The San Francisco call., 1898-10-06
AN UNMASKED PARTY"

THE thoroughness with which the Non-Partisan l trafickers in City Hall patronage have exposed 1 themselves during the past two weeks renders any further speculation to the purpose of their existence entirely unnecessary It was never claimed for the Non-Partisans that they represented any body. The members of their convention" ap- pointed by Deacon Fitch and they hold for life, or long he decrees They have never been con- sidered in any other light than as body of self selected, respectable citizens united for the promo ton of pure politics and good government. Upon this basis they have exercised considerable influence in local politics Their indorsement has constituted certificate of character and such has been of value to the candidates of the other parties.
 But the hollow pretense upon which the patronage brokers in control of the Non-Partisan con vention" have been doing business is exploded Their campaign this year is being conducted in pur of patronage bargain with Mayor Phelan< whose candidates for nearly all the patronage offices have been taken up one by one and ndorsed The acme of absurdity in this relation was reached Tuesday evening when the Convention turned down Attorney General Fitzgerald for City and County Attorney and indorsed young legal sprig who IS attached to the machine of Phelan.
 Fitzgerald is not only a matured and able lawyer, but his record as Attorney General has stamped him incorruptibe and energetic official. For such a man to be rejected by Non Partisan convention in order that inexperienced half-g grown legal lu minary, who is stranger to the Supreme Court may be fosted into office the dctaton of Boss Phean, is decidedly laughabfe Some of the on-Partisans may we'll smile at the uncooked of their work The mask, however, IS completely drawn MT Fitchs party is Phelan Democratic sideshow, and the fact longer be concealed. It can possible influence in this campaign, for the certificate of character which it has conferred upon the candidates ndorsed means nothing more than that they enjoy the favor of Mayor Phelan and his brother-in-law In some cases it may reasonably be doubted whether Deacon Fitch is willing partner to the arrangements made by the Mayor and his legal relative but being the recognized leader he must be held responsible MT. Fitch has always supported faithful officials Yet his "conven- ton" has turned down Martin Fragley, one of the best and most efficient ofice-hoders appointed executive position in this city, in order that personal friend of Phelan might have the ndorsemen of the Non-Partisans for Superintendent of Streets Non-Partisanisrn in the present instance, there fore stands only for the political aspirations of James D. Phelan It operates merely to give him control of the patronage of the city, and doubtless he has made arrangements for equitable division of results What the Republican candidates who have sought Phelans indorsement in this ridiculous sideshow should do IS to make it plain to the people that Partsanism, as inerpetreted by Deacon Fitch's ''convention,' is fraud and sham. This may be done by personally informing the few misguided peo- pie who may still be tempted to believe that Non Partisan indorsement means something of the real nature of the game Phelan and his brotherin-law playing.
 Now that the mask is off this ought not to be diff cult. The Non-Partsans have substantially indorsed the Phean ticket, notwithstanding the Republican candidates possess approved records, stronger and better known, and stand higher in the community. This is enough to disclose the milk in the cocoanut. Phean and his brother-in-law bossing the Non-Partsans just the former bossed the Committee of One Hundred.