The herald., 1897-12-16
nations Of bosses and corporations to
defeat the popular will. Yours truly,
JAMES d. PHELAN.
FROM w. P. SULLIVAN

You will no doubt remember the con-
test that was waged last year. by which
the committee Of which I was chair
man was recognized as against the
buckley faction by the state central COM
mittee, the state convention and the SUI
preme court. This committee, through
the medium Of Its campaign committee.
which was appointed by myself, con-
Quoted the last campaign. I was elected
chairman Of that campaign committee.
and all the meetings held by 1t were held
only when called them. A short time
ago Mr.. Rainey, in his desire to steal
the party, called a meeting Of the cam
paign committee through the secretary
Of that committee, who had no author
ity whatever to do SO; and nowthstand-
ing the fact that I had been duly elected
and had acted as chairman of the COM
mittee. elected Major Harvey to that
position while was still holding 1t.
attended that meeting and protested
against It's legality, and left after maxi
ing the protest. and in the opinion of all
parties conversant with the constitution
Of the general committee, the position
which I took In the matter can be fully
sustained.
In order to prevent the steal, dis
banded, by virtue Of my position as
chairman OF the general committee, the
old campaign committee and appointed
new one. The Rainey people contend
that I had no right to do this, but there
Is nothing In the constitution governing
the party In this city to prevent such
action from being taken. BY decision of
Judge Seawell In the case of Weaver,
superintendent Of the aims house,
against Reddy, to prevent the former
from being deprived of his position, the
Judge decided that where no term was
specified under the law the appointee
held at the pleasure Of the appointing
power. The same rule applies in the
case Of the campaign committee. had
appointed the said committee, and as
the appointing power I had the right
to remove at any time. and felt fully
justified in doing 1t when did, because
Of the fact that the constitution Of the
party stated that at any time that 1t
might be considered for the best inter-
|ests Of the Democratic party the cam
paign committee could reorganize it,
and certainly considered 1t to be for
the best interests of the party to take
such action In order to prevent 1t from
being absorbed and controlled by Boss
,Rainey.
The new campaign committee met and
passed resolution by which 1t was de-
cided to appoint a new county commit
tee Of five members from each dis
trict-ninety in all-and twenty at large,
making q total membership Of ITO. This
has been done. The committee has been
organized by the selection of Mr.. Eu-
gene N. Deuprey as chairman, and we
are now taking such steps as are neces-
sary to protect the interests of the party
in this city
Everything that has been done has
been performed In a thoroughly legal
manner, but. aside from this fact, the
conditions in San Francisco would
justify anything being done to prevent
the control OF the party from get
ting into the hands Of Rainey,
and therefore the issue to be
presented to the people Of the state
will be Does the Democratic party
wish to be controlled by man who is
at the present time in coalition with the
bosses of the other parties, by whose
manipulations 1t matters not to him,
whether the Democratic party is sue
cessful or not, because by his arrange
ments his hirelings are retained in Of
ice?" We feel that the party affairs
should be conducted for the best inter-
ests of the party, and not for the bene-
fit Of any individual. We are supported
in our efforts by the better element in
San Francisco, which am sure will be
found to be largely in the majority when
the contest comes. And the state COM
can we'll understand the sit
uation when we simply say that it is a
repetition of the fight Of last year. only
that instead Of being waged against
Buckley 1t Is being waged against
his coordinate, Rainey.
trust that this information will be |
fully understood by the people to whom
1t will be submitted, and If not, and |
can enlighten you further in the mat |
ter by communicating with me will be |
only too glad to do so. Very truly yours,
w. p. SULLIVAN, JR. |