The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-24
GOVERNOR GAGE
AND v, F, HERR|N
IN CONFERENCE
Secret Meeting at the
Palace.
PUBLIC BUSINESS DISCUSSED
TAKING UP THE BURDEN OF
STATE AFFAIRS.
At the Conclusion of the Session Gage
and the Lawyer Left the Hotel
by Blind Stair
way.
PUBLIC BUSINESS DISCUSSED
TAKING UP THE BURDEN OF
STATE AFFAIRS.

Governor Gage has arrived in San
Francisco. The manner of his coming
and his conduct after his arrival are
incidents of general interest to the peo-
pie of the State-as lGovernor Gage
came here as the Chief Executive of
California to transact public business
The visit of Governor Gage was no
secret to the army of nolitinal ruffians
who swarmed the streets of Sacramento
during the session of the Legislature in
the service of d. NJ. Burns Political
tricksters, roustabouts. heeIers and be-
draggled parasites thronged the CORR
doris of the Palace Hotel in expectation
of the coming of Gage The news had
been heralded to the throng of place
seekers and for hours they constituted
the Governors guard of honor.
He did not expect a. see them and
they did not wish him to do so. Their
petty affairs had been settled in the
back room of a saloon by the man
whose Senatorial banner they had
borne. They were supremely uninter-
ested in Gage except to indicate with
their undesirable presence their appre-
citation of his position.
Governor Gage came here for bigger
game He came to discuss the chances
of appointing a United States Senator
and of naming a Board of Health, al
ready chosen. His mission was. per-
haps, of national public Importance.
Upon his arrival he was sneaked into
the Palace Hotel. He neither placed
his name upon the hotel register nor
selected room in which to lodge. He
eluded all questioners, evaded all IN
terrupting glances and acted as though
he might have been a fugitive rather
than the Chief Executive of a State
transacting public business.
Governor Gage was spirited into The
hotel and was taken to an apartment
occupied by William F. Herrin, chief of
the law department OF the Southern
Pacific Company. This incident needs
no comment. 1t explains whv the Gov
ernor of California did not wish to be
seen in the hotel 1t tells story deeply
significant. Governor Gage locked him
self in a private room to discuss public
business of imperative character with
William F. Herrin.
That conference lasted for several
hours. At 8 o'clock in the afternoon a
hotel from a blind stairway SLOWLY
opened. A key had turned in the lock.
for the door is never left unsasuened.
and William F. Herrin and Governor
Gage emerged from their hole uo-
stairs.
The Chief Executive of the State and
the chief of the law department of the
Southern Pacific Company took a drink
and then hastily parted, each taking
his separate way. A conference that
may mean measure of disaster to the
State was over. Governor Gage had
resumed the burden of affairs of state
and with listening ear, closeted from
the gaze of the public, had heard the
counseling words of an employee Of the
Southern Pacific Company
Governor Gage could not be found
during the remainder of the day or
night. He had disappeared as mysteri-
ously as his companion, and it was un-
derstood that last night he was the
guest of William f. Herrin at the lat
ter'S home