The San Francisco call., 1898-06-06
TIME FOR
 4 THOUGHT
 OF OTHERS All Republicans Are Not Seeking Office. PRINCIPLES AT STAKE THE PARTY NOT ANXIOUS FOR A REPETITION OF 'e4. A Few Who Would Seek Self Glory at Any Price Need to Be Sub
 jected to Discipe
 line.
THE PARTY NOT ANXIOUS FOR
 A REPETITION OF '94.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
 QnS Rrna UaM 111na

It Is now in order for the Republican party of Alameda County to make itself heard. There are about two months yet to elapse before the delegates will be elected to a State convention, and in the meantime Alameda Republicans should make up their minds regarding what they want and the most practical way to ob- tain 1t. There are some who would fain believe that the party has already done considerable campaigning. This is de- fusion. The party that gave the boasted majority for Mckinley and saved this State to the Republicans is not composed of about 100 office-seekers whose inter- est in politics is purely personal. It re- quired nearly 13,000 Republican votes to give Mckinley that 5000 majority, and of this great number not more than cou- pie of hundred have moved a finger. Every effort has been made to create an impression in the rest of the State that this county is lying awake O nights plan ming how to make Jones a Governor or Robinson a Constable.
 This is not true. Candidates for office in nearly every ward have aroused some interest, and their friends have come for ward to some extent, but the meeting last Friday night was evidence that the great body of Republicans are not yet ready to express their preference. No band will he required to fill moderate sized hall when
 
 When George Knight, or General Barnes or MT. Schoonmaker ascended the plat form at the Tabernacle two years ago the immense building was packed Why? Because the Republican party in Alameda County was aroused and at work. The great benefits that were considered to be necessary then are a hundred fold more necessary now.
 What effect will it have upon the na- tions history twenty years hence, wheth- CT Dr. Pardee or MT. Davis or neither of hn Of fNa1tf rIa,, ' 1o century closes? It is right to take pride in active political warfare, but the prin- ciples of the great party are of infinitely more importance than the ambitions of individuals. Yet it would seem that the over-zealousness of few who have much. politically, at stake, has almost reached the danger line, and off1ce-seeking is SUD- planting party-building.
 An intelligent review of the situation seems to indicate that Alameda County began her fight for obtaining the Gov ernorship from the wrong end. Instead of the twelve thousand Republicans be- ing consulted as to who should represent them candidates were placed before the twelve thousand Republicans, and so far no choice has been made. I have no hesitation in saying that either of the two men would make a good Governor. The fault of the present deadlock is due 10 the Tact that the party did not name either man, and before it was aware Of what had been done two standards were raised and it has been war to the knife ever since.
 To state that Alameda County has yet shown any positive preference Is as un- true as it is absurd. This county is hard to judge A few years ago there was d very lively primary for the delegates to nominate Congressman. Judge Prick and Congressman Hilborn were the op- posing parties. Tricks forces were well organized. He had a majority of the County Central Committee with him and on the eve of the primary it was thought he had the fight won. Everybody knows how 1t resulted. Prick got a compli- mentary vote in the convention and Hil- born went to Congress- The same un- certainty prevails to-day.
 One of the most significant features in the major contest in this county is the part being taken by those politicians who are all at work and are desperately in earnest Whether they are helping the Republican cause it is too early to pre- dict. Four years ago many of this same element attempted to put through a pro- gramme. The party refused to accent it and the Republican candidates for County Assessor, Sheriff and Treasurer were beaten at the polls. Should the rule-or-ruin policy of the few. which hn . already been inaugurated, not be rebuked at the primaries, Alameda's s county gov ernment, in spite of her Republican ma 1ority, may be entirely lost to the party. It is no secret that the men who were 1894 were subject to the political powers of the corporations in this county If is no secret that these same agencies are again at work, and that their infiu- ence is being felt in the fight for the Gubernatorial nomination. However, they