The San Francisco call., 1898-07-29
FIRST SESSION OF
 THE FRS CLUB
Chairman Mclaughlin Re-
 ceives a Large Delegation


 A session of the "Knockers' Club was held in the rooms of the Republican State Central Committee yesterday morning for the purpose of dealing a stealthy blow at the back of Congressman Loud. The session was strictly executive, and the over-cautious members even went so far as to suggest that the cracks around the door of the meeting room be stuffed With cotton in order to insure against breath of the proceedings reaching the ears or the newspaper men.
 The first intimation had by Chairman Mclaughlin that anything unusual was likely to occur was when a messenger ar rived at headquarters and informed him that large and important delegation Of citizens was about to visit him for the purpose of waiting on him and protesting agaInSt the candidacy of one ot our rep reSentatiVeS in Congress. This seemed to portend something serious. so the | major, always perfect picture or sell, possession, assumed his most dignlfled air and prepared to meet the chosen rep resentatiyes of an outraged populace.
 He had not long to wait. The sound of the messengers footsteps had hardly died away upon the stair before the dele gation appeared on the scene. It con- sisted Of George w. Schell, Thomas Chambers, l. Simons, man named Froo, berg, eX-Sergeant of Police Cohen, and two others whose identity is still shroud- ed in mystery. They filed into the re
  wardly at Chairman Mclaughlin. Hay ing been advised that he was expected to receive a delegation of prominent citizens, it was several minutes before the major realized that the heralded delegation had arrived and was before him. When 1t finally dawned upon him he rose, care fully laid aside, his company expresslon and saluted the nervous "hnockers with:
 Are you the delegation?",,
 we are." came the feeble answer, ! m VUn on a matter of great importance.
 Do l understand that your business is to protest against the eameiGsSey or one
 "Yes; that is what we wanted to see
 "Very well. There are some newspaper l representatives here and 1 presume that you have no objection to their hearing what you have, to say
 'Oh yes we have. We don't want to see any newspaper men. We just want to have little private talk with you; We don't want 1t to get into the papers. Very well" said the major, as he heaved a deep sigh and led the way into a private room.
 When they were beyond the reach of prying ears the Knockers drew their hammers and set to work. They object ed, they said to the proposed candidacy of Congressman Loud and they wanted the State Central Committee to prevent his nomination. When asked for reasons they made all sorts of charges. but were careful to explain that they had no per sonal grievances nor any personal knowledge of the truth of the accusa- tfons they were making. Other people who Were not named were authority for the charges they said and they were only presenting them to the State Gen. tral Committee because they thought that by doing so they would be serving the best interests of the party.
 For fifteen minutes the Knockers worked away, and then Chairman Me Laughlin put a sudden stop to the pro- ceedings. He calmly but firmly informed the hammer wielders that they had brought their wares to the wrong shop their duty and privilege to @ cali a district let mass meeting and lay their charges be- fore the, voters, The State Central Com mittee, he said, had nothing to do with the candidacy of any man and-well really, he was very busy and he would have to bid them good-by.
 That settled it: One minute later the Knockers Club had adjourned sine die.