The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-04
Makes Good His Threat to Issue an
Address to the Public.
DEMANDS A "BOBTAILED" CAUCUS
Brazen Proposition Whereby Thirty-One Mem
bers, or Ten Less Than Half the Re-
publican Majority, Shall Control.

CALL HEADQUARTERS, sACRA-
MENTO, March 3-Pursuant to the agree
ment entered yesterday, Dan Burns to-
day, through his supporters, issued an
address to the public, in which he at
tempts to justify the position he now oc-
cupies before the people as a candidate
for the office of United. States Senator.
The address was drawn up by Assembly
men Johnson and Dibble and Senator
Leavitt, Burns new steering committee,
and in every respect is just such a docu-
ment as might be expected to emanate
from these gentlemen, who are the recog-
nized leaders of the MeXican's forces in
the Legislature.
In speech made to his supporters yes
terday Burns pledged himself and his fol-
lowers to force Republican legislators into
a caucus, or, in the event of their re-
fusal. to prevent the election of United
States Senator, and thereby injure the
Republican party and jeopardize the well
fare of the entire State.
To-day he insults the Republican legis-
lators and the people of the State by put
ting those threats in writing and publish
ing them to the world. He states PLAINLY
that the Republican legislators must
accede to his wishes and go into caucus,
or the twenty-seVen men who are now
voting for him will continue TO so vote
and thus prevent the election OF a Sen
atOr.
Those who read the address of the Can
delaria candidate will remember that his
candidacy was announced by w. f. Her
rim, political manager for the southern
Pacific Company, many weeks before the
converting of the Legislature. as well as
before any newspaper in the State thought
of mentioning him as a Senatorial posi-
bility; that his acts as candidate nave
been marked by every trick and conf
dence scheme known to politics, and now
that he finds himself defeated he seeks TO
justify himself and his acts by setting
forth a state of alleged facts that do not
ar7a hoy or pYiG CT cd
to disrupt the party and in1ure the state
if his commands are not complied with.
His address is as follows:
When the results of the election held in
1885 were ascertained. it was found that
eighty-five Republican members OF the
Legislature, out of a total Membership Oh
100 had been elected. When the Legisla-
ture convened January 2, 1893. 1T became It's
highest duty to elect a United states sen
whose term expires March 4. 1899. Upon
the Republican members, numbering TWEEN
solemn obligation to select Senator who
would represent the Republican party, and
be a firm supporter of our Republican
President and his administration
For over eight weeks that obligation has
The blame rests upon the Republican
iority and must be hprne by them-al-
duty will fall upon the Republican party
at large That the members OF our party
may understand our position and put their
condemnation. on the proper persons, we
issue this statement;
We have supported a candidate, Hon
Daniel NJ. Burns, who, in our Judgment
possesses the necessary qualifications TO
make a good official and properly repre-
sent our State.
Other Republican legislators. for reasons
sufficient for their Judgment nave sup
ported other persons equally fit for the
position. For eight weeks the contest mas
continued and now, with but at best a
few days remaining OF the session, we are
no nearer apparently, a conclusion than
at the beginning.
Why is this 500
&c MA he
honored custom of all political parties of
holding a caucus to select a candidate has
been abandoned. This country has rep
resentative government all selections OF
officials are decided by vote or the per-
sons entitled to act thereon, and the selec-
ton of a majority no matter how small
numerically becomes, by the force of law.
the selection of all. This law of the land
has become by usage the law of political
parties 1t is essential to the perpetuity
of our free institutions that this law should
continue to govern the nation, for without
it anarchy would reign, petty principali-
ties would usurp the place of sovereign
States and the Federal Union become a
meaningless phrase. 1t is absolutely neces-
sary to the preservation of a political party
that this law should govern the delibera-
lions of it's members, for without 1t
party becomes mere mob, without cone
to inture itself and its friends when
sought to be used to benefit the party or
advance its principles.
From the commencement of this Senator
iaI struggle to the present hour
didate and ourselves have continuously
asked for caucus of the Republican MEM
bers of the Legislature.
That caucus to be one where no
secret ballot would be used, that
caucus to consist of not less than
sixty-one members, majority of