The San Francisco call., 1899-11-03
DEMOCRATS ON PHELAN.

HERE is something direct and potent IN the
expression Of their opinions by the straight
L Democrats who support Dr. Cleveland lor
NIavor and reject Phelan. At their meeting IN Met
ropolitan Hall a spade not called teaspoo"
nor pickax toothpick. Their principal speaker
Mr. Harris, concluded his arragnment OF Fheian Dv
asking his hearers to save this city from Dossisni
infinitely more absolute vicious and intoerant than
.r, which has ever reared its hydra head in San
Francisco Do this by voting against the
PheIanstic- Fxaninerism which is an unequlvocal
nsult 70 society dangerous to public morals, an IN
suit 10 the public conscience, to clean JourhaliSii'
clean government and genuine progress ana IS op-
nosed to commercial and industrial enterprise, 70
true Democracy and in general to that fair tame OF
San Francisco, which all good citizens desire to up
hold"
In quoting this we cannot say the italics are
o,,rs for in accent and emphasis it is all the work
Of recent political associate and supporter OF Mr..
Pbclan. II it cast light on the situation which
makes men blink, it is not from Republican but
Democratic sources.
These gentlemen have grown familiar with the
Mavor's methods by intimate association with him
in the same party and they supposed to testify
from abundance OF knowledge. They have the nat
rra feeling OF party men who desire that party vic
tories shall be properly credited and the proposition
70 have personal victory for Mr.. Phean, ignoring
the party is repugnant to them.
From their frequent and frank expressions it is evil
dent that they not only resent his assumption OF
being better than his party if not too good for it
altogether, but they regard him as not as good as
the party and put forward his methods as evidence
OF it
Nothing done by a common, unshaven boss was
ever grosser than Phelans forcing OF Gearys nomi-
nation and his remark that "Geary may be scrub
but we must have soldier on the ticket"
In ridiculous background to this is Geary's decara-
ton that Phean is 'our war Mayor and his intima-
ton that the war Mayors influence reached the Phil
ippines, and potent than the Federal Gov
ernment in neryng Our soldiers to pursue the Fill
pino skedadders No wonder there is some nausea
in the pit OF the old Democratic stomach at the
spectacle Of war Mayor and scrub standing as
candidates of the old party while denying its existence
and ignoring its principles Dr. Cleveland, Mr. Har-
lis and their colleagues certainly entitled pub
lie respect for their attitude on straight politics.
The Phean leadership by Gavin McNab suggests
other funny combinations and strange bedfelowships.
When McNab controlled the committee for the cele-
bration of the Fourth of July he was SO rancorous
against union labor organizations that he prevented
the employment of union bands to play for the pro-
cesson The result was that no labor organizations
appeared in the parade and Barrys Star opened
every vial Of its celebrated wrath on him and changed
his name in its columns to Gavin McScab," Now
McNab is pulling the stroke oar for Phelan, and
tie Star is in noisy accord with the combination.
Such mixture of fish, flesh and fowl makes the
gorge rise in the throat OF old-fashioned Democz
racy and its representatives warranted in oppoS
ing such a political burgoo.