New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-13
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
Rooseuelts Plurality a Surprise
GrO1Cth of Socialist V0te.

San Francisco. Nov lite enormous plural
ity which President Roosevelt piled up in Cali
fornia was as great surprise to Republicans as
TO Democrats. The most sangune Republican.
who in this proved to be Chairman George
Stone OF the State Central Committee. did not
venture beyond 10000 In his prediction of Re-
publican plurality. The chairman of the Demo-
cratic Central Committee frankly conceded the
State by 10000 the night before election. The
result showed that the vote surpassed the two
estimates combined, for it will amount to
$4,000.
The only explanation OF this remarkable vote
is that all the Republicans and at least one-half
of the Democrats cast their ballots for Roose-
welt whose popularity was greatly increased by
his visit to this State. His heartiness and sin
cerity made a powerful impression the public
estimate Of him. and the vote showed that it was
able to break down party lines when weak a
rival as Parker in the field. Everywhere
throughout the State the same ratio of Repub-
Iican gains is recorded, showing that revolt
against Democrats was general.
When It is remembered that only a few days
ago California was in the so-called doubtful
column. the Importance of this big Republican
vote may be estimated. 1t certainly shows that
a large number of persons have become property
owners and that they governed in voting
not by passion or prejudice, used TO be the
case. but by a consideration of public welfare
With good times high wages and general pros
perity, there was no reason why these property
owners should desire a change of adninistra tion
and, even though lifelong Democrats. they cast
their ballots for Roosevelt. The same disregard
of party lines was in San Francisco. where
a plurality of 21,S32 was scored for Roosevelt
nrao theh sf ava Y1lr1 * ~ UNfi
principle was seen in the election Of two Re
publican and two Democratic tncumbents Of the
Superior Court. Kerrigan and Trout, Repub
leans and Seawell and Murasky. Democrats,
were elected. Opposed to them were men
favored by the city administration. The land
slide throughout the State and city swept into
Office eight Republican Congressman and an
overwhelming majority of Republicans IN the
California LEGISLATURE. Not single Democratic
State Senator was elected and only a half dozen
Democratic Assembynen. In fact, the Repub-
Iicans with seventy-fve members in the lower
house Of the State legislature. may elect
United States Senator If they choose without
consulting the thirty-fve Republican Senators,
as only sixty-one votes are required to elect.
Tba erea. increase of the Socialist vote in
California is worrying many politicians mere,
+hpt vote having quadrupled in -FOUR years In
1900 Debs polled only f'oiZ VOles III Sa'iA' NO.
,,,hi,a this time San Francisco alone gives him
7o31 votes and Alameda County gives him 4'ooo.
His estimated vote throughout the State is
35 900 Shrewd experts declare this Dig vote
was simply a revolt OF Democrats against
Parker and there is ground for this theory IN
the fact that the Socialist candidate Tor Con-
gress only received 2.273 votessin San FRANCISCO.
and the candidates for superior judges only so'
1000 votes each. If this big Socialist vote was
nenu,ue tt is argued. it would have shown itsei3