The San Francisco call., 1899-01-03


season of sunshine and shower. One
moment the rain would be falling
briskly and the next the clouds would
be driven away, only to- return. In
deed, the weather has been typical Of
the Senatorial aspirations, as the lat
ter is revealed to the unbiased under
standing. The men who have high
hopes now may have them dashed, and
While they lament, see them gather
again as good as new.
The only circumstance pointing to
this as a holiday was that the boot
blacks charged 10 cents for a shine. II
anybody else observed the existence of
1899 they made no sign. Certainly the
politicians took no rest, but wagged
their jaws with patriotic fervor, and
crooked not the pregnant hinges of
the knee so much as hinges of the ell
bow. The spectator of politics. partic-
ularly when so important a matter as
the making Of a Senator is at hand, will
never be able to divorce craftsmanship
from mixed drinks Diplomacy leans
against the bar and takes in an atmos-
phere blue With tobacco smoke. 1t talks
loudly when confident, it whispers it's
listener has been taken into fellowship
with the great. and hobnObs with the
creators Of epoChs, the manufacturers
of history. Sometimes the listener is
impressed. sometimes he is not; in other
cases he is willing TO be but is beyond
reach of mere remarks.
1t is possible to feel a lack of ad
miration for these busy people, al
though they do not realize this. When
a knot Of them is seen exchanging
mysterious Winks, suspicion comes into
the mind that job is under way. Per
haps this suspicion is unworthy, and
those who think so are at liberty to dis
miss it. There are many classes en-
braced in the throng. 4 part are on
lockers, some are here to buy, some TO
be bought and doubtless many who are
not for sale nor making bids
The inevitable impression is, how
ever, that purity in politics is a dream
Wandering among the workers l have
tried to get an inkling Of the situation
and have succeeded in getting several
IN crossing the office of the Golden
Eagle II Is nOJ- uTrrvrnrrruu TO ps as
sured that Burns is Il certainty, that
Grant cannot lose, that Barnes has
good chance that Bulla has a reserve
strength calculated to paralyze and eX-
terminate the opposition. Individually
there ia mistake somewhere. / make
no attempt to locate it.
What was intended to be a sensation
was the springing Of the candidacy of
Dan Burns. With an apparent serious
ness stamping him a merry Jester,
Burns did this and appealed to Califor
MIA TO vindicate him. He is asking too
much. 1t is a strange spectacle. An
offender against the laws, long enjoy
ing immunity, not satisfied with this.
and begging for a certificate of good
character He wants California to con-
done his crimes and become accessory
after the fact. Yet Burns is not with
out friends. sig Bettman remains true
and Keneilly is firm as rock.
The Burns headquarters are conduct
ed on a different plan from the others.
General Barnes keeps the door OF his
apartments wide open. The doors to
Grants and Bullas swing to anybody's
touch, ! to enter the Burns Sanctum
there must be passed an outside and
an inside guard What magic words
hvnnOtiZe these faithful functions
has not been revealed to the non-elect.
but men were passing in and out an
day The rumOr that they were in in
stances heard to cink when they came
from within l am not prepared to con-
firm.
Grants managers are asserting that
victory is anxious to perch on their
banners, and are getting the banners
ready for the emergency. Several weeks
ago l wrote that the man from San
Diego, with perfectly organized cam
tNFs I L
rivals were just beginning 20 wake UP.
would be in the fight TO the last and
that his hope of winning was not vain
nor foolish. Supposing the issue were
to narrow down to him and Burns. as
seems TO me probable, l predict a stam-
pede to Grant and am unable to see
things any other way. Certainly such
a thing as stampede to Burns is too
tough proposition to be considered.
and when his struggle becomes futile
his friends viii desert him, for such. |
believe, is the precedent set by himself.
But to the end he can depend upon
Bettman, Keneally and Dennery. if the
last can get in, which l hope he can't.
and if the second could square himself
with the courts so as not to be needed
in San Francisco.
But because Burns and Grant seem
to one spectator the leading figures it
does not follow that Bulla and Barnes
have not stanch friends, followers of
each making prophecy as pleasing
TO his own heart and understanding. 1t
is certain that Bulla also has a follow
ing which Will cling while there is a
chance to cling and which cherishes the
conviction that this candidate of the
south will be sustained in the final
grand rush.
Personally, Barnes is popular for
several reasons, including that rare gift
Of oratory which makes of a star not q
point of light, but torch burning i'm
mortal in the midnight skies" A little of
that tossed lightly into tariff debate
would tend TO cheer the nation. This
is all I know about the candidates and
possibly more, Journalists by whom l