The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-08

z Z the primary election were
actively engaged in their re
spective districts last evening in max
ing ready for the battle to-day EST
mates Of the number Of votes that VII
be thrown to-day cover q wide range.
Men who fancy that the interest VIII
not be widespread predict that not
more than 25000 men viii vote. Others
who have given the campaign close at
tention estimate that 10000 ballots VIII
be cast.
There were scenes of activity at all
the political headquarters last night
The energy displayed at the headquar-
tiers Of the Buckley faction of Demo-
Gratis and the number of workers there
assembled indicate to neutral obserV-
ers that the old boss will capture a big
section of the Democratic nominating
convention. The BuckleyiteS do not
underrate the strength Of the Ralney-
Examiner League, as many OF them
know from experience the force that
the Fire Department organized as po-
Itical machine can exert at the poiIs.
1t is known that tickets and lnStruc-
tons have been given to the fremen.
The instructions convey the idea that
if thew lose the election they may lose
their positions. There is an apprehen-
sion that the firemen have been ad-
vised by implication to use violent
methods if violence shall be necessary
10 their success. The Chief OF Ponce
has been notified of the instructions Sc
cretlv given at the various engine
houses. Rainey and the Examiner are
desperate and will not stop snort OF
sandbagging innocent citizens IN order
to execute their political designs. Inc
Examiners work is so raw ana clumsy
that Phelan's friend, the Bulletin. Is
obliged to protest in this fashion:
.One Of the most diabOlical features
of this campaign is the attempt that Is
being made by Sam Rainey to win by
the use of the Fire Department. This
branch Of the city government Is be
ing employed without the slightest at
teu1pr at cOncealmeut to carry the
Rainey ticket through. This makes the
stable boss more formidable than his
old alIv Buckley. The party organ of
the Democrats has helped to expose
Buckley, but seems to be sausned with
the Rainey ticket
1t has denounced the blind man in
unmeasured terms, but has left Ratney
untouched. This leaves the Bulletin to
fight the battle against Rainey alone.
The public is, therefore. specially
warned against his fakes and Informed
of the manner in which he is using the
Fire Department to accomplish his
ends Members of the department
nave Dee0 gwen ledNe VI dDSSLC6 III VI
der that they may do work around the
pools on election day. They have been
ordered to get out and work. and
have been given to understand that
their bread and butter depends upon
compliance with instructions OF the
boss Men have been told that unless
they work for the Rainey ticket they
will lose their places in the department,
and Captain Foley has been promising
the men in the Forty-f1fth District
places if they support the Rainey tick
ct This ought in itself to make every
honest man redOuble his efforts to ex-
clude Rainey from the convention
SO far as can be ascertained, Mayor !
Phclan. the executive officer Of the city, |
has not uttered an official protest /
against the unWarranted perversion of /
the Fire Department. Yet the Bulle- /
tin. the Mayors subsidized guardian !
and the protector OF his political estate, !
bluntly characteriZes the Fire Depart /
ment Interference as "one of the most
diabolicaI features of the campaign"
In the Republican ranks there is !
sharp rivalry between the followers Of
the County Committee on one side and
the supporters Of the Grand Hoteltic !
on the other. The Republican conven-
ton must Of necessity be better than
the one which the Democrats will
choose, because the most inferior ma
terial on the Republican ticket is bet
ter than the best put forward by Demo-
cratic factions. The fight in the Demo-
cratic party is so bitter, and WithaI so
alluring TO the political heeler. that the
tOuts and ruffians who recently trained
under the Republican banner Will get