The San Francisco call., 1904-08-25
FIGHT AGAINST BELsHAw.
Political PIums Are Offered His Con-
stituents to Betray Him.


SANTA CRUZ, Aug 24.-Federal
patronage is the green-eyed monster
that has again broken the political
peace Of Contra Costa County and out
of the disturbance a scandal has been
evolved in which several we'll known
names form a conspicuous part. Not
long after the delegations OF Contra
Costa and Marin counties, which COM
pose the Ninth Senatorial District, ar
rived in town tonight, runOrs began
to gain circulation that the Contra
Costa men had on their war paint and
investigation disclosed the following
state Of affairs:
At the recent primaries eleven dele
gates were elected in Contra Costa
County pledged to support G. M. Bel
shaw of Antioch in his fight for re-
nomination for Senator. Marin elected
a delegation OF eight which is solid
for z. B. Martinelli of San Rafael
Under the rule that has long pre-
vailed in the district by which the
State offices alternate between the two
counties that compose II, Marin
claimed that Belshaw should not sue
ceed himself but that Marin should
be conceded the right to name the Sen
ator.
But in the present instance Contra
Costa refused to concede the point
The lines had been too closely drawn
at the primaries and the fight was too
bitter to stand by old customs, so II
was announced that Belshaw was in
the fight to win.
Here the scandal broke, but in no
way does It involve Marin County, its
/ delegation OF it's aspiFant for State
Senator. Belshaw displeased certain In
terests in his own county, and when
1t was given out that he was in the
/ fight to stay and refused the right or
/ Marin to name the candidate for the
coming term the anti -BelshaW push, ~
as it is known in Contra Costa, began
to scheme to work his undOing.
Judge Hough, a Belshaw delegate OF
/ Contra Costa, informed his associates
/ yesterday morning that an effort had
| been made to secure on his part the
/ commission Of an act of political trea-
/ son. Notwithstanding the fact that he
was elected and pledged to support Bel
shaw he told his associates In the
! delegation that he had been approached
nv L. r. Palmer OF Walnut Creek, who
/ informed him that if he would desert
4 the BeIshaw camp and aid in Belshaw' s
knitting a position in the internal reve-
nue. Office would be placed at his dis
posal, the position to be worth 500
a month for the first four months and
/ $3.50 a month thereafter until the end
I of the present administration Wnen
/ Palmer was asked what influences leo
/ him to believe that a position in the
/ revenue Office was at his disposal for
public barter, Judge HOugh informed
! his associates that Palmer referred
| him to Supervisor James Stow Of Con-
/ ira Costa and dwelt on Slows close
/ association with Revenue Officials
I Lynch and Borland.
/ Judge HOugh's story brought forth
/ further evidence that an effort to create
4 internal strife in the Contra Costa dele
cation had been made. Hugh Grant of
/ Richmond. a Belshaw delegate, tntt-
mated that if he chose to commit po-
/ litfcal treason he could secure a reward
3 from the element that was out TO knife
/ BeIshaw. Others had a similar tale
/ to tell. but all stood pat and came
| into town tonight solid for Belshaw
| Marin's delegation. though anxious
/ to secure the nomination Of Martinell
I condemned the method that had been
I used in an effort to defeat Belshaw. The
I delegation disClaimed all knowledge OF
/ the affair and the Contra Costa men
we're anxious that the Martinelh sup
porters be absOlved from all connection
/ with the affair. Marin's delegation an
/ nOunced that it would endeavOr to Sc
! cure a conference with the Contra
/ Costa people tomorrow morning and
/ arrive at an amicable settlement. but
i that If Contra Costa refused to recede
/ from it's position it would do the best
| it could and vote solid for Martincllt