The San Francisco call., 1898-06-21
A POPULAR" SUGGESTION.

T has been suggested that 1t would be good idea
 for the Democratic party to dispense with all State, municipal and county conventions this year. The idea is put forward in the interest of harmony and economy, especially the latter and in support of it the allegation is lodged that great deal of money might be saved the party for use in the campaign by authorizing the Democratic State Committee to make all nominations, State, county and municipal That body having appointed committee to conduct the campaign in San Francisco, it is said, there is no good why 1t should not appoint one for every other county and city, or what IS the same thing, personally make all nominations.
 Surely the time IS propitious for this, though at first glance the suggestion may appear trile revo- lutionary. The Democratic party Is now in the hands of Trustees" McNab Gould and Afford, three bosses whose political purity like the personal purity of Caesars wife, is above suspicion. We violate no confidence when we say that these bosses un- selfish in their devotion to Democracy. They do not want anything, either for themselves their friends McNab, especially, would not bow to an office were he to meet 1t in the street, and for Gould and Afford they would ignore the presence of a red hot stove at any time, uness indeed, they should each have pair of asbestos gloves. In our judgment, there never a time i'll the history of the Democratic party when it could more safely trust everything to its bosses than McNab, Afford and Gould should be allowed to name all the tickets.
 In this city preparations have been completed for carrying some such plan into effect McNab has chosen a County Committee which will name convention and State delegation. Why go to all this trouble? McNab may as well name the delegates and ticket first as last If there is to be Democratic State Convention-which, under the circumstances, seems to be entirely unnecessary-why not let McNab name the delegation from this city Gould the delegation from San Joaquin, and Afford the delegation from Trlare? If the other members of the State Com mittee equally trustworthy they might be per mitted to appoint the delegations from the other counties, and thus truly representative and har- monous convention could be created. On the score of economy this plan could hardly be excelled.
 It may be urged that to nominate Democratic can didates in this way would be unpopular, and for that reason the plan will probably be antagonzed; but no argument that be urged against it as a State proposition is likely apply to 1t locally Boss McNab should be authorized to name the entire mu- nicpal ticket. Ii it should be necessary do this through the Committee of One Hundred all right but to our mind it would look better to dispense with that body. In politics subterfuge and chicanery are always dangerous. Why beat about the bush with a committee when McNab and the Third Street Boodler (late of Mission street, can do the work so well, openly and above board? Conventions and primaries are useless expense. The modern method is to dispense with them. Why should the Demo cratic people be consulted1 Surely the whisper ing" boss knows better what is good for them than they know themselves.
 By all means let us have "good" Democratic State and municipal ticket Who can give us a bet ter one than Bosses McNab, Afford and Gould1