The San Francisco call., 1899-09-05
WATCHING THE
SELECTION OF
SUPERVISORS
Eighteen Names to Be
Submitted.
PUBLIC SCRUTINY Is DESIRED
CORPORATIONS MAY DECEIVE
THE SEVEN DEMOCRATS.
Many Delegates Prefer That Long
List of Candidates Should Be
Presented to the Con-
vention.

Delegates TO the Republican local con-
vention VIII not be called together before
the 2lst Of this month. Jasper Mcdonald
Will probably call the Democratic Con-
vention 10 order about the 24th inst.
Neither party is eager for a prolonged
campaign and there is no disposition 10
expose the candidates 10 fire for a longer
time than the law requires.
Democrats who are deeply interested in
the cause of good local government
should keep an eye on the committee OF
seven recently appointed TO select can
didates for the Board Of Supervisors. The
plan OF selection Is N some respects a
new departure, yet the old-tlme Nom
Partisan Convention which George X.
Fitch and Thomas Magee SO beautifully
bOSSeG furnished preceQeDtS Tor the plan
proposed by the Democrats. However,
the nominations recommended by the old
non-paruisan leaders were not driven
through without discussion. The news
papers usually had a few days time TO
examine the record Of each person rec
commended TO the convention.
Jasper Mcdonald was asked yesterday
If the committee OF seven would present
a large list OF names from which the con-
VentlOn may se4ecJ eighteen acceptable
candidates for the boarO. or simply submit
eighteen names Mr. Mcdonald replied
that he understood that the committee
would recommend eighteen men ana ask
the convention to place them on the
ticket as candidates for the Board Of
would not be bound 10 nominate the men
recommended by the committee
IL was suggested TO Mr. Mcdonald that
the committee Of seven might be out
water and gas mOnOpUIeS, and induced
through ulisG pprehension TO place few
agents of the corporations on the list Of
the recommended.
Mr Mcdonald said ne would be in
favor of announcing IN advance the
names recommended by the committee,
= -, ar.Tr1a 10 haI
before the delegates registered choice
in convention. He was not authorized TO
speak for the committee. bur could see
no harm in making the list public before
the convention passed judgment on the
recOmm mendaUonS. He was sure that the
Democratic Convention would endeaVOr
TO obtain the best material for the Board
OF Supervisors. as il was we'll known that
the Republican Convention intended to
nominate the best citizens of that party
attainable for service on the board.
Many delegates TO the Democratic Con-
vention are now convinced that mistake
was made in delegaung TO a committee
Of seven the power TO submit list Of
candidates for the board. Names other
than those recommended by the com
mittee may be placed before the con-
vention but those having the stamp OF
the committees Endorsement will be re-
garded as men In whom Gavin McNab
and Mayor Phelan repOSe special con-
fidence, and therefore have great advan-
tage over those having no such lndorse-
ment. Again II is clear to many members
that a corporation can hoodWlnk a COM
mittee of seven much easier than it can
a convention of three hundred and sew
enty.
The knowledge that Republicans have
resolved TO bring forward citizens of high
standing for the Supervisorial ticket is
acting as spur TO Democratic activity
along the same line. If the Repu blicans,
through lack of vigilance or failure 10 ex-
ercise good common sense. allow weak
man or a corporate tool TO be placed on
the ticket. the voters will scratch the
name. and indorse some one OF the eigh-
teen candidates put forward by the Demo-
Gratis Each one OF the eighteen Super
visors is elected by a vote al large. Wards
From the thirty-siX candidates to be
presented by the two leading conventions
the voter may select eighteen intelligent
and worthy men to vote for.