The San Francisco call., 1899-11-06
KENT IS NOW
SORRY He SPOKE
Fully RetraCtS Former
Statements.
NOTHING AGAINST CLARK
THE TONGUE PROVES ITSELF AN
UNRULY MEMBER.
Stephens Following Decreases Each
Day and the Success of the
Republican Nominee Is
Assured.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 5.-Trustee Kent,
whose vicious attack on George Clark, the
Republican candidate for Mayor, caused
a mild sensation a few days ago, is out
with a statement in which he says That
he made a mistake in attacking Clark,
and is sorry for it. This statement ap-
pears in to-day's issue of the Sunday
News, and is remarkable in many re-
spects.
After declaring that he was cajoled into
saying that Clark had asked him to join
the combination which was said to have
existed in the Board of Trustees, Kent
says: II want to tell Clark that L did
not intend to do him any harm when L
was interviewed by the reporter who
wrote the article. l was led into a trap
and foolishly allowed my tongue to run
away with my head. George has been
one of my best friends. Out of sympathy
for my condition he induced me to ac-
company him to Stockton, where he had
me placed in a private asylum. After
being discharged 1 felt sore against him,
as l did not think he had right to have
me immured in an insane asylum.
L intended to speak to him neverthe-
less, and pretend to be friendly, but when
l met him he gave me the CLASSY eye.
OF course l felt hurt and resolved never
to speak to him again. Now l realize
that ! was little OFF and that George
asylum. l used to go where there was
music, as the sweet strains of a church
organ or a piano would relieve my head.
realize that l did many things at the
time that were queer and showed that l
was 'nutty.' l don't like the way the
newspapers act. You know during the
Won Arnold incident l went to the paper
that published the stuff about my friend.
George Clark, and lifting my hand to my
Maker swore that l had never taken a
cent that did not rightfully belong to me.
NfatX t1-ta nd M
same paper published some things that
were not to my credit and it kind of
hurt me. l don't like the newspapers to
pry into mans private affairs and i
don't think that evening paper should
have published anything about my friend,
George Clark.
II am sorry he referred to my asylum
experience. L admit l started the fuss,
but l don't want him or anybody else to
say that | was an inmate of a private
insane asylum. l now warn him and his
friends that If the newspapers publish
another story that my mind IS disordered
and that Lam crazy will take matters
in my own hands.
IF they do there will be serious trouble
and somebody will suffer, even if l have
to go to Jail for it. l know l will get
fair trial for anything that l may do. 1
again warn all of you not to have the
newspapers say that l am crazy or that
l was an inmate of an insane asylum. L
may not be able to get even in one way,
but l will in another If they continue TO
nerS and tell what l know about the do
ings of the Board of Trustees"
The statement was made in the presence
of William NJ. Sims, chairman of the Re-
publican city central committee and sew
eral other responsible citizens.
The colored citizens are making a Wig
orous fight against Stephens, the Demo-
cratic candidate. Frank j. Butler, one of
the leading colored citizens and a promi-
nent Mason, is leading the opposition
against the candidacy of Stephens. When
seen to-day he said:
"Yes, it is true that the colored voters
of Sacramento are unalterably opposed to
Stephens. He showed his true colors
when in 1870 he voted against the fifteenth
amendment giving the negro the right to
vote. He was then member of the Leg
islature and became known as the hated
enemy of the colored people of this State.
Out of the 80 colored voters in this city it
is extremely doubtful If Stephens gets a
half dozen. Even if it were not for his
malodorous record l would not vote for
him.
His career in the past shows him to be
unfit for the office he now seeks. Every
respectable citizen, whether he be white
or colored, should work to encompass his
defeat He has always been an enemy of
good government, particularly friendly
with the corporations and opposed to the
men who toll for a living. Mr.. Clark, his
opponent, is representative citizen, char
liable to a fault, and always ready and
anxious to assist the poor and down-trod-
der What Sacramento needs is young
man like Mr.. Clark to handle the reins Of
government. He knows the needs of the
city and as we have entered upon new
era of prosperity 1t becomes the bounden
duty Of every citizen to take off his coat
so to speak and see that he is elected by
a handsome majority"