The San Francisco call., 1898-07-31

OAKLAND, July 30.-The Democrats or Alameda County have aroused themselves
 from their lethargy, and to-day Chair man Con Brosnahan called a meeting of the County Committee for next Tuesday night at R. F. FitZgerald's office, for the purpose of issuing a call for a primary to
 elect delegates to the State convention. The members of the committee are un- decided whether to hold an open primary or elect delegates at club meetings. On account of the shortness of the time be-
 fore the convention meets, in addition to a marked apathy on the part of the Ala meda Democracy toward using their time and money to journey to Sacramento for
 the purpose of ratifying the nomination of the Little Spotted Giant" the club system will be probably adopted.
 The primary will be held either next Saturday or week from Tuesday. most likely on Saturday, the county being en-
 titled to forty-three delegates under the apportionment of the State Central Com mittee.
 The Democrats. Just now, are more in- terested in the antics of Pardee than they are in their own misfortunes. For the sake of diversion. a. number of them have contributed to the gayety of the cam paign by "boosting'' the doctors fight, make no concealment of their expectation of heavy endorsements of Buckley Ma guire heelers from the other side of the Udy lO Pei liSlPdLc III luS hSpuDlcdn primaries, and they grin as they talk of the lesson in practical politics the Buck ley-Maguire "push" viii give the Davis crowd.
 That Pardee's intimates are fully cog nizant of the contemplated invasion Is all too apparent. Buckley's gang doesn't dip into Republican factional fights just for, the health of the members. They make their living by the stufflng of prim- aries and such work-and Pardee has money enough to fill a cistern.
 nra fgf n%f the Davis crowd, but they are taking such steps as they can to head off the raid, though they acknowledge that a ccombination of Buckley and Pardee is difficult to overcome. However, they are perfecting their organizations in every ward, and besides are paying particular attention to the outside townships, while so far Pardees energies have been con- centrated on the capture of Oakland.
 While busied with their own affairs and watching the movements of each other, both Pardee and Davis were thrown into a nervous. chill during the week by the mention of M. NJ: Estee's name as a gu friends of the rivals endeavored to con- vince them that the mention of MT Es- tee was a mere formality that must be gone through in every campaign, the pos sibility of still further complications to the already badly mixed situation was rants extreme mental depression for the i time.
 The Populists-that is the members of the Peoples Party who refused to be swallowed by the fusion anaconda-appear to be quite determined to make a vigor- be thoroughly organized and clubs formed 1 in every ward and township. The Popu- lists will put full county ticket in the | field and declare they will prove them | selves large and sharp thorn in the sides | of the other fellows.
 Congressman Hilborn has taken a care from Washington, and as a result Is | forced to admit that Victor Metcalf has | stolen march on him during his absence. | ty. somewhat disorganized, while Metcalf's | friends, by their system of house meet | ings, have made big progress toward per Congressional nomination. Moreover Hill born finds that in rewarding his political | manager, w. H. Friend. with an Oakland Friends hands have been tied by the offensive partisan" law, while Metcalf's of every opportunity.
 The action of the County Committee Thursday, in keeping the State and Con- cordance with Metcall wishes and d. rectly opposite to Hilborn's ideas From the time he he decided to enter the Congress kept entirely distinct from the other pri- maries and conventions: When Hilborn ,d returned ed he decided d. that his interests by Metcalf.
 When Hilborn took his first stroll down Broadway after his return from Wash | ington he dropped into Nat Rosenberg's stand and laid down a quarter, naming his brand. As he did so he remarked:
 Well, Nat, how's the Congressional fight going?"
 "Oh, we've decided to send MT. Met calf back next term" replied the cigar dealer.
 "You don't mean to say that my friends have gone back on mel" anxiously in quired the statesman.
 Mot gone back on you exactly. but they've sort of made up their minds that as long as Metcalf has made up his mind that he wants 1t, it would be a nice thing to let him have it."
 Hfborn left the cigar stand pondering over the ingratitude of trusted con but he is not discouraged H. has set to work with grim deternina- ton to win out, paying particular atten- ton to the up counties, where he claims to be strong enough to more than offset Metcalfs vote in this county
 Alex. Rosborough returned from the Klondike to-day, to the surprise and de- light of his friends. Alex says 1t is all very nice to sweep up gold in the Arctic, but he knew Alameda County could not get along without him this fall Of course, Alex. will be given the nomina- ton for some county office on the Demo-