The San Francisco call., 1896-11-06
SAM RA|NEY EXPLAINS,
Tells Why Bryan Was
Not Supported in San
Francisco.
Ind ference Seems to Have Been
the Bane of the Demo
cratic Party.

Sam Rainey, the sage of the Warm
Springs, is picturesque character in San
francisco politics, and he is never more
interesting than when he is talking to
newspaper reporters 1t is one of his
theories that statesman ought not to be
interviewed, but his practice does not al
ways conform to this theory.
Mr.. Ra1ney gives novel reason for the
defeat OF Bryan in this City. He says it
was due entirely to indifference among
members of the Democratic party, and
points to the fact that over 5000 registered
voters neglected to go to the polls. OF
these Registrar Hinton estimates that
there are about 1000 sailors whose homes
are in this City, but who are absent on the
rolling deep. If you allow 1000 more for
the class of nomads, who have no fixed
abode and who were not here long enough
to get in their votes, there are still about
1000 qualified voters who did not care to
confront the somewhat difficult task OF
making out an Australian ballot.
AZ found it hard to make up my mind
whether to vote for Bryan or Mckinney"
said Mr.. Rainey to CALL reporter. '1he
day before election lady friend of mine
spoke 10 me on the subject, and when |
told her of my state of mind she could
hardly believe me, but assured her that
l was in earnest. l don't mind telling
you that had not decided what TO do i'll
regard to the Presidential ticket even
after I got my ticket from the ballot clerk
and went into the booth. l made out my
ticket for Congressman and the Legisla-
ture and was about to leave the PreSI-
Dental choice, but at the last moment
thought l might as well let 1T all go to-
gether, and so gave my vote to Bryan.
"Now this illustrates what L was saying.
If man like myself could feel so doubt
full and indifferent on this point there
must have been thousands of other Demo-
Gratis who were in a similar frame of
mind. That's how the Re publicans came
to carry San Francisco for Mckinley"
Mr.. Rainey seemed to think 1t WAS
good thing to have a majority of the
Board of Supervisors Democratic. Thirty
minutes after the polls closed he predicted
that the Democrats would have nine
members of the board.
The partial success of the Democratic
municipal ticket has given some comfort to
those in high Democratic councils who are
depressed on account of the dark outlook
in the National field, yet they are not able
TO understand why so many voters who
evidently supported the Democratic local
ticket voted for the champion of sound
money and protection. There is general
impression that the Examiners wiid-eyed
articles drove many Democrats from
Bryan, and 1t is q settled fact that the
Chronicle is IN a great part responsible
for turning so much OF the municipal
government over TO the Democrats. In
political circles the explanation of Mr..
Rainey is not generally accepted, though
it possibly has some foundation in regard
to National politics.
There is a well-deined opinion that
Governor-elect Smith of Montana was cor
rect when he declared that the laboring
classes of San Francisco had Loyalty sup
ported Mckinley. and that the returns
bear him out in that position.
Several of the local contests were so Bit
ter hat men were willing to trade off the
en- tire National, Congressional and legisla-
tive ticket for an insignificant City Office,
and it is thought that these contracts for
the trading of votes were, as a general
thing, carried out according to the condl!
tions agreed on.