The San Francisco call., 1896-05-06
KELLYISM IS KILLED
John D. Spreckefs and His
Adherents Gain a
Big Victory.
BEGINNING OF BATTLE
Opening of the Convention by the
Selection of w. E. Arthur as
Temporary Chairman.
DISTRICT DELEGATES CHOSEN
The Kelly.Mahoney Combination Is
Beaten Before the Creden.
tialS Committee.
DISTRICT DELEGATES CHOSEN

SACRAMENTO, CAL, May 5.-When
W. E. Arthur was appointed chairman of
the State Convention by acclametion this
afternoon Martin Kelly and Senator Ma
honey, attended by the invisible but pal
pable shade of Boss Rainey, stood
in the lobby of the big hall as forlorn a
looking pair OF done-up Mlcawbers as ever
graced the annals of a political conven-
tion or the pages OF romance.
Sadness, disgust, indignation, alarm and
that seasickness which comes from hope
unfulflled were written upon their coun-
tenances, and, oh, the ingratitude of Re
publicans Not man went near them to
offer consolation or 70 speak a word of
encouragement or cheer. They had been
ingloriously beaten, beaten so badly that
if they had been used as fails to head
wheat with they could not have presented
a more battered, bedraggled and crestfallen
appeara nee.
The grou nd had been wiped with them
and was not bit cleaner for the wiping.
1t was a big victory for Southern Cali
fornia. The delegations from the sunny
South said that they were sick of the stencil
of KeIlyism and Raineyism in San Fran
cisco politics. They said that the odor
thereof penetrated even as far south as
Los Angeles and caused the wealthy tour
ist to grow morally sick, and that in de-
tense of their glorious climate they would
be obliged to suppress it.
The victory is one which exhibits the
potency of the united delegations from
Southern California over the rule of State
bossism exercised SO long by unscrupulous
politicians like Kelly and Rainey. 1t
came at a time when the odds of
battle seemed to be overwhelming on the
other side. 1t came with the suddenness
OF an aerolite out of lightning flash in a
cloud, and the enemy was not only routed,
but stunned and paralyzed.
Yesterday the Kelly people were iubi-
liant and naughty. They believed that they
had the Republican party OF the State by
the throat, and they declared Indirectly
by their acts that no man should do poll
tics and live unless at their bidding and
under their direction. Tonight there is
none so poor as to do them reverence.
The victory was also complete one. 1t
was without contest. The Kelly side lay
down and quivered at the first blow
There was no appeal from the decision of
the referee.
Feverish and with remittent pulse was
the political situation this morning. 1t
was Coombs for five minutes ana then it
was Arthur. Correspondents for evening
papers were distracted. They sent a dis
patch saying that Coombs was going to be
the choice of the convention by large
majority. Then, before it had fairly got
on the wires the report was that Arthur
was on top, and the greater part of the
morning was wasted in sending dispatches
revoking their predecessors.
At noon it came to be generally under
stood that Coombs' friends had given up
the fight and that Arthur was to be elected
by acclamation, and from that time forth
the sound of contention ceased.
The rout of the Kelly-Rainey forces
makes it great victory for John D..