The San Francisco call., 1899-01-02
Using Patronage as a Club to Help Friend
Burns Get the Place.
The Threat of Political 0stracism Held Over the
Heads of Those Who. Are Against the
Man From Mexico.

CALL HEADQUARTERS. SACRA-
T. Gage has arrayed himself on the
the side of those who are supporting
the Senatorial candidacy of Colonel
Dan Burns. If the power that is his
because of the fact that he will. in a
few days, be the Governor of the State
can bring about Burns election, then
Burns will be the next United States
Senator.
1t has all along been contended that
Gage would keep his hands off the Sen
atorial contest and leave the field open
for all contestants. This belief was
borne out by the fact that Gage him
self has declared that he would in no
way attempt to interfere with the
chances of any candidate for the place.
To do so would be violating trust i'm
posed in him by the epople who elected
him, it being presumed that he would
not and could not, in honor, make use
of the patronage at his disposal to in
fiuence the votes of legislators in the
interest of one particular candidate.
Now that Gage has Joined hands with
candidate for Senator, there is good
reason for belief that the patronage
under control of the Chief Executive
will be used to force reluctant legisla-
tors into line for Burns The threat
of political ostracism, so far as the
matter of distribution of patronage
goes, is now being held over the heads
of every member of the Republican ma
jority who have expressed a preference
for any man except Burns. Those who
have expressed no preference one way
or the other are being beaten with the
same club.
Yesterday Gage left Sacramento, 1t
being announced that he was going to
Los Angeles to spend New Years day
with his family and that he would re-
turn here tomorrow. Instead of go
ing to Los Angeles Mr.. Gage went di-
rect to San Francisco for the purpose
of holding conference with Burns.
The conference was held at the Palace
Hotel Saturday afternoon.
Cages political attitude has caused
much indignation among Republicans
who are assembled here. particularly
those who have been threatened with a
loss of patronage unless they used their
votes and their influence to secure
Burns election. Colonel Burns did not
arrive in Sacramento until this after
noon, but his Heutenants have been
busy all day button -holing legislators
and handing out the threat that "all
the fellows that expect to get political
job for themselves or their friends had
better fall in behind the band wagon,
or they will get nipped by the frost"
In the absence of Burns this talk had
no effect except to cause some show of
uneasiness on the part of the more
tinid of the new members who are
more or less new at the political game.
Now that Burns is on the ground him
self, it remains to be seen how far he
will decide to use the power he has as
sumed, but which he does not possess
in spite of assurances that have been
given him by Governor elect Gage.
Promises of patronage are easily
made and as easily broken, and Mr..
Gage will no doubt find it impracticable
to ignore the claims Of men who have
worked for the interest of the party
and who made it possible for Gage to
be elected. To judge from the talk that
is being heard on every side to-day it
is more than probable that the new
Governor will be made to suffer before
the end of the session unless he sees
fit to take a more moderate view of his
own worth and give some consideration
to the claims of other members of his
party.
1t is announced tonight by Cages
friends that If the Senatorial situation
reaches a stage where it will be aues-
ton of either Burns or Grant. then
Gage will come out openly for Burns,
the railroads candidate.