The San Francisco call., 1897-11-07
LA RUE
RECEIVES
MENTION
Populists Will Welcome a
Scheme Of Fusion on
Shanahan.
TO FIGHT THE PRIMARY LAW.
T. V. Gator is Printing Himself
to Assail Its Constitu-
tionality.
II. c. GESFORD'S DISCREET AMBITION.
designations From Dictator Sullivan's
New Committee Begin to Come
Along.

The gubernatorial candidacy of Code
Com missioner T. w. II. Shanahan excites
especial interest in Democratic circles,
partly because of the speculative possi-
bility that he may become the administra-
tion candidate, and partly because his is
the only candidacy which implies mother
fusion between the Demo ocrats and Popu-
lists.
At this early stage in the big game in
terest is about all that is excited for the
quiet laying of wires by friends of candi-
dates is all there to be done until the
season of primary election actively ar
rives. On the Popullst side T. V. Gator
is understood to be especially interested
in Shanahan's candidacy.
The Popuist State Central Committee
recently declared against any more fusion,
but then IN Shanahan's case they would
be nominating full-blooded Populist &C.
cording to party records, and if the Dem
ocrats chose to nominate him they might
not object.
IF the Democrats nominated Mr.. Shan
ahan the Populists would undoubtedly do
so. for. he is Populist," said Mr.. Gator
yesterday.
Inc mention OI hdllTOdu OOIu his
sioner Fl. NJ. La Rue's name.is increasing
and his friends are investi eating the con-
dition of his fences, especially in the in
terror. Then Jeter is expected to begin
an early fight for the plum. Since Con-
gresham Maguire's early announcement
of hi candidacy the various and many
forces that are expected to oppose him
are making quiet and effective use OF
the ar ,ument that Maguire's enthusiasm
osn -fav htypu xxyil
m AXE him unavailable, because of the
extent to which he would be regarded as
"crank."
Mayor Phelan is giving no indications s
of what his lurking ambition may be, but
it is generally assumed that he is out of
the race he was supposed to be training
for when he became a candidate for Mayor.
''Phelan has killed himself" say the pol
lies.
When Frank Gould of S. .ockton Joined
forces with Gavin McNab to put the Nc
Nab Rainey local machine in power it was
understood that Gould was leading
trumps for a Governorship this time, but
little time wrecks many plan, and
Goulu is regarded as another dead one.
The possibilities attending the test of
the cons,ltutionallty of the new primary
law, which will surely be begun in Janu.
ary. are entering largely into Democratic
political plans, for he new law will revo-
IutioniZe machine politics if it stands.
The Populists have delegated to L. v.
Gator the duty of assailing the law, and
he is preparing himself for 1t. II is po- si-
BILE that Gators contest will include all
the efforts that any opponents of the law
may wish to make.
Il am not ready to discuss my views of
the law" he said yesterday, "but may
say that one reason why l consider the
new primary law unconstitutiona is
found in section IL, which withholds the
right to vote unless the voter makes oath
that it is his present intention to vote for
the nominees of particular party.
"The constitution prescribes the only
qualifications and tests which can be re-
quired of a voter, and these relate to citi-
zenship and residence. The Supreme
Court has already decided that primary
election laws are election laws within the
meaning of the constitution.
''If the law may provide one additional
test it may require others. There are
other constitutional objections which
consider still more serious, and there are
sections of the law repugnant to each
Other"
This is an early forecast of the tribula-
tions ahead for the new primary law.
The Sullivan County Committee has
been already depleted by several resigna-
tions, in place o. which other appoint
ments will be made next week. H. G.
Gesford's resignationis Is regarded as due to
an am btion 10 run for Congress in the
Fifth District, an am bition which was at
tributed to him when he novel 10 the
city from Napa nearly two years ago. He
doesn't wish to indiscreetly mix up in
local rows.
The Rainey district committees will this