The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-08
AN EXPLANATION NECESSARY.

| q MONG local political organizations the Non
I \ Partisan, or Deacon Fitch party, looms up al
the most unique known to municipal history
This party has Convention" which, we believe
consists of about fifty prominent citizens mostly per
sona friends of Mr. Fitch relations of each other
How the convention" originally into being has
long since been forgotten. 1t is sufficient to know
that it was once appointed by somebody probably
Deacon Fitch-and that from year to year it con-
tnues to exist without any other than such
each one of its members has for living.
Like the British House of Lords, it has term
of Office. Its members are appointed for life. Va
cancies created only by death resignation.
Removal from the city does not dsqualify person
to member of the Non Partisan convention
for it is said reliable authority that several of its
leading spirits reside in Oakland. When the cam
paign comes around all Deacon Fitch does is to blow
horn, and the Non Partsans trooping in from
the suburbs prepared to nominate reform ticket
to purify the local government
Mr.. Fitch, like his party, is unique politician.
He does not how reform is achieved so long as
it gets there. Delegates from Siskiyou San Diego,
Hawaii or the Philippines would answer his purpose
as we'll as delegates from Oakland San Rafael or
Menlo Park.
We do not wish to be understood as disparagng
the purpose for which the NonPartisan convention
exists. EeTflapS IL is well II SnOulQ
hold club over the heads of the other parties and
threaten them unless they nominate capable men it
will try to defeat them Some such influence is gen
orally necessary to produce good municipal results
But nevertheless the Non-Partisan party is an ex-
ceedingy comca party 1t rails at bossisr, and yet
Deacon Fitch its leader, is boss compared with
whom Boss Croker, the New York potentate' is a
mere pigmy. Croker is compelled to handle his IN
struments tenderly and at all times pacate them with
Offices Mr. Fitch scorns any such methods. His
marionettes dance without music. He does not even
beat time for them. He merely touches the button
and they do his bidding. The deacon must be a
hypnotst.
The Non-Partisan party, however, is not entirely
without political standing. By virtue of votes given
for its candidates years ago it has legal right
to place on the official ballot and could if Deacon
Fitch so desired, organize very effective local fight.
Why it confines itself to indorsng the candidates of
other parties is therefore mystery. Six years ago
the Non-Partisans elected the Mayor. Two years
ago they elected Superior Judge by an overwhelm-
ing majority. Presumably if Mr.. Fitch should go in
for everything he might as they say the track
win out. Why he does not do so needs explanation
1t is we'll known that the political bosses trade
Offices with each other The deacon has resolved this
year to ndorse only Can it be possible that he has
made arrangements with McNab, Rainey, Kelly and
the others by which they to divide up the govern
ment and ruin it on the cooperative plan? We do
not exactly suspect Boss Fitch but he is such an ir
responsible political potentatehaving tighter
vention than any of his coaborers in the domain Of
pure politics-that we think public explanation of
the springs which work his conscience would be ex-
ceedingy appropriate. Let us have such an expana-
ton