The San Francisco call., 1899-09-04
Agitation Emanates From the
Political Bureau of the
Southern Pacific.
Herrin and Burns May Compel the Gov
ernor to Issue the Proclamation.
Alleged Supporters Of a Caucus.

Kenneally. Lundquist, Marvin. Miller Of San
Francisco, Miller of Los Angeles; Blood M; Nc
Doubtful: senators-Davis. Maggard, Mutt,
Dale, Dunlap, Chynoweth Greenwell. Boynton,
La Baree- lie Baron. Mcdonald of Alameda
Against caucus if Burns has any apparent
chance: Senators-Boyce, Bulla, Flint, Gillette
Jones, Luchsinger, Smith, Taylor Assembly
Clark. Clough. Conrey. Crowder. DeLancie.
knights, Knowland, Lardner Mcdonald OF
Tuolumne. Melick Merritt, Muenter, Radclifr,
Raub. Raw, Robinson, Valentine, Wade-total,
The Calls information differs slightly
from the estimate presented by the mem
Der Of The Legislature who gave the fore
going figures. For example, Senator
Smith of Kern, who is classed as against
a caucus IF Burns has any apparent
chance" should be placed in the class
with those agreeing to go into caucus
This change would add one more vote to
the caucus class, making a total of 40.
The placing of the names of Senator'S
Morehouse and Cutter in the caucus class
will cause deal of comment. The Call
believes that an error of classification has
been made in respect to these two Sena-
tors. AS far as can be ascertained neither
one has given an expression to indicate
change OF base on the Senatorial question.
Should a caucus of sixty-one be permit
ted to settle the question of Senatorship
by vote or a majority Cd, Burns might
become the caucus nominee, although he
could not go before the people and carry
q single Assembly district in California.
Should the entire eighty-five elect to go
into caucus the followers of the Mexican
would be compelled to rally forty three
votes.
The safe policy for reputable members
OF the Legislature to pursue IS to have
nothing whatever to do with caucus
pledges and extra session petitions. When
the Legislature adjourned there was
great sigh of relief that the State had
been saved from the disgrace of Burns
election to the United States Senate. The
vacancy az this time is an honor to Cali
fornia and it is so highly creditable to the
Republicans of the State that the people
at the next general election will give the
party that resisted the dictation of the
Southern Pacific vote Of renewed conf
dence
Should Herrin and Burns force the Gov
ernor to call an extra session it will then
be the duty of all good Republicans and
ton of Burns, even If another deadlock
be the outcome of the second battle in
behalf of the people. No doubt efforts
will be made to induce Democrats to stay
away from Sacramento, so that the num-
ber of votes necessary to a choice may be
reduced to the smallest margin under the
law.
A quorum could be maintained in either
house if all the Democrats absented them
selves. In that case a majority of the
eighty-five remaining Republicans-forty-
three members-might elect a Senator 1t
was known to The Call last winter that
two or three Democrats in the Legis!a-
ture stood ready to vote for Burns in the
event Of a small acquisition being only
necessary to determine the issue in his
favor. There is no certainty that Burns
would be the nominee of the caucus If
one should be held, but citizens having
regard for the fair name of the State
would feel a sense of danger when they
perceived that the question was to be de-
termined in secret caucus.
There was not the slightest apprehen-
sion during the regular session that the
railroads candidate could win in the open
although Huntington, Herrin and their
agents in every county of the State en-
ployed their energies and influence to Sc
cure support for Burns. The hint is now
thrown out that Burns is not the candi-
date Of the parties seeking to bring about
an extra session of the Legislature Mem
bers are posted to say that the Repub-
licans will settle the issue in caucus and
whoever receives the majority vote of all
those attending the caucus will be de-
clared the party nominee. The railroad
agents who were employed to canvass the
State were careful to avoid the mention
of Burns name when addressing inquiries
to supporters of Grant, Barnes and Scott.