The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-22
Followers Of the Senator Would Not Let Him
Withdraw.
NONE HAVE LIKING FOR THE MEXICAN
Informal Caucus Reveals the Fact That When Break
Comes the Los Angeles Candidates Supporters Will
Avoid the Candelarian Corral

CALL HEADQUARTERS, sACRA-
MENTO, Feb. Ex-senator BulIa has
offered TO release those legislators who
have been voting for him for United
States Senator from any obligations
expressed or implied. that have here
tofore actuated them in choosing him
as their leader. In reply 10 this ms
followers have told him that for the
present at least they prefer TO march
under his standard and will therefore
continue to vote for him for the balance
of the present week at least.
Senator BuIIa's offer was made this
morning at a caucus of his forces held
at the State Capitol It was called at
his request and for the purpose of al
lowing him an opportunity to thank the
men who have stayed with him so 10y
ally and 10 tell them of his determine
ton TO release them.
After greetings had been exchanged
Senator BuIla claimed the attention OF
those present and stated that II was
his intention 10 announce on the floor
Of the joint assembly that those Sena-
tors and Assemblymen who had been
hOnoring him with their votes need feel
under no obligations to do so any
longer as he publicly released them
from their allegiance. He intended TO
do this, he said, because he was anxious
10 break the deadlock and see a United
States Senator elected. He had been
told that his candidacy was in a meas
ure preventing such an event, and while
he did not subscribe TO that view OF the
case he was too good a Republican to
hesitate after he had been told that he
was standing in the way of the ad-
vancement Of the best interests of the
party.
Still another reason for his proposed
action was, he said. that Dan Burns
and his supporters were claiming that
they had four or five men in the Bulla
camp. If this were so, he said. he
wished 10 step aside and give such of
his followers who wanted to vote for
Burns an opportunity. TO do so.
There was evidently good measure
OF sarcasm in what the Senator had
70 say under the head Of Burns sup
-pOrters," as every one knows, and he
perhaps best Of all. that If Bulla's fol-
lowers were to be scattered tomorrow
Burns would not get to exceed one Of
them in spite Of the fact that his touts
have been hard at work for two months
on the men who have consistently voted
. for BuIla from the first ballot.
After Senator BuIla had fully ex-
planned his position to his followers
they, without exception, declared their
unWillingness 10 allow him 10 with
draw his candidacy or TO publicly re-
lease the legislators who are voting for
him. Senator Taylor pointed out that
such a declaration on the floor of the
Joint Assembly might be misconstrued
and taken as cheap method Of gain
ing nOtoriety and a reputation for po-
litical generosity. He thought, as did
the others. that those who were voting
for BuIla should discuss among them
selves their views as TO a second choice
candidate with the object in view OF
going To him in a body in the event
they should consider at some future
time that BulIa had no chance of cleo
. ton. For the present all agreed TO
continue TO vote for Bulla and
he was finally persuaded TO forego his
intention Of making a public declara-
ton
During the informal discussion that
followed this decision a majority Of
those present expressed their choice in
the matter Of Senatorial candidates
who are at present before the LegiSla-
ture. Assemblyman Miller Of Los An
geles was the only one who claimed any
candidate as his second choice for SEN
ator. He said that he wished to vote
for Grant If he ever left Bulla, but that
he would never desert Bulla unless the
balance Of his supporters went at the
same time. Others present expressed
willingness TO vote for this candidate
or that. in order to break the deadlock.
provided the other Bulla men agreed
TO vote for such candidate in body.
AssembIymen Valentine, Conrey and
MeIfck declared their desire to vote for
% q Southern California man, and said
they would not be adverse to any prop
ositfon 10 go 10 Thomas R Bard Of
Ventura Assemblyman LaBaree, who
voted during the first part Of the
session for Van R Paterson, SAID tnat
If he left Bulla he would prefer TO re-
turn to Paterson. Assemblyman Cos
per also said that Paterson would be