The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-02


LAND, March 1.-The members of the
Alameda delegation at Sacramento
have frequently stated that If their
votes for United States Senator ar.
not in accordance with the wishes of
their constituents, it is time their con-
stituents made themselves heard. This
is particularly true of the members
from the city of Oakland, who are
steadily voting for Dan Burns.
Seeing that there is little possibility
of the deadlock being broken unless the
two candidates now leading withdraw
from the contest, many prominent Re-
publicans of Oakland and Alameda
decided to send some encouragement to
General Barnes, whom they believe to
be a man upon whom the party in the
State can unite and who would be ac~
ceptable to all. For the purpose of
testing this opinion Court Commissioner
Babcock and George d. Metcaf, the
law partner of Congressman Metcalf,
did little canvaSSing on their own ac-
count. They were surprised to find that
among leading men on both sides Of
the estuary there is practically no d.
vision of opinion.
Colonel Babcock headed a few sheets
of paper with the following personal
expression of opinion:
II think w. H. L. Barnes would be
an excellent choice for United States
Senator"
These papers We're circulated for a
couple of hours and in that time 125
names were obtained and the attempt
was given up solely because there was
no purpose to be served in carrying it
any further. Public opinion was found
to be practically unanimous in favor
of the general. No opinion was asked
regarding any of the other candidates,
but the idea was found to be common
that nothing can be done while Grant
and Burns are in the field, and that a
man must be found whom the Repub-
licans could support solidly and who
would be equally acceptable to all fac
lions.
This was done as much by way of
experiment as for any other purpose"
said Commissioner Babcock, land we
We're all surprised at the result. In
Alameda 1 did not find one person who
would not willingly see General Barnes
sent to the United States Senate. In
Oakland / found the same thing. One
hundred and two names were put on
our slips as fast as they were circu-
lated, and we only stopped because
there was really nothing else to do
everybody being of the same opinion"
In Oakland George D. Metcalf pen
ned a strong letter along the same lines
and personally went out on the street
with them. He decided to visit capital
lists, merchants and attorneys, and in
twenty minutes he had fifteen of the
best-known men in Oakland indorsing
his letter, which he sent to General
Barnes.
Those who signed at the rate of one
a minute to Mr.. Metcalf's opinion were
the following: Judge John Yule, w. V.
Witcher, ex-president Merchants Ex-
change; P. E. Bowles, president First
National Bank; Fred Kahn, dry goods
merchant; j. B. Richardson, attorney
at law; James P. Taylor, president
Oakland Board Of Trade; Charles K.
Clark, secretary Building and Loan As
ISOLATION; NJ. J. Keller, director Board
Of Trade; w. w. Garthwaite, cashier
Oakland Bank of Savings; Frank G.
Howe, buggy and harness maker;
Charles w. Kellogg, cordage manu-
facturer; William Moller. wholesale
plumber, and George E. Grant.
''These names are merely suggestive
of hundreds of Others" said Mr.. Met
calf. mo matter where you go the
feeling is the same. do not care what
branch of business or what profession
or what portion of town you go to work,
you will find every reputable Republi-
can approving of General Barnes for
United States Senator. There is pracu-
cally no opposition to him.
Among the one hundred and more
names signed by Republicansain Ala
media are the IOllOWlHS. n. y. oil
voorhees,, Ben Lamborn, City Clerk;
D. w. Martin, ex-Supervisor; Recorder
Frank A. st. Sure, Henry d. Lang, Will
III. Burnham, Charles L.. Lloyd, D. ].
T.. WEIGH. Edwin II. Nauman, e. G.
Finley, r. A. Kleupfer, Charles Jen-
kins. Arthur Mccain, H. T. Morris, G.
d. Gray, T. c.. Coughlin, g. w. Scott,
George Babcock, E. d. Judd, E. A.
Randlett. Hugh C. Gallagher, M. w.
Simpson and scores OF others.
When the result Of to-day's vote at
the Capitol was known there was much
rejoicing among Oakland Republicans.
The veterans, almost to man, declared
that the winner had at last been named.
Mayor w r. Thomas said that the
general is the best man California can
send East. eff General Barnes should
go to the Senate said the Mayor, "it
would be the dawn Of a new era for
this State in the East. He would teach
them a few things and would materially
raise the standard of Western legis
lators."
General Barnes is the best man yet
named for Senator said Judge John
A. Stanly, land I have no doubt he
would be acceptable to the Republican
- h0 "a