The San Francisco call., 1898-09-16
F A SLATE
 IS ALL READY,
 ITS BRITTLE Candidates Fear Sat- urday's Primary. EVERYTHING A GAMBLE SECOND AND SEVENTH ARE IN
 A TURMOIL. On the Eve of the Battle Fear and Anxiety Have Taken the Place
 of Former Self Conf
 dence.
EVERYTHING A GAMBLE
SECOND AND SEVENTH ARE IN
 A TURMOIL.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,

5Uo BroadWay, Sept. 10.
 On the eve of the primary there is more genuine fear and anxiety as to the re- suit among the county candidates than there has been at any time during the past two months. Just at the period when the boasted self-confidence of aspirants should be most. stable it Is falling to pieces, and timidity, nervousness and painful premonitions are portrayed on every candidates face.
 great deal of talk has been made about slate. If there be slate, most decidedly the men who might be sup posed to be upon it are those who are most fearful of Saturdays battle. In some wards the candidates perhaps feel a little less fearful than those in other wards and townships, but with the ex- ception of the ancient County Surveyor, who was never known to have an op- ponent, there is not a candidate upon whose chances 1t would be safe to wager a dime.
 Any combination to be probable must include the names of Frank Jordan, Char ley Spear, James Barber, Oscar Rogers, Dr. Mehrman, Judge Allen or Harry Mel win, P. M. Fisher or H. w. Lynch. Yet, although every man mentioned will tell you that he has a walkover they are all flying around and showing most posi- lively by their frantic efforts that their boasted confidence has no foundation in their own minds.
 In the Seventh Ward there will un- doubtedly be a hot fight. One ticket is that of Frank Jordan and Harry Melvin, the other is that of Robert c. Leckie, James A. Webster and Dr. Derrick. Even the most conservative guessers will not say which ticket is apparently likely to win.
 The Second Ward Is torn asunder in all directions. It Is the largest ward in the city, and includes the whole of the annexed district, more than at the last county election. pr. Mehrman, for Cor oner, and P. M. Fisher, for Superintend- ent of Schools, have one ticket; John A. Sands, who wants to be District Attor- George Prick, for Superintendent of Schools, have another ticket, which Judge Prick is helping along. Everybody Is prophesying victory, and now there is talk of putting in an unpledged ticket to blind some of the other issues
 The Third Ward does not seem to be any less tangled, even though Judge Gift has withdrawn. Judge Allen and Henry Dalton will have the delegation in their respective interests, but there is another in this ward, having for it's object the patronage of the Public Administrator S office. Some of the politicians want to see W. H. Knight rehominated; others terior, and this particular. phase of the struggle is. confined to the lawyers
 E. B. Thompson. an Irvington editor, ngioh that P9tfd is very m ash h rather a startling character have entered into. the Clark-Lynch fight" said he, 'and the outcome is doubtful. The con- test is between Assemblyman Clark, can Harry Lynch, for. Superintendent of Schools. Each will place set of dele gates before the voters, and at present each seems to have fighting chance"