The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-08-30
Followers of Phelan
Afraid of a Contest.
WILL APPOINT DELEGATES
STRUGGLING TO DISRUPT THE
HARNEYITES.
There Are Many Candidates in the
Field Hoping to Be Struck
by the Political Light
ming Rod.

The suggestion made by the Democratic
State Convention, that a primary election
be held in this city to settle the differ
ences between the Harneyites and the
SulIivau-Phelan-McNa wing of the local
Democracy will not be accepted Inc
Phelan-McNab contingent will not meet
the Harneyites in primary oattle. 1hey
are afraid of the result They peneVe
that "a bird in the hand is worth two In
the bush" and are not going to take any
chances of losing the bird they now hold.
In other words, McNab and Phelan be-
lieye they now have full control OF the
local political machine and consequently
are unwilling to risk the chance OF los
ing it.
The Committee of One Hundred will not
call a primary for the election of dele
gates to the municipal nominating con-
vention. The Harneyites are only too anx-
ious to meet them at primary, but they
will not be given an opportunity 10 snow
their strength. The leaders Of the Com
mittee of One Hundred have decided since
their return from Sacramento that they
have everything to lose by holding pr1-
mary. They argue on the line that their
appointed delegates to the State conyen-
ton were recognized and that the dele
gates they will appoint TO that municipal
convention will also be recognized. If
both factions were TO go out of existence
and a primary were held to elect dele
gates to the municipal convention and
also elect a new county committee, 1t is
feared by the SulliVan-Phelan-M cNaD
people that they would be defeated at the
polls. Under these circumstances they
Will ignore the suggestion or the state
convention and appoint a municipal con-
vention that will be composed of men who
Will programme on every office.
The plan of the self-oppointed bosses Is
to have municipal nominating conven-
ton of 200 members. The Committee of
One Hundred will form one-half Of the
convention and the other 100 Will be Sc
Iected by them in about the same manner
as the delegates TO the State convention
were chosen. They are of the opinion
that with d majority of the Board or
Election Commissioners to sustain the
programme, they Will not experience any
difficulty in having their nominees placed
!. on the ballot as the nominees of the Dem
ocrauc party. But TO guard against any
break they are now working on the mem
bers of the Harvey committee of 400. Gilt
edge promises of political prefernent are
being made to the vacillating members
of the Harvey committee TO have them
vote to adjourn the Harvey committee
There is every indication that there will
be hot time in the democratic camp
next week. The committees OF both FAC
lions will meet, and the struggle for SUI
premacy will commence. The Phelan-
McNab faction feels confident that it Will
be able to secure votes enough 10 disrupt
the Harvey committee. In that event II
will have clear sailing so far as the mat
Ter Oh nOulllldliOIl5 - COilNtilth. II TIC
leaders carry out their scheme it is al
most safe to say that the local Demo-
cratic ticket will be showed under on
election day. The Harneyites Will stand
by the State and Congressional ticket, but
will stop there. If the McNab-PhelanlteS
succeed in disrupting the Harvey COM
party together again Not a Few OF the
Harneyites say that they fought to the
failing in that they will vote the local
Republican ticket rather than submit TO
the dictation of the self-appointed bosses.
Neither of the committees Will meet be-
fore the middle of next week, unless there
is a change in the programme. The Har-
neyites are awaiting the acton OF the
newly appointed State Central Committee,
and are in hopes that it may decide to
take d firm stand in the matter ana
order a primary for the election OF dele
gates to the municipal convention in
that event they will be satisfied; other
wise they will give battle to the local
ticket if chosen by an appointed conyen-
Mayor Phelan will be renominated by
his faction for Mayor He would ike TO
step out, however, and wait until the new
charter goes into effect. He would then
run for Mayor and become the boss OF the
so-called civil service reform movement IL
elected. But he cannot get out OF the
present struggle. To withdraw would
probably result in the loss Of the political
machine year from now, and he does not
want to lose anything he has on hand
that will aid him in reaching the guber-
material chair, which he is looking upon
with jealous eye.
If the Phelan- McNab plan does not fail,
Judges Borden, Seawall and Wallace will
be renominated and the fourth place Will
go to either Frank Murasky or Stephen
Senator Mead is out against Public Adj
ministrator Freese for that office, and
Franklin x Lane and James Gallagher
Will contest for the nomination for City
and County Attorney. Gallagher, who be-
longs to the Gallag Mcguire clan be-
lieves that he has the inside track, by
reason of the fact that he now holds the
office, having been appointed by the Su-
pervisors when Harry Creswell resigned.
Clerk NJ. c. Haley and John A. Brown,
a salesman in the employ of J. J. O'Brien
& Co., are mentioned for the Democratic
nomination for County Clerk.
Sheriff Whelan would like another term
in office, and up to date he has good
fight on hand for the Democratic nomina-
ton.
Tax Collector Block is said to have the
inside track for the Democratic nomina-
ton for Assessor, and Eugene n. Deu-
prey is looked upon as the Democratic
slate candidate for District Attorney. If
Block is nominated for Assessor, Hiram
B. Cook, his chief deputy, will probably
carry Off the nomination Tor Tax Col
Recorder Tom Glynn is not satisfied
with four-year term in office and ex-
poets to be renominated by the McNab-
Phelanites. Ex-senator Thomas Pinder
will try conclusions with him for the
nomination.
meet in the early part of next week and
arrange for a primary to elect delegates
10 the municipal convention, which will
convene not later than September Is.
There are quite a number of aspirants
In the field for domination. Ex-Mayor L.
r. Ellert. ex-Chief of Police Crowley and
7 B. Stetson are mentioned in connection
with the Mayoralty nomination.
William Deane, Henry Martin and Will
liam Joost are out for County Clerk,
whiie Leon Jones, Supervisor Ed Smith,
school Director Ed Head, ex-Supervisor
Toe King and Supervisor Morton are in
homes that the Shrievalty nomination will
III Inhn d. Siebe would not refuse another
term in the Assessors office, but in the
Gent Of the political plum being out of
bis reach it is said he will assist James
McNab a brother of Whispering
1aMH orris Asher, P. A. Bergerot and DR..
washington Dodge are aspirants for the
ss'o9oinaflon for Public Administrator
ny III Hawkins, who is at present Coro-
~ 10 the strongest candidate thus far
named for that office by the Repubn-
cans an o,I 1
.iap ,iyeryman, is strong favorite for
shn Republican nomination for Superin-
tarodent Of Streets. John Tyrrell, at pres
teiiN = ISoy,,tv Coroner is in the fight with