The record-union., 1898-12-03

ator for California-Those Sem
eationaI Interviews and What
Took Place.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2.-The con-
troversy concerning the candidacy Oh
various parties for United States Sena-
tor has become warm and exciting.
During the campaign M. II. De Young
was a candidate for the office, and at
the close of the campaign claimed tnat
whereas his candidacy had been adver-
tised broadly throughout the State, the
decided Republican majority on JOINT
ballot was an indication that the peo-
pie had elected him to the office. Hold
ing to this view, Mr.. De Young pellev-
ed himself to be best entitled to the po-
sition and from statements made py
himself in the Chronicle" and by John
d. Spreckels in the 'sCan, it appears
that Mr. De Young depended upon the
Southern Pacific Company in very
large measure to compass his election.
All the parties have now spoken, and
the story they tell may be briefly sum-
married. On their part Mr.. De Young
and Mr.. Spreckels declare that Mr..
derrin approached each of them sep
,rately to say that if they would choose
a candidate for Senator he would Sc
cure his election. In answer to this,
in a published interview, Mr.. Herrin
declares that no such agreement was
ever made or suggested by himself.
Mr.. Herrin appears in an interview
in the latest edition Of the evening pa
pers, in which he says that on Satur-
day, November 26th, Mr.. Spreckels tel
ephoned to him to come to his office
He responded, and upon reaching the
office was ushered into a room where
Mr.. Spreckels and Mr.. De Young had
prepared to meet him. The interview
which followed was not devoid of ele-
ments Of sensation. Each of the par
ties claimed that Mr.. Herrin had prom
ised TO support their candidate. This
So Herrin denies He informed Mr..
De Young that he had favored his cam
didacy, but that he had no power to
elect him, but that Mr.. Spreckels had
announced Mr.. De Young as person
entirely unfit to be United States Sena-
tor. Mr.. Spreckels in turn demanded
to know whom the Southern Pacific
Company would support. Mr.. Herrin
replied that he did not know. Mr..
Spreckels complained that he could
never find the party in authority to
speak for the Southern Pacific Com
pany. Mr. Herrin, as chief counsel of
the company, offered to submit to his
clients any proposition the gentlemen
had to make. They proposed Jointly to
name a candidate for Senator, whom
the Southern Pacific Company was to
support with whatever influence it pos
sessed.
During this conference Mr.. Herrin
pointed out with emphasis and vigor
the absurdity of the triumvirate holding
a private caucus for the purpose of
choosing for the people of California
United States Senator. He said he was
not authorized to speak for the South
ern Pacific Company, but that the peo-
pie of California would certainly re-
sent assumption on the part of any
three men TO choose a Senator for them.
To this Mr.. De Young replied that he
and Mr.. Spreckels were proprietors of
the two great Republican newspapers
of the State; that they contributed more
than any other influence to the cleo
ton of the Republican ticket, and to
ballot in the Legislature; that by vir-
tue of their position ais journalists they
were authorized to speak for the peo-
pie Of California; that it was not an
assumption on their part to declare by
caucus or otherwise who the Senator
should be.
The conference adjourned until Tues
day afternoon, when the answer of
the Southern Pacific Company was to
be taken into the council On Tues
day afternoon the parties met again,
and the answer of the Southern Pacific
Company in words as follows was read:
1--WE do not think the company should
undertake to make any one United
States Senator, or assist in fight of any
candidate for place. When it shall ap-
pear that any fit person is the choice
Of a majority of the people, the COM
pany will then use its legitimate influ-
ence in behalf of such person. In no
event viii the company use its funds
to make any one United States Sena-
tor. We have no doubt that a Senator
can easily be elected who will ably rep
resent the people of the State, and at
the same time not antagonize our in
terests."
In the foregoing the Southern Pa
cific Company declared to Mr.. De
Young and Mr.. Spreckels that it would
not join them in the selection of Sem
ator: that it would not use money in
promoting the candidacy of any man;
that the people of California were able
to choose Senator without the inter-
ference Of the Southern Pacific Com
pany.
Some intimation of this conference
and its results reached the public,
whereupon Mr.. Spreckels and Mr. De
Young each gave their version of the
affair in their respective papers. Mr.
De Young declared that he had been
buncoed in the Senatorial matter, and
Mr.. Spreckels declared that Colonel
Burns was persona non gratia to him;
that he would resent TO the extent Of
his ability the selection of that gentle
man for the Office of United States SEN
ator
The three stories, when taken to-
gether. are fairly susceptible of render
ing as follows: Mr.. De Young believed
that the Southern Pacific Company
would support his candidacy for United
States Senator. Mr.. Herrin declared