The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-14

parent to-day, when he sent instructions
to j. B. Wright the division superintend-
ent of the Southern Pacific Company
here to have a meeting of the Repup-
/ lcan Committee of Sacramento County
called for the purpose of passing a reso-
luton indorsing Burns candidacy and re-
questing Assemblyman knights to cast
his vote for the man from Mexico.
Wright absolutely dominates the Re
publican committee of this county, and II
was, therefore, not Il difficult matter Tor
him to obey the command OF MS master.
A meeting of the committee was called.
Only those members were notified who
were known to be favorable to the rail-
road company and to Burns. OF course
it was not desirable to have any one
present at the committee meeting who
was not in favor of disgracing the State
by the election of Burns. 1t was also I'M
desirable to have any committeeman on
hand who would oppose the attempt
which was to be-made to bulldoze Assem-
blyman knights and try to force him to
commit an act which he has heretofore
stated he did not desire, to DO. SO only
absolutely owned were called to attend
the meeting.
When they had gathered the resolution
to bulldoze iMr Knights was introduced
by Thomas G. Perkins, and 1t was adopt
ed. The will of Herrin was carried out to
the letter and the conspiracy to coerce
a good and an honorable man had sue
ceeded that far.
y
the conspirators knew that Mr.. knights
was a man of independent thought and
action. They knew that he was decidedly
aVerse to casting his vote for any man
tainted character. Even though the
County Central Committee had. by ques-
tionable methods, Endorsed Burns, that by
no means indicated to the conspirators
that Assemblyman Knights would follow
the instructions to vote for him.
Several Of the committeeman captured
Mr.. Knights about 1880 O'Clock this evening
and carried him in triumph to the rooms
of the Republican State Central Commit
tee at the Golden Eagle. These headuuar-
tiers are being used for the sole purpose
of stalking station by the Burns touts.
Here they gather during the day and
evening in order to receive instructions
from the Great Mogul himself
Mr. Knights was this evening taken
there and held for over an hour, while
Major Frank Mclaughlin poured into his
unwilling ears a long tale. The major
became very eloquent in giving reasons
should tomorrow misrepresent his con-
stituents by voting for Burns. The ma
jor's eloquence could not have had the
desired effect for after this interview Mr.
Knights was taken to the office of Divi-
sion superintendent Wright at the depot
by Master Mechanic II. c. Heinzleman.
Exactly what transpired there no one will
ever know other than the. three men who
for half an hour participated in a star
chamber consultation. 1t can only be
surmised that Mr.. knights was informed
| as TO the power of the Southern Pacific
Company and the advisability of his
changing his vote to Burns was dwelt
upon in detail.
After this interview Mr.. knights was
permitted to go to his home at 1915 L
street. For four hours he had been sub
jected to the worst dragooning that 1t is
possible for free American citizen to re-
ceive al the hands of the tools of great
corporation which is endeavoring to CO.
| cree him to commit, an act for which he