The San Francisco call., 1899-03-24

Political r,oss!ps arc ali asttr over
Grand coup that the Democrats are
rIanning in retaliation upon Governor
Gage and his adviser, D. NJ. Burns, for
their efforts to seize the valuable pa
tronage of the water front Democratic
schemers. shreWd and quick TO grasp
an advantage, declare that they VIII
take to themselves all of the patronage
Of the State penitentiaries at Folsom
and at. San Quentin. To make the stu
. ation serious the Democrats have the
. power to carry their threat into eXecu-
ton. They may dismiss the warden
and secretary of each prison and
through newly elected Wardens and
secretaries seize all of the patronage.
Governor Cages kindergarten eX-
rloits. under the tutelage of Dan Burns,
In the dangerous field of politics are
likely therefore to bear bitter fruit for
Republicans who have been secure from
even the suggestion of interference
much less the attack of determined re-
taliation. When Governor Gage at
tempted. at the instigation of those
that surround him, TO reorganize the
administration of the water front it
was feared that trouble would follow.
purpose was to become party spoils-
man, eager TO go farther, under the ad-
wise of Burns, in the search for the
fruits of victory than most spoilsmen.
Republicans feared the consequences
to themselves and the Democrats
sought some means of checkmating the
greedy advisers of the chief executive.
When the Governor failed in his
-ol.-v,,, raDyero n ,iza4ipr1 ba
another to take the patronage of the
water front away from the Democrats
These worthy gentlemen, who are
clinging with the tenacity of death to
what they have and praying TO provi-
dence for more. were more than ever
determined to retaliate. They were not
long in finding an avenue for revenge.
The State prisons offered an asylum
for good Democrats and there, the lead
ers say, good Democrats shall go-but
not to wear striped uniforms. A small
army Of men is needed to govern the
State penitentiaries, officers, clerks, sec
retaries. guards. watchmen and at
tendants of all sorts. The salaries are
large and the duties few. The Demo
Gratis are planning, therefore, inspired
by the political blunders Of the Cover
of defeat some of the embers of victory.
The State Board Of Prison Directors
is Democratic Four of the members
Ray. Fitzgerald, wilkins and Devlin-
were appointed by Governor Budd for
a term Of ten years Devlin is a Re
publican and with Hayes makes a Re
publican minority of two. The Demo
Gratis in the board, therefore. may do
as they please Democratic leaders and
politicians have now on foot a project
to call a special meeting of the Demo
cratic State Central Committee and Sc
cure from it q series Of resolutions in
structing the State Prison Directors to
turn the entire patronage of both peni-
tentiaries over to Democrats.
This unusual action, it is claimed is
politically justified by the action of
Governor Gage in striving to usurp the
patronage Of the water front. Since a
chief executive of a State may show
himself so greedy a seeker after the
IOaves and fishes, other men less exalt-
ed in the State government certainly
have the same privilege. This IS the
argument that the Democrats are US
ing. and with which they are frighten-
ing Republican Officeholders into fits
If the Democratic State Central Com
Inittee meets to discuss this question
il will have to do so quickly, as the
next Warden of San Quentin will be
chosen by the Prison Directors on
April s.