The San Francisco call., 1899-11-08
. An FRANCIsCO's first election un


der the charter is an incident of po-
liucal history. The Democratic
\ J party. under the direction of Mayor
James y. Phelan. has won trl-
Umph. The Mayor has been chosen by the
people of the city to succeed himself, and
with him his chief heutenants have been
elected.
The campaign which ended yesterday, in
The election. was I'm many ways a remark
able one. 1t possessed nothing but local
significance. Both OF the leading political
parties asked the sufrages Of the people
upon practically an Identical issue. Both
parties We're supporters of the charter.
Both asked for votes that the provisions
Of the charter might be carried into fun,
practical effect. Upon this single issue
various aspirants went into the cam
paisn and the people of san Francisco, by
their votes have decided that a majority
of the Democratic nominees shall be the
first administrators of the City's affairs
under the charter.
At an early hour this morning the last
returns of the ballOting had not been re-
ceived by the Registrar Of Voters. but the
count shows clearly that Mayor Phelan +
has been reelected, by a majority of at
least five thousand votes. to the position
which he now occupies. The unofficial
count which gives him this majority
may be increased fifteen hundred by the
Official count Auditor Wells has been
elected to succeed himself. Assessor
Dodge will receive perhaps the highest
vote of any aspiTant for public office in
the local election, the unofficial count at
the Registrars Office showing that he
was honored by two votes to his Op-
pOnent's one.
City Attorney Lane will also succeed
himself and will receive the compliment
Of tremendous majority. John Lack
mann, proving perhaps the prediction Of
Mayor Phelan. viii defeat jeremiah Deasy
handsomely. Major Dennis Geary
has demonstrated that police duty in
Manila IS not a passport to the County
Clerks office. as he has been defeated by
W. A Deane by a very large vote.
In the voting yesterday there was in
every precinct Of the city a discrimina-
tiOn that perhaps was never equaled in a
municipal election. AS both parties rep
resented identical issues electors cast I
their ballots for individual favOrites. AS
q result the patronage of political local
Offices IS almost evenly divided between
the Democrats and the Republicans. leav-
ing out of consideration the tremendous .
appointive power which the Mayor enjoys
under the charter. In the major offices
Of the city government the Democrats
have won the Mayor the Assessor and +
the City Attorney. The Republicans Will 1
enjoy the patronage of the Auditor the
Sheriff and the County Clerk The Demo- /
Gratis have also won a majority Of the
members Of the Board of Supervisors, the .
latest returns indicating that at least /
thirteen Of the Democratic aspirants have
been elected.
While the official returns as they have /
been received at an early hour this morn |
ing, are no absolute indication Of the re-
suit II is probable that three Of the Police |
Judges nominated by the Democrats have |
been elected.
The result Of the election, considering it |
as a whole ought to be accepted by the /
people Of San Francisco as a matter Of (
conRratulation. There was in the con- |
test which has just ended nothing of per-
sOnalities The men nominated by both /
of the great political parties were con-
ceded 70 be men Of repUte, men of honor
and men qualified for the positions they
sought. The campaign was fought hon
orably, and the people of the city have
determined, with their votes their choice
Of the men who shall administer the af-
fairs of the city government. In every
precinct Of the city the voting proceeded
without interruption and without any of
the violent scenes that have disgraced
former elections.
The registration had indicated that
very heavy vote would be polled. Some
thing over 10000 names had been reg
ninistration under d new charter indi-
Gated that nearly all of those who had
registered would vote. The result proved
however, that nearly 10000 people who had
registered their names failed to vote This
was accounted for partly by the fact that
nearly $500 electors had changed their
residences and had not properly certified
the fact to the authorities.
Another remarkable incident of the
election was the fact Of early voting :
While many Of the prominent merchants =
of the town had made arrangements to :
permit their employees to vote during the :
afternoon, the record of the booths
showed that most voters cast their ballots
before they went to work.
1t happened therefore that the voting :
Of the aftefnoon was light As already
there was very little disturb ]
ance at any Of the voting booths. In two /
Or three instances election officers ignor-
ant of their 1uties, committed mistakes {
that for the moment occasioned trouble.
and then an explanation prevented fur
Their disturbance. The police, with that