The San Francisco call., 1904-08-08
0'BRIEN SAYS McNAB USURPED
POST OF BOSS WITHOUT RIGHT
Scores Leader of the
Regular Organ
lZatlon.
BY JAMES H. O'BRIEN.

Tomorrow the Democratic voters Of
san Francisco viii say whether they
intend to have voice in the party's
affairs or whether they will continue to
be manipulated by a few men in back
room. I feel confident the voters will
insist on taking the control of the party
into their own hands. and in this strug-
gle the Democratic League represents
this movement for party independence.
The Democratic League is the out
growth OF the general demand that
loyal Democrats shall no longer be ig
nored in the councils Of the party. Its
first insistence is that the driving of
Democrats out of the party must stop.
We want equal rights and equal oppor-
tunities for all who are loyal TO the
party and true to the Democratic faith.
We charge Gavin McNab with usUrp-
ing the position Of leader and then ig-
noring the Democratic voters.
What body Of Democrats ever elected
meeting held? How many votes were
cast? What was the title given him?
There was no meeting: there was no
election Then how did Mr.. McNab
come to be the boss Of the party2 His
position was not given him. He took il.
Now the Democratic League asks that
the matter Of leadership be submitted
r
not decided OTThand by Mr.. McNab.
Mr. McNab and his followers have
called me z boss. l am not. have no
ambition TO be boss. But a year ago
an open meeting was called at Pioneer
Hall Notices were printed in the pa
pers telling Of that meeting and it's pUr-
poses The Democrats who gathered
there did so 10 ask why they were shut
out Of party councils and why Mr. Nc
Nab was trying 10 drive them away
from Democracy. At that open, adver-
tiSed meeting l was elected president
of the Democratic League. But no
opens advertised meeting Of Democrats
ever elected Mr.. McNab as president
leader or boss.
The Democratic League depends upon
the Democrats of the different districts
for its strength II goes to the districts
TO make ID its primary tickets. When
the delegates from the districts meet in
open convention they VIII make up
their ticket for submission TO the voters
in November There viii be no slate,
no advance programme
The Democratic League has not ped
died around the streets promises Of
nominations before q single delegate
was elected, as Mr. McNab has done.
Our delegates will be free men. not
mere tools or chattels. Under the Dem
ocratic League plan the people viii con-
a small office in the Mills building We
VIII get our commission directly from
the voters and render a sharp account
directly TO those voters.
In past Democratic conventions il has
been necessary for Democrats before
they could get upon the convention
floor to secure a pass from Mr. McNab
cOuntersigned by Mr.. Hickey. We want
10 put a stop to that sort Of thing In
the convention proposed by the Demo-
cratic League all Democrats win be
more than welcome on the floor. Their
ideas viii be given attention; their ad-
vice viii be needed. The Democratic
party gatherings are for all Democrats,
and not merely for a tagged and tick
eted few, specially privileged.
At the present time the party is sup
posed &c have county committee. The
organization" is presumed 10 be some
thing more than Mr. McNab. But what
has that county committee done TO
prepare for this primary When have
the district members been called to-
gether TO make up the district tickets2
There has been no meeting. One man
has done il all.
Against such undemocratic methods
the Democratic League protests. 1t
promises a complete reform. The dis
trict leaders know the Democrats of
the districts. They know their neigh
bOrs. They are familiar with the dis
trict needs The Democratic League
promises those district leaders and the
district voters that once again they
viii have a voice in the party coun-
ellis.
Under the McNab regime the dis
tricts have had nothing to say about
the distribution Of patronage. All the
Democrats Of a district might recon-
mend the appointment of some one TO
a place. The appointment might be
one to greatly benefit the party. But
those Democrats would petition in
vain. McNab was the sole arbiter and
dispenser. The Democratic League
promises an entire reform in this also.