The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
DESPERATE TACTICS.

The sacramento correspondent OF the
San Francisco Post stated in his letter OF
yesterday: Perkins managers have made
good all their predictions. At no stage OF
the contest have they fooled themselves,
and IL seems hardly likely that they
would at the last moment depart from
their well-established policy"
Having laid down that proposition the
Post correspondent proceeds to admit that
Perkins has not sufficient Republican
vote to elect him and that the boast that
Caminetti would vote for him is un-
founded, but adds that the Perkins men
have still great hopes of Democratic aid.
How this aid is to be given can be best
explained by the words of the correspond
ent himself. He says:
There is one way in which the Democrats
may serve Perkins and that is by remaining
away. The law provides that in order to
secure election the successful candidate must
get a majority of those present and voting. IL
is evident, then, that if the attendance is re-
duced by absent Democrats Perkins will gain
in proportion.
To this degree then has all the AFRO
gance of the Perkins leaders fallen. All
the proud talk of electing Mr.. Perkins on
the first ballot by Republican votes has
ceased. There is no longer claim that
he will be elected on the first ballot, or
that he will be elected by Republican
votes at all. Even the assertion that Dem
ocrats would vote for him has been
silenced. His managers are reduced now
to the scheme of electing him by inducing
Democrats and Populists to be absent
when the vote is taken. To this low level
has the lofty insolence of Monday been
brought before the week is over.
With such plain evidence OF failing
strength it is not to be wondered that the
Perkins managers are trying their best to
rush things. The elaboration of one
week has brought them to the condition
of making terms with any stray Democrat
or Populist whom in their iniquity they
hope to induce to serve their ends by
neglecting one of the most serious duties
of his Office. Between now and Tuesday
even this hope will have vanished, and
nothing will be left them but to follow the
example of the Examiner and raise the cry
of bribery, coercion, bulldozing, arson and
bloody murder.
The right of each member OF the Legs
lature to vote for the candidate of his
honest choice is unquestioned. If Demo-
Gratis and Populists choose to vote for
Republican rather than 10 give a compli-
mentary vote to one of their own party
they have the right to do so. They have
no right, however. to stay away from the
hall on election day in order that the vic
tory may go to a candidate whom they
would not vote for. That would be an
evasion of duty OF which, we believe, no
mem Der of the Legislature will be guilty.
1t is fortunate that the Post has made
public this last scheme of the Perkins
managers. 1t puts Legislators on their
guard. 1t gives them due notice that they
must be present and voting when the
election of Senator takes place. Let every
legislator remember. The Perkins man.
ayers boast they have never been fooled.
Let it be proven they are fools in making
calculations on presumptions of baseness
in the legislators they hoped to keep away
from the hall on election day.