The San Francisco call., 1901-12-07
RELIES
ON De EMOCRATs
President Evidently Is
Posted Concerning
the Fight.
Reason Why the Revenue
Collector Provokes
Party Strife.

The politicians were somewhat sur
prised when they read the news that the
President had advised Senators Perkins
and Bard to settle the controversy con-
cerning the Internal Revenue Collector
ship. 1t seems that President Roosevelt
is pretty well informed touching affairs
in California. No doubt he has made
close inquiry to ascertain why one Of the
Federal officeholders in this State is so
unpopular that his retention is resisted
by many leading public men. Other citi-
zens holding office under the National ad-
ministration manage to get along without
provoking public indignation. The Col
1ector of the Port, the Surveyor, the
Naval Officer, the United States Mar
shall. the officers of the Land Department,
the Postmaster, the, Superintendent of
the Mint, the Shipping Commissioner, the
Appraiser, the United States District At
torney, and others, do not by their con-
duct excite a spirit of hostility. They In
terest themselves in political affairs and
support the candidates respectively of
their choice. Perhaps some favored Bard
for Senator and others preferred Barnes
or Burns. No one challenged their right
to express judgment as to the merit and
fitness of candidates. If the Collector of
Internal Revenue had followed the eX-
ample of other Federal Ofhceholders there
WOulQ nOI D6 a popular PROTEST dSdl his
retention in office. He started off wrong
by recognizing the Southern Pacific Rail-
way corporation as the Government, and
sought the attorney of the corporation
for advice in affairs political. When he
was ordered to fight Republican candt-
dates and support Democratic nominees
for the Legislature he obeyed orders, He
interfered in Democratic as well as Re
publican faction controversies. The
leading Republican journals in every Con-
gressional district of the State
would like to see a good, square,
sensible man appointed to succeed
Lynch. The only newspaper support
Lynch receives is from the Democratic
press, for favors extended to Democrats,
long as he remains in Office and takes po-
litical orders from Herrin there will be
discomfort and factional strife. The Presi-
dent may wisely determine to take af-
cause of the strife.
Can Be Removed Any Time.
1t happens, fortunately, that there is no
fixed term for the office of Collector of
Revenue The President can make the
change at his pleasure. Lynch has al
his fight to hold on Lynch relies on the
support of the yellow press and the pull
of the Southern Pacific corporation.
The peculiar attitude of Senator Perkins
creates a Surmise that the Senator has
been promised railroad help in his cam
paign for reelection to the Senate. 1t is
a known fact that Perkins did agree to
join in recommending to the President
any worthy man that his colleague should
recommend for the Revenue Collector
ship. Senator Perkins will not deny to
the President that he readily consented
to join in a recommendation of DR.. RoWell
for that office.
The new apportionment of Congression-
al districts in California takes effect on
the first of next month. Two strong Re
publican Assembly districts-the Fortieth
and Forty-frst-which added largely to
the party majority in the Fifth Congress
siOnal District, will henceforth be en-
| braced within the boundaries of the
Fourth Congressional District 1t is said
that julius Kahns friends at Sacramento
were active in bringing about this trans
fer of Republican strength from the Fifth
! tc the Fourth Congressional District.
| The Fifth District, represented by Eu-
gene F. Loud, is regarded as safe for the
| Republicans, Notwithstanding the loss OF
the two Assembly districts mentioned.
/ The safety of the Fourth for Mr.. Kahn
may depend somewhat on his record in
| the present session of Congress.