The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-23
Herrin Now Seeks Control Of the
Democratic Machine.
Republican Fight Against Burns, the Bosses and the
Franchise Grab Comrels the Southern Pacific to
Change Its Political Base

The men who supported D. NJ Burns
at Sacramento last winter are confident
that Governor Gage will call an extra
session of the Legislature. They com
ment with pleasure on the recent APP
pointment of General Barnes to the
board of university regents, holding
that the generals retirement from the
Senatorial contest has thus been re-
assured. They note with apparent de-
light also that u. S. Grant Jr. of San
Diego is no longer in the field as an
aspirant for Senatorial honOrs.
Among the candidates who were sus-
tanned by votes until the finish of the
regular session Irving NJ. Scott and D.
NJ. Burns remain. The politicians who
are now handling the wires for the
Mexican are exalting Irving NJ. Scott
as the ideal Republican candidate for
first Mayor of San Francisco under the
new charter. Burns himself is boom
ing Scott and saying all sorts of COM
plimentary things about the ship
builder, but he is not quoted as prais-
ing SCOTS friend and political man
ager, x-Mayor Ellert.
The obvious purpose of this glowing
candidacy from. the next Senatorial
contest. The hackers of the Mexican
want to go to the Governor with some
kind of an assurance that the Legisla-
ture, if convened in extra session,
would elect a Senator The legislators
who are so eager for an extra session
may not know that Irving NJ. Scott was
C. p. Huntington'S second choice at
the regular session last winter, but
Burns is surely advised of that fact.
The Mexican may apprehend danger OF
a change in the railroad programme by
which Scott shall be pressed forward as
the first choice of Huntington.
The Southern Pacific is in politics now
as it never was before. The Call is in
possession of important information,
which is deemed authentic, that the
managers of the railroad have brought
Buckley back to the field of municipal
politics in order to defeat Mayor
Gratis and gain possession of the Demo-
cratic works. The railroad bosses,
aided by a plant Governor, sought at
Sacramento to debauch the Republican
party and secure the election of d. M.
Burns to the United States Senate. The
railroad bosses, aided by the Governor
and supported by members of the Leg
to the people, sought to reOrganiZe the
State Board of Harbor Commissioners
so that patronage to the extent of $780,
600 could be used to support the failing
political fortunes of the Mexican. The
stalwart and incorruptible Republicans
of the Legislature, sustained by The
Call. exposed and defeated the corrupt
scheme.
The railroad bosses sought to cor
rupt the Republican Supervisors of San
Francisco in order to obtain the grant
of great franchise, but the scheme
was defeated by the integrity of the
Republican minority and the vigilance
of The Call
HUNTINGTON, Herrin, Burns and Gage
have been baff1ed in their designs to
use the Republican party to enrich the
railroad corporation and extend its
power over the people The Southern
Pacific therefore plans a change of
base, and expects to accomplish through
the Democratic party the purposes
which it failed to achieve through the
Republican organization.
The clumsy hand of Herrin is shown
in Democratic manipulation and it will
be again exhibited. His political meth
eds are awkward. No skill or deXterity
is shown in the common, ordinary
movements. AS political manipu-
lator Phelan can give him points. 1t
may not be generally known, but 1t is
a fact, nevertheless, that Phelan is no
longer a novice in politics He gains
wisdom by experience. He is not a
Bourbon. who learns nothing and for
gets nothing No doubt he is fully ap-
prised of the railroad scheme to get
possession of the Democratic works and
is watching for signs of railroad cam
paign to seize the NCn-Partisan con-
vention through the operations of the
primary law.
1t would not surprise the Vigilant and
wary if Buckley should combine with
the corrupt elements of the Republican
machine to gain control of the Non
Partisan convention and use that power