The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-29

1
ramento last week presented one feature In
common. In all else they were widely
different. The one salient feature common
to both was the attempt of the Southern
Pacific railroad to control the nominations
In the Democratic convention the attempt
met with instantaneous and signal fall
ure. In the Republican convention 1t met
| with unrestricted and unqualified success.
In the Democratic convention the rail-
road was kicked to the first landing by the
defeat of DockweileN for temporary chair
man. and literally kicked out into the gut
ter when Major Harney's San Francisco
delegation was ordered to leave the conven-
ton.
In the Republican convention the rail-
road, aided by the allied bosses, gained
| control Of the convention when 1t nominated
the hypnotic shepherd. Henry Gage, and II
kicked the last decent Republican out OF
the convention into the gutter when 1t nom-
mated Curry for secretary OF state.
The railroad fight this year has not been
a bushwhacking fight under the cover OF as
sertions from Uncle Coils Huntington that
1.-The Southern Pacific Is not In politics.
That plan has been tried for two campaigns
and has resulted in the defeat Of the fund
ing bill in the order for the settlement OF
| the affairs Of the Central Pa
cific and the appropriation for San Pedro
harbor, and In the winning Of each of the
three victories James g. Mcguire led the
vanguard of honest legislators to victory
in the house, and Stephen M. While followed
the defeat Of the enemy there by rout IN
the senate.
Aggressive Tactics
Huntington realized the futility Of still
hunt in California; and determined to once
more adopt the aggressive railroad tactics
which were at one time SO powerful in
their workings that no man, whether rum
ming for constable in township or United
States senator, could be elected in Cali
fornia without the backing Of the railroad.
But whatever else Huntington may be.
he is certainly no fool and in planning his
campaign to capture the two conventions
of the great parties in this state, he realized
that repeated defeats had weakened his
influence with push and pulp all over the
state, while new party lines had been drawn
which he must destroy before he could con-
vince men, not purchasable except through
their ambition for preferment. that he
services.
He realized, too, that his bitterest enemy
the most untiring foe to railroad infiu-
ence and corporate control, was to be the
candidate of new party, the fusion Of the
Democrats. Silver Republicans and Popu-
lists; man whom he could neither wheedle
coerce. fool or trick into supporting his
schemes, and hence but one road was left
open to him-he must destroy the party.
since he could not control the man.
Fearing failure, like the cunning poll
tician that he is, Huntington determined to
form an army Of politicians which. In case
of failure to destroy fusion and defeat Ma
CURES nomination, would still be strong
enough to capture the Republican conven-
ton, and thus atleast give him fighting
chance against the Little Giant
The Railroad Push
In order to gather such an army of poll
icians Huntington had to openly announce
that the railroad was once more in poll
tics He had to have Dan Burns, John d.
Spreckels, M. H. De Young, the leaders
of the uplifted pull, and Martin Kelly,
Phil Crimmins and Curry, of the infamous
push, in harmony. Each of these men
hated the other, and 1t was no easy task to
bring them into line, but Huntington did 1t.
This was the situation when the Demo-
cratic convention met. Huntington had
De Young and Burns working tooth and
nail with Silver Republicans; not person.
ally, of course, but through selected lieu
tenants. Kelly. Crimmins and Curry were
working with the class of men that formed
the Harvey delegation, men who are known
as the "push," without politics except for
stuff" and this Huntington promised.
Spreckels tried to work the business end of
all the parties; Gator was working with the
Populsts and Herrin was sent down to Los
Angeles and worked even part Of the Los
Angeles delegation.
The utter defeat Of the combination, their
complete rout in the Democratic conven-
ton and the open exposure of the methods
they used In an endeavor to disrupt fusion
and create dissention in Maguire's ranks
have been too recently recounted to need
repetition.
Huntington was baked but not dismayed
Failure to capture the Democratic conven-
ton made it only more necessary that the
Republican party should be taken. 1t
must however, be taken boots and body
into camp, or the railroad millions would
d
break in the ranks. The man who had
fought him by helping build the Valley rail
road must kiss the editor who had roasted
him alive and whom he had tried to kill, and
Epreckels and De Young made 1t up. Kelly
and Crimmins. who at one time had ten
thousand circulars printed to expose De
Young's private life and who had denounced
Spreckels as a traitor and almost thief,
must hug the other two, while Dan Burns,
who had fought all Of the bosses mentioned,
was to do the God bless you. my children"
act, and Herrin would hold the sack. The
plan worked out to a man.
This was the situation when the Repub-
lioan convention met.
The fusion convention admitted openly
that 1t had a slate. It admitted that the
tri-party agreement had been arranged on
an equal representation. but 1t announced
that II a majority Of the delegates thought
any man better than another named, 1t was
the privilege Of the delegates to select him.
The convention was free ana open, even in
exposing the railroad push, and then a fu-
sion ticket was nominated and every dele
CATION attending that convention-sxcept
the unseated railroad push-went home sat.