in need of an obituary.
There have been few other instances
where the smoking-out process has been
successful. For example, Secretary Will
son was smoked out, and upon emerging
caused those who have been engaged in
the effort to regret their own success.
Mr.. Wilson having given expression over
his own signature to the idea that
Mr.. Bryan is an unsafe man to be
he 1t H.
that the outcome of effecting such
legislation as he recon- mends would
be panic and resultant disaster
the like of which this country has never
yet suffered from, has retired into his
hole. very much to the relief of those who
smoked him out of it. 1t is more than
likely that others of the administration,
if they should be compelled to appear at
all between now and election day, will
cause the same feeling OF relief to over
flow the Democratic soul when they retire
into the obscurity from which they have
reluctantly come.
The Democrats of California are also en-
gagged in smoking-out process. They
have, for instance, smoked out Billy
Foote, and if reports be true he has been
engaged in the main in forcibIy expressing
his profound sense of disgust at the very
name of Gator wherever he has gone. Up
to date, Mr.. Foote is the only one of the
"Ole Bills of the Democratic party who
has been smoked out of his hole, and it is
generally understood that if the rest OF
that famous company should be smoked
out their language would be even more
lurid than that which marked the appear
ance of Mr.. Foote.
The latest leader who has been smoked
out OF his hole by the persistent efforts of
the Democratic State Central Committee
is Governor Budd, who has been finally
persuaded to preside at public meeting.
1t may be that his Excellency, the Gov
ernor, may deem it a duty and debt of
gratitude on his part to the people who
elected him to make an occasional ap-
pearance during the remainder of the
campaign in the capacity of chairman of
meetings at which other people occupy the
center of the stage. Those of US, however,
who are familiar with the Governor s
method of conducting q campaign when
his heart Is in 1t will hardly recognize
him in this perfunctory capacity, and will
be inclined to believe that although he
may have been smoked out OF his hole, he
is either not thinking what he says, or not
saying what he THINKS, regarding the
Democratic party as at present const ituted
and its chances of success.