The San Francisco call., 1899-01-23

need not be in doubt
..h of the welcome he
II this city of practical pol
ans. TINS refers to that class of angel
.-.hch hovers around and without solici-
tation, without guarantee, without consid-
Grafton and without any hope of reward
on this side of the grave, drops little
sacks containing nine hundred dollar
''wads" into the laps of those who are
fortunate enough to be thus visited. Oak
land has produced some good things"
politically, but there is no record of any
thing quite so good as this.
DR.. Pardee and his friends are showing
a great deal of philosophical common
sense in not permitting the doctors name
to be hawked about for any nomination
that is in the gift of the Republican
party. Alameda County morally took an
oath last fall that she would have the
Governorship of the State for her favor
ite candidate or she would have nothing
A gallant start was made, and as things
are understood to be at present, DIR. Par
dee is in line for the nomination for Gov
ernor when Mr. Gage shall be nearing his
retirement. However, this does not ap-
parently prevent the Democrats from try
ing TO make an EStee of DR.. Pardee. They
are evidently anxious TO have the doctor
placed in a position in which 1t would
appear that he is a standing candidate for
anything that comes along.
At present DIR. Pardee is the gratuitous
choice of the Democrats for a Republican
Senator, but the doctor himself has posi-
lively said he is not a candidate and he
is paying no more attention to the mat
ter Nothing would delight the Demo-
Gratis more than to have Pardee taken up
for Senator and turned down, so that
four years hence his name would have
become stale politically and he could with
some degree of truth be classed with the
chronic office-seekers.
However, even the Democrats in their
enthusiasm over the question seem to
have fallen short of their usual exercise
enough material to last the doctor
through one-half of his campaign when
he again comes before the State Over
a solid page of the most laudatory and
pleasant criticisms of the Doctors life
and doings, privately and politically, has
been spread broadcast by the Democratic
press, all of which is being carefully filed
away by the doctors friends for repro
duction in the future.
If might venture a guess I should say
that the burning issue in local politics
during the next two years will be gas,
and not water, as in the past few years
A very interesting situation now exists,
which is entirely new to this community
and yet 1t can be said truthfully that
there is precedent in degree, If not in
kind, with which to compare it. Since
this city needed any other illumination
than candles and coal oil lamps. there has
been but one gas company. At times COM
petition has been breathed. but thai is all
The existing company has always sought
to secure and retain the friendship of the
municipal government and the citizens
This has been done by a plan that might
almost be called cooperative, inasmuch
as no demand has ever been made on the
corporation to reduce the price of its gas
yet it has always been reduced in the
ratio Of the number Of consumers.
A few days ago much surprise was Gre
ated by the Incorporation of a new gas
company. This company has agreed
among its directors that for three years
prices about 30 per cent less than those
now charged shall prevail This is, of
course, a question Of maraked Importance