The San Francisco call., 1899-06-10
THE DEMOCRATS URDEN.

q s was the old man OF the upon the neck Of
I ! Sindbad is the Committee OF One Hundred
upon the neck OF San Francisco Democracy.
II is at once nuisance, burden a tyranny, an in
cubus. an irritation and insult 1t sums up in its
practices every form OF political niquity from the
Highway robbery of office the petty larceny OF votes
Having obtained control OF the party without the
sanction OF the party, be the party
and calmly proceeds organize itself perpetual
machine.
The origin Of the one hundred is so recent that no
history OF it is necessary. 1t began as a committee OF
three appointed by the Democratic State Committee
to reorganze the Democratic machine in this city.
The committee OF three grew by leaps and bounds to
be the hundred and the hundred grew in a
single night be the head OF the local party
1t gathered up the rens and the whip, took possession
OF the and, despite some bucking and baking on
the part OF the Democratic donkey, managed to com
pei the animal to obey the whip.
There were promises galore on the part of the one
hundred that il would resign and give other Demo
Gratis chance as soon the last election was over
All such promises, however, died with the days on
which they were made. a new municipal campaign
is in sight. and, behold! Democracy reappears with
the Committee OF One Hundred still holding the reins
and ominously cracking the whip.
1t is clear that San Francisco Democracy will never
get rid OF the incubus until upsets the cart and spills
the load into the nearest ditch Nothing less than
such drastic tactics will avail anything. Kicking on
the part OF the donkey is of effect, for the one
hundred is safely perched out OF reach OF the kicks
While the cart holds together the committee will keep
its place. 1t can be turned out only by complete
dump or general smash-up.
Never before in the history Of American politics
was there such imdam trick played by bosses upon
the rank and file OF party has been done in this
case The original committee of three was to perform
specific duty and end its career with the ul6llment
Of that duty. 1t appointed committee OF one hun
dred to perform the duty and then disband The
specific duty performed either by the three
or by the one hundred It never will be performed
The committee is carrying out a continuous perform
ance through the years, but the act originally an
nounced as its specially has been dropped from the
programme and the most sanguine and patient
spectator Of the circus must long since have lost hope
| OF ever seeing it.
The campaign has hardly opened yet and the
Democratic donkey has still chance to rid himself
Of his burden before the heat OF the day begins
There is very little hope for him, however In fact
if he should manage to get sense enough to break
away from the incubus, he would be a donkey no
longer and therefore no San Francisco Democrat
Dreyfus seemed to think that he could gain no
dignity by resumng the captains uniform of which
conspiracy robbed him. Since he changed his mind
his supporters seemed to think that he sacrificed
something of his se-respect and won nothing in
compensation
The Chief of Police OF New York says that the first
heavy blow struck in the Fitzsmmons- Jeffres box
ing contest will end the affair Both OF the big pugi-