The San Francisco call., 1898-04-11
Indorsed by Perkins in Order to Promote Bull
 las Interests.
A Letter From Washington That Is the First Move in
 Very Pretty Contest.
HENRY GAGE THE VICTIM.
Southern Interior Press Scores tn, Los Angeles Editor for Alleged
 Acts of Treason.

From Los Angeles comes the an- nouncement that Senator Perkins has written a letter to Colonel Otis of the Los Angeles Times in which the writer ayers that his correspondent Colonel Otis) is the man the people of the State of California want as successor to Sen ator White.
 This announcement throws a bright light on the very interesting state of affairs resulting from R. N. Bulla's re- cent declaration of a desire to wear the Senatorial toga It is the first card in very pretty political game that will be watched with interest by every poli- tician in the State because upon it's outcome depends the success or failure of the aspirations of the men. who are seeking the position of United States Senator. Not the least interesting fea- ture of the play Is the fact that Editor Otis Is to be made, unconSciously enough so far as he is concerned, the object of the shafts of political strat- egy.
 It Is a matter of common knowledge that Senator Perkins is the stanch per sonal and political friend of Bulla.
  mated Perkins before the Legislature three years ago, and it was Bulla who was largely instrumental in bringing about the compromise with the south ern members whose votes were neces- sary to Perkins election. By this com promise it was agreed that the Republi- cans south of the Tehachapi line should be accorded the privilege of naming the next United States Senator. Editor Otis was, somewhat reluctantly, made a party to this agreement. There has not been and is not now a desire on the part of the party leaders to go back on the terms of this agreement made three years ago, therefore the northern Re publicanS are content to remain in the background and watch with some de- gree of complacency the struggle that has begun on the other side of the line.
 The time has now arrived when the man who is to be the next United States Senator must come forward and an- nounce his intentions and make his bid for the support of that section of the State that has been accorded the right of selecting the favored candidate. Colonel Otis, acting ir. the capacity of a molder of public opinion, as well as steerer-in- chief for the Republican party, has recently, through the col umns of the Times strongly intimated that Henry Gage of Los Angeles is the man whose name should be presented to the next Legislature as the selection of southern Republicans for Senatorial honors. About the same time Bulla paid visit to San Francisco, and after a consultation with his friends an- nounced himself as a candidate for the honor of being elected Senator at the next session of the Legislature.
 It is generally understood and not denied that Bulla'S candidacy, so far as this end of the State is concerned, has been placed in the hands of John F. Jackson and Billy Hamilton. Bulla's s candidacy having been announced, it became at once matter of grave con- cern how to deprive so formidable an opponent as Gage of the advantage de- rived from the support of Colonel Otis and the Times. The letter said to have been written by Senator Perkins to Colonel Otis may give some insight into the matter. Of course if Colonel Otis could be induced to himself be- come candidate for Senatorial hon. ors he would withdraw his support of Gage. Without the support of the Times Gage would no longer be for midable These things being accom- plished Bulla would find himself in the field with no more dangerous an op- ponent than U. s. Grant, it being safe to assume that Gage and Otis could neither of them win the allegiance of more than a small minority of the southern delegation.
 It is a very pretty game and one that will repay the closest attention on the part of the student of political diplo- macy.
 There is not the least doubt" said John P. Jackson yesterday, that the next United States Senator will be a man from the southern half of the State. At the time Senator Perkins was elected it was agreed among the party leaders that the south should be al- lowed to select the next man to be voted on for Senator, provided the northern Republicans were allowed to nominate the candidate for Governor. There has not been, so far as I know, any effort made to bring about a revo- cation of this agreement.
 II am aware that Bulla has an- nounced his desire to be the man se- ] lected to succeed Senator White, but you must excuse me from making any statement as to what part, if any shall take in his candidacy. I am his friend, but am also the friend of other 1 gentlemen who may aspire to the same honorable position. Senator Perkins is also Bulla's friend. I don't know whether or not he has written a letter to Colonel Otis, but if he has I have sufficient confidence in the wisdom of 1 the Senator to believe that he knows what he Is doing. He is man who has never yet made a mistake"
 The attitude assumed by the Los Angeles Times regarding the present political situation has had the effect of bringing down upon the head of Col onel Otis the censure of the editors of interior papers. who accuse him of try ing to bring about the election of Dem ocratic successors to Senator White and CnnRreSSman Barlow The fnllnW.