The San Francisco call., 1898-08-11
THIS 4 REPUBLICAN YEARP'

dead and respectable colored can1nes who have been prominently mentioned for the highest office in the State by the intelligent Republicans in terviewed during the past few days by The Calls gubernatoral canvassers he would be forced to the conclusion that the great and overpowerng menace to Republicansm in California is again prevalent thls year.
 What, for instance, be running through the mind of a human being who deliberately names Southern Pacific attorney to lead the Republican party in the impending fght2 What sort of a notion can a person have of political conditions who de cares that man who has been twice defeated for Governor is the strongest" candidate who be nominated? These notions and others that might be specified, indubitaby the product of over confidence. There IS idea abroad that this IS Republican year" and that even dead man may be placed the head of the ticket with safety. This idea always presages Republican disaster. Political cam paigns won in advance are generally lost.
 Yet 1t would be difficult for any to ascertain the foundation for this assumption. Has canvass of the people been made for the purpose of ascer- tainng what they think the subject or how they going vote? Is there any fact in the history oi past campaigns which indicates that the Republican ot the State disposed this year to turn their government to the corporations the yellow dogs and the political bosses?
 San Francisco is generally acknowledged to be the uncertain quantity of recent political calculations. Has anybody taken pains to discover whether its people will stand railroad hack for Governor a colored canine for Mayor?
 On December 27 last an election for Freeholders held in this city, which 6I63 votes cast On that occasion all the local parties Democratic, Republican and Populist united and nominated fusion ticket The Merchants Association opposed this unanimous political movement simply by placing in the field fifteen ordinary citizens, and they de- feated the usonists by maorities ranging from 25oo to $500 Does this indicate that the people of San Francisco are in any mood follow the dictation of party politicians accept the leadership of yellow dog boss tool, simply because he is at the head of a Republican ticket? How do the Republicans ex- pect to win this year without votes? Do they imagine that bather about the and cheers the achievements of Mckinley, Dewey and the rest going to blind the to the fact that their real interests lie in good government an economical ad mnistraton and consequent low taxation?
 But how about State partisanshp? Is there any thing in recent history justify the idea that dead a railroad hack can with safety be nominated for Governor this year?
 Ler the figures moment. Two years ago Mckinley carried California by just exactly 1922 plurality. One Bryan elector was chosen, J. w. Mar tin. who received plurality of I48 votes. The total vote cast 298,60I of which Mckinley received I4o 688 and Bryan I44766. San Francisco, city which gave Budd Democrat in 1896 I2 900 plurality returned plurality for Mckinley of 4oo Had it gwen its normal Democratic majority of about 5000 the President would have lost California and the Leg islaturc would have been Democratic. At the same election Southern California which has always sup ported the Republican ticket with from 6ooo to Sooo majority showed up with beggarly plurality of 1000 for Mckinley, electing two Popust- Democratic Congressmen over McLachlan and Bowers the strongest Republicans in the South. Furthermore, Mcguire carried the Fourth Congressional District by 8I34 plurality and De Vries defeated railroad attorney in the Second District by 4S4s
 Do these figures justify the confidence of those who talking about placing the head of the Re publican State ticket who enjoys the favor of the Southern Pacific and the political bosses? What is the of talking about it? California with weak candidate will be safely Republican again. The political party which persists in entertaining such an idea merely falls upon its sword
 If the convention which meets at Sac ramentO the 23d inst. does not nOni- nate for Governor man who comma nds the confidence of the people, who Ina his person represents honest government, low taxation. opposition boss control and railroad and corporation corrup- tion, its ticket will encounter political iceberg in November which will freeze it stiff