The San Francisco call., 1899-03-08

CALL HEADQUARTERS, SACRA-
MENTO, March THE touts are still
working under cover to obtain petit
tions from the public calling upon
members of the Legislature to settle
the deadlock by the calling of a caucus.
Burns is unwilling to accept the decis-
ion of the Republican conference that
q majority of the Republicans of the
Legislature preferred to settle the Sen
atorial contest in the open. Petitions
have been left at saloons and pool
rooms, where residents and nCn-resi-
dents, minors and aliens have been in
Vited to sign.
The followers of the Candelarian as
sumo that a candidate has the right to
call a party caucus to determine his
own standing in the contest. The fact
is that caucus is the right of the
party and not that Of the individual.
In many States the caucus system is
not recognized at all, and where it has
been brought into use it has been used
to bind the signers to the cause of the
party's candidate. In this contest now
in progress the Republicans of the Leg
islature are confronted with candi-
date brought forward by the railroad
company. Had Burns announced his in
tention before the election to become a
candidate for United States Senator the
people would have understood the
question and obtained a declaration
from the candidates on the legislative
ticket, but the intentions of Burns and
the railroad were carefully concealed
from the people.
It is too late now to come forward
nd claim a party caucus when the
party was not consulted as to the can
olidacy of Burns before the election
In view of this condition Of affairs the
Republicans of California are follow
ing the course pursued by the Repub-
licans of Pennsylvania-they are fight
ing the Senatorial battle on the floor
of the Joint convention in open day
light
The railroad says that Burns can win
If he can get a caucus. The tOutS say
that he will win If he can get caucus.
In order to deceive the unwary, he may
feign weakness in the hope OF turing
men into a secret caucus. The Barnes,
Grant and Bulla men understand the
programme, but they are cautioned
against the relaxation of vigilance.
The order has gone from the yellow
building to the servants of the corpora>
tlOn thaJ the senator SndIl De no one
but Burns. Members of the Legisla-
ture representing Los Angeles County
received kilograms to-day, asking them
to bring about the election of United
States Senator. No preferences were
expressed, which leads to the belief that
there is a sentiment in that region of
the State favorable to the election of
an able and reputable candidate from
the northern part of California. There
have been so many vigorous protests
from the south against the considera-
ton of Burns that the inference is
drawn that any other candidate than
Burns would be acceptable.
Wherever the people have been con-
suited the aspirations of Burns have
been rebuked. According to his own
statement, he became a candidate
against his will to rebuke the press of
the State for criticizing his public acts.
He presents no higher claim to the Of
flee than a desire for personal vindi-
cation.
When the whole truth comes to light
the fact may be presented clearly to
the public of California that Hunting
ton and Herrin had agreed to support
Burns at the time that the corporation
promised to support NJ. H. de Young.
Therefore, the declaration of Burns to
his followers that he did not become a
candidate until he was goaded to the
extreme by the newspapers was an
afterthought to justify his candidacy.
Whatever may have induced him to be-
come a candidate, the stubborn truth
remains that he was not candidate