The San Francisco call., 1899-01-02
Politicians of All Grades and Conditions
Are Hard at Work for Their
Friends.
The Lobby of the Golden Eagle Field for the
Study of Human Nature as Repre-
Sented by Our Law
Makers.
BY HENRY JAMES.

SACRAMENTO, Jan. 1.-Doubtless
the making of a Senator is a very
serious affair. At least it is of sufficient
import to J. '1e some people forget that
to-day is Sunday, the first of 1899, and
to ignore the pleasing fact that the rain
is falling steadily.
Tonight the lobby of the Golden
Eagle Hotel is full. If some of the po-
htical aggregation there is also full,
this is a delicate matter, and one not
to be discussed here. OF course the
principal interest hinges on the Sena-
torial fight. There are several aspi-
rants here and each has following.
While they all profess confidence, 1t is
noticeable that each is anxious to wv
what the others are doing. Grant is on
the ground, having been preceded by
the ever-faithful Milton Green, who
proclaims that the man from the south
cannot lose. Nevertheless, there can be
noticed in his demeanor an air that is
not free from anxiety. He processes an
abiding faith, but the faith refuses to
abide.
When General Barnes arrived he had
hard work TO handshake his way
through the crowd. Nobody was slight
ed. He had a glad flipper for every
body Even Long john" the colored
gentleman known about the racetracks
of San Francisco, was on the list. In
fact the general shook hands with
everybody Those he knew he greeted
by name. Those he did not know he
smiled at, looking wise, as though to
say, My dear fellow, we are such old
acquaintances that there is no use of
going into details"
nf
and partisans of everybody else who
has been mentioned to succeed Senator
White. but they are all in the dark
and cropping for information. They
eagerly watch the tide of public opin-
ion and catch at the straws atioat on
the surface. 1t is an assured fact that
Burns is not to have the walkover upon
which he has calculated. The oppo-
sition may be scattered. but it is op-
position just the same.
To gather a definite idea from con-
versation with the crowd is a useless
effort. On minor matters there is no
disagreement There has been no diff
ficulty in selecting the officials of the
two houses, but as to the great cues
ton Of the SenatOrship there are as
many opinions as there are vests being
polished against the Golden Eagle bar.
Sig Bettman is here outspoken for
Burns. So is Leon Dennery. but the
trouble with Dennery is that the other
fellow got elected and he must depend
on a majority TO overturn the will of
the people. There may be no good rea-
son why Ashe should have been elected
except that he ran against Dennery,
who is a Burns creature, and possibly
the simple fact that Ashe was elected
will not be permitted TO stand in the
way of Dennery's taking seat. Hap
PLY he cannot get there in time to
vote for his master, in which circum-
stance there is a grain of comfort
Dennery is circulating this evening
asserting freely that he is TO be Sena-
tor from the TWenty-fourth District
Ashe is also circulating, and while he
does not talk so much nor so loudly.
exhibits a decent faith that the fact of
his having received more votes than
the Burns valet will be recognized. OF
course, a decision in the matter is a
question for the future.
To the unbiased observer the crowd
now on hand is a puzzle. Of course
there are Senators and representatives
from all quarters. but they do not seem
to know where they stand. They are
looking for light. Perhaps they are
finding it. There are politicians who
think light is of the best quality if it is
yellow in color and bears the image of
the American eagle. a scrutiny of the
mob discovers that there are some poll
ticians of this variety here. All this
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General Barnes has entered seriously
into the arena. He has opened head
quarters and announces that he is in
the fight to stay, whereat the Burns
men and the Grant men and the Bulla
men do not seem happy. Yet, as they
profess to believe that Barnes has not
a, ghost Of a show their discontinue
seems hard to explain. For the nonce
readers have the privilege of guessin o.
70 The revelations Of the near future will
determine the issue. Some there are
who believe that man as yet scarcely
mentioned will be the choice. Be this
as it may, the coming Of Burns did not
create. furore. If he has things all his
. own way there was nothing in the
character Of his reception TO proclaim
It, Even Grant who does not win
friends readily found more ready to
greet him than awaited the colonel
from San Francisco with all the glory
Of having escaped three jails tolerably
fresh upon him.