The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-19
NO TIME TO
JEOPARD|zE
THE PARTY
Nominees Must Be of
High Standing.
WHY INDEPENDENTS ARISE
TWO VIEWS OF JoRDAN's CHAR
ACTER.
TWO VIEWS OF JoRDAN's CHAR
ACTER.
Judge Mcguire Uttered Some Truth
When He Addressed His Sec
tona1 Audience Last
Friday.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
one Proc CaD$

it's desires, attempt to argue with itself
that what it refuses to see does not exist
No county convention has ever met in
Alameda with more responsibility, with a
higher duty to perform, or surrounded by
more unpleasant, environments than that
which will meet at San Leandro to-mor-
row. The fate of Henry Gage-if Ala
media again is to be the pivotal county in
the State-dependS on to-morrow'S work.
The fate of George c. Pardee in his
march to the governorship, begun so aus
piciously, will also be decided by the
delegates tomorrow.
This year more than all other years
the State will watch Alameda County
critically, to note If her protestations of
party sincerity and harmony made at
Sacramento be bubbles or material. Al
ready there are indications that q few
selfish, unprincipled politicians are again
laying the foundation for the ruin of the
party as they have SO often done in the
past Unless some definite changes be
made, men will be nominated tomorrow
whom even the party managers admit
cannot be elected.
This condition Is being eagerly watch
ed by q great number Of independent
Democratic and fusion candidates, who
are doing their best to disrupt the Re-
publican organization. and apparently
with some success. It is realized more
clearly than ever that until there be a
capable primary law no proper represen-
tauon of the party's choice can be had
in the matter of electing delegates to a
county convention, and it is this knowl-
edge that is yearly increasing the desire
of men to make independent campaigns.
There is great encouragement offered by
past experience to men who, If honorable,
run Independently of their party ticket,
and their ultimate careers have proved
that the voters rather regard such actions
as worthy OF reward for daring to brave
and overcome the party machinery
rather than of censure for being a bolter.
Some years ago DR.. Pardee, realizing
that it would be folly to attempt to do
anything with the influences that COM
bined to use the Republican party for
selfish purposes, started out independent
ly, fought the railroad and the manipu-
lators tooth and nail. and when he had
demonstrated that he could vanquish
them at every turn they acknowledged
him as the leader and made frantic ef
forts to get into the band-wagon. After
DR.. Pardee came Henry Dalton. He fol-
IDENTIFY was successful, beat the railroad
and now politically can have anything he
wants. Another example of this same
politics was Senator Earl. Six years ago
in his fight for State Senator. His war
cry was Down with De Young for the
United States Senate" and he won In
walkover, although the railroad influence
was organized against him. After a few
years each Of these men became recog-
nized, not as boilers, but as reformers,
and the seal of public APPROVAL was placed
upon their acts. This idea which they
followed out is now being debased and
men who have been prominent in helping
to bring about party corruption are now
following the independent" example
with but poor chances Of success.
On the eve of the primaries four years
ago exactly the same conditions pre-
vailed as now. Some programmes had
been prepared, which 1t was the inten-
ton of the manipulators to force through
the convention. Counsel was thrown to
the wind, the obnoxious schemers pre-
vailed. and in November this great Re-
publican county was disgraced. The only
offices having any patronage were lost
TO Republicans because of selfishness and
fessed to be faithful party leaders
Should this fatal mistake be made to-
morrow there will be just as decided a
rejection Of the unworthy portion of the
ticket next November as there was in
1894.
There Is lesson to be learned from the
primary held yesterday in the Seventh
Ward. 1t was clearly demonstrated that
when a grievance is believed to exist,
either rightly or wrongly, the alleged
cause Of 1t must suffer. 1t will probably
be found eventually that Mr.. Jordan is
entirely innocent Of any intention or eff
fort at the Congressional primary to
help the chances of one man more than
another, but 1t Is very evident that at
this time his home ward is just equally
divided on the question. This presents a
proposition which cannot fail to have an
effect on the election. One-half of the
great Seventh Ward containing over 1000
believed Mr.. Hilborn did not have a
square deal, and this condition of mind
must be reversed before November or the
result will be even more painfully ap-
parent.
To my mind there is not any reliable
foundation for this unreasonable opposi-
ton to Mr.. Jordan. 1t is true that the
Hilborn men have produced suspicious
certificates containing the stamp of the
Clerks office and also an alleged sigma
ture of one of his deputies. These sigma
lures have been declared by an expert to
be forgeries, but-and it is not surpris-
ing-the people of the Seventh Ward do
not pin their faith to expert testimony
1t would perhaps have been better had
since he was elected, but it is not always
possible for an official to do this. 1t is
true he has been in nearly every political
fight, city. county or State, since he be-
friends admit that this policy, though
perhaps of use to his favorites, must Of
necessity make political enemies. Mr..
Metcalf had an abundance of clever and
acute political managers without Mr..
Jordan. DR.. Pardee could have won his
great primary victory In this county with
out the help Of Mr. Jordan. City At
atty made by DR.. Pardee, could have
been elected City Attorney without the
help of Mr. Jordan. Many other political
victories could have been won had Mr..
Jordan not left his office. In each of
these cases Mr.. Jordan has been alleged
to have done something which his poiiti-
cal enemies declare to have been Inn
polite If not positively uncalIed for and
wrong. This anxiety to help his friends
is the sum of Frank Jordan's alleged
delinquencies.
On the other hand. for four years Mr..
Jordan has given Alameda County an
administration of which no man need be
ashamed His Office would serve as q
model for every County Clerks office In
the State. On no. occasion has business
been neglected or has 1t been charged
that Mr. Jordans expenditure Of county
money has been extravagant His depu-
ties have all been gentlemen and business
has always been carried on with accuracy
and expedition. The system that is In
evidence from one end of the office to the
other makes 1t positive pleasure to have
business in the County Clerks office.
Me-, nf NIL a nj rnlf toto A.