The San Francisco call., 1899-09-21
MILK CONTRACT
CANNOT BUY 4
VOTE FOR BURNS
Bliss Will Never Go
Into the Corral.
Oakland Omce San Francisco Call.

SUo broadway, sept ~
Somewhere in Europe in the breast of
Senator Fred Stratton is securely locked
the key to the political situation in Ala
media County. 1t is the general opinion
that Senator Stratton does not wish to
succeed himself. He has more than In
timated that such is his intention, but
When the Senator left Oakland a few
months ago his primary law had not
been tested, and consequently when he
talked of retiring from public life he
was not aware Of the boom that its sue
cess has since given to its author. The
knowledge of whether he will or will
not retire would be a source of great sat
lsfacuOn at this time, when lines are
already being laid for the general cam
paign next year
Assemblyman Bliss IS already a candi-
date for Senatorial honors. The same
supporters who put him in the Assembly
declare their ability to place him in the
Senate. Mr.. Bliss is ambitious, but not
aggressive Personally he would prefer
to succeed himself as AsSemblyman, but
circumstances may force him into the
Senatorial race.
Just now Mr.. Bliss is a very interesting
political factor. For several weeks it
has been generously whispered that the
ASSemblyman had been bought by the
followers of Dan Burns, and that the
particular bait is the contract Mr.. Bliss
now holds for supplying all the dairy
products to the Pullman Company. Add
ed 10 this, local paper a few days ago
published something complimentary 10
Bliss, and concluded with an apologize
statement that perhaps the last Senate
rial fight at Sacramento had been fought
on very narrow lines, ana Unat now the
legislators have had time to think they
might be inclined toward more liberahty.
This was construed as inferrlng that Mr..
Bliss, who was pronounced Grant man
and q pronounced anti-BurnS man, might
have changed his mind.
Mr. Bliss has not changed his mind and
Will never vote for Colonel Burns Tor
United States Senator.
That story Of being bought by the
privilege OF supplying butter and cream
to the Pullman Company" said Mr..
Bliss "is one of the funniest l have
heard for a long time. 1t is true l have
that contract, and ii is just as true that
! have had il all the years I have been
in business and an age before | was ever
thought Of in politics. 1t is wonder that
1t is not reported that the contract has
been takenSaway from me, for my re-
fusal to vote for Colonel Burns. But l
do not anticipate any such action. When
! was first elected the newspapers in slZ-
ing up the Senatorial situation placed
me either with the Burns men or in the
doubtful list, and one Of them published
a story that l was TO be reached through
my brother-in-law who was represented
to be q well paid employe OF the southern
Pacific. 1t happens that have no
hrOther-in-law, nor any other relative
however remote, employed by the rall-
road company. In Oakland a man can
hear anything by talking to himself and
! have learned that this is the method by
which many so-caNed political rumors
emanating from a source OF undouDteu
authority have their birth.
Before Mr.. Grant Went north VISITED
him in San Diego. We discussed the sen
atOrial situation l asked him If in the
event of an extra session he would again
be q candidate. He said that he would
never be candidate again, II i LhealIL AN
getting into another fight such as was
waged at Sacramento this spring.
understood from this conversation that 1t
is unlikely he viii again seek Senatorial
"Strange as it may seem, with all the
reported political workings that have been
gong on IN regard TO an extra session and
The calling OF caucus, / nave never oeeI
asked TO sign a call for caucus since the
LEGISLATURE adjourned, and neither nave l
been asked to vote Tor any particular
candidate My constituents do not want
Colonel Burns, and that ends II. am
always ready TO go into caucus II by
a representative man, but ! should never
be bound by any caucus as regards my
vote on United States Senator. l GER
tainly would not agree to enter a caucus
based on the principle Of dropping the
weakest candidate each time and binding
everybody TO vote Tor the man having the
L have talked with Senator Stratton on
the question Of the State Senatorship and
he gave me very plainly to understand
that he would not be candidate to sue
ceed himself. This impression seems to
be very general, and I find that he gave
II to many OF his friends. If l were asked
what I would like to do I would prefer TO
succeed myself as Assemblyman, but
these matters have to be adjusted, like
everything else, and If ! find that 1t is
expedient to attempt to succeed Mr. STRAIT
ton I shall certainly make the attempt
I do not feel that anything 1 did at Sac
Tamento this spring needs an apology,
and may say without egotism that since
my return ! have been thoroughly con-
WINGED that my course was in harmony
with the wishes Of the people who sent
ne there"
Assemblyman Joe Kelly. when asked re-
Gently If he had been requested to sign a
call for Republican caucus. made the
very honest reply: NO. I have never
seen such a paper. I understand though.
that one is being circulated, but I guess
they know where I stand, anyhow, and
they don't feel it necessary to run after
me" Mr. Kelly, however, omitted to
explain who was represented by they"
Howard Wright moved his residence
from East Oakland as soon after the ad-
Iournment Of the Legislature as was con-
venient. and it is understood he is now
living somewhere on Bernal Heights. He
has not figured in politics since last
March. and his district Is already can
vasstng its available material for his sue
cessor.