The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-06
CONFERS WITH COBB.
Supporters Of the SOuthrOn De-
clare That When He Drops
Out They Will Vote as
They Please.

CALL HEADQUARTERS, SACRA-
MENTO, Feb. SIS U. s. Grant try
ing to get even on his campaign ex-
penses through Dan Burns, or is he
trying to sell the Mexican a gold
brick?'
These are the two questions the per-
spring statesmen who are on the in
side Of affairs in Sacramento are ask
ing themselves without hope of an an
swer. That he is trying to do one or
the other, or both, without hope of sue
cess in any direction seems 80 certain
that the men who have been voting for
Grant for Senator are wondering if
they are to be sold without being given
an opportunity to be present at the
ceremonies, or to have a say in fixing
the price
All of this speculationhasb been brought
about by conversation that occurred
between Grant and Assemblyman Cobb,
one of Burns confidential supporters,
in the Assembly chamber some days
ago. The facts in the case as we'll as
the exact nature of the conversation,
which was strictly confidential, have
just leaked out, and the result is no
end of row on all sides.
On the occasion in question Grant
honored the Assefnblv chamber with his
presence during the taking of the joint
ballot. AT the conclusion of the ballot
ing Grant made known his desire to
have confidential chat with Mr. Cobb.
That gentleman, ever on the alert to
gain an advantage for his master, lost
no time in signifying his appreciation
Of the honor that had been done him
by the request, as we'll as his earnest
wish to comply with it without loss of
time. When the two gentlemen were
alone Mr.. Grant gave utterance to the
following remarkable statement:
TT would be too bad if some of these
little fellows who are running around
here with lightning rods in their hats
waiting for the Senatorial flash to
! strike them, should win the prize. II
would be bad thing for the politics OF
this State for any man of their caliber
to get in, for next year a horde of them
would swarm in and no proper man
would stand chance
II admire Dan Burns he is a splen-
did man, and l think would make a
worthy representative of this State in
the Senate. If 1 cannot win myself, I
would rather he should get it than one
of these little fellows who are running
around here, and I shall throw my in
fuence to him rather than see any one
of them get It,"
Here is a state of things, to be sure.
1t would appear, then, that the son of
his father has a supreme contempt for
the caliber of such gentlemen as Gen
eral w. H. L. Barnes, Senator r. N.
Bulla, ex-United States Senator c. N.
FELTON,, Irving M. Scott and others who
are being voted for by members of the
Legislature
But there is serious side to the
situation, and it is this side that is
worrying the politicians. Grants re-
markable statement seems to indicate,
If anything that he can say may be
considered as indicative of anything
worthy of serious consideration, that
he is making an awkward attempt to
flirt with Burns. The thought there
fore suggests itself that perhaps Mr..
Grant has come to the conclusion that
he will never be elected United States
Senator, and that he has begun to
figure what his little bid for fame has
cost him. Having grub-staked the en-
tire State and failed to get return it
may be that he now wishes to get even
by selling the influence of his fathers