The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13

Twin soon be In the throes of an
other fierce political contest and
a the fact that this State holds its
election in June and is thus
a forerunner of the Presidential
campaign gives unusual Importance to
the election. The feature of the contest
Will be the battle for supremacy between
the Simon Republicans and the Mitchell
wing of the party, and while the Mitchell
people are in control Of everything, in
Guiding the Federal patronage of the
State, there are many indications that
presage the return to power of the Simon
faction.
1t will be remembered that on the ex-
piration of Senator Simon's term last
March he deliberately accused President
/ Roosevelt Of breaking a written promise
| and produced the letter to prove his
charge. kThis incident was seized upon
by the Mitchell people, who thereafter re-
ferred to the Simon wing the ''anti-ad-
ministration faction" Moreover, they an
! nounced their intention of making the
question of whether the administration
should be supported or not the main issue
I in the coming campaign.
SETBACK FOR MITCHELL.
Under these circumstances the recent
appointement of E. W. Davis and the
turning down Of ]. w. Knowles for reg
been a severe blow to Senator Mitchell
( and has caused much uneasiness among
his friends. The Senator's strongest card
was his supposed influence with the Pres
dent in the matter of securing appoint
ments for his supporters. His failure to
/ obtain the appointment of Knowles, back
ed as he was by the unanimous recon-
mendation of the entire Congressional del
egation of this State, was followed by the
assertion that Senator Mitchell would en-
deavor to defeat the confirmation of Da-
Wis, the Presidents appointee, in the Sen
ate. This put the Mitchell faction in the
very attitude of opposition to the national
administration which they had previously
been urging as an argument why the ST.
mon people should not be supported at
the polls.
The main issue in Oregon, statements
of political leaders to the contrary not
withstanding is who shall be elected
United States Senator i'm 1907 to succeed
Mitchell. And to this single end~all the
energies of both the old Mitchell machine
and the new organization which Senator
Simon is now constructing are being bent.
The Legislature that will be elected
next June will not choose a Senator, nor
are there any important State offices to
be filed, yet the battle for supremacy at
that election promises to be sharp and
fierce and at this early date is already
beginning to show itself. There will be
fifteen State Senators elected who will
hold over and participate in the election
or Senator Mitchells successor. OF these
fifteen State Senators five come from
Multnomah, the banner Republican coun-
ty of the State and the real battle ground
OF the contest. 1t goes without saying
that Senator Mitchell desires to be re-
elected and the personnel of the State
Senate to be reelected gives the distin-
guished Senator much concern. 1t will be
remembered that Senator Mitchell owes
his present seat in the Senate to the votes
of Democrats, Populists and those Re-
publicans who united to defeat the Re-
publican caucus nominee for Senator in
the Legislature of 1901.