New-York tribune., 1905-01-15
ON THE PACIFIC COAST.
Choice of California Senator-Ballot
Boa Stufng Trial.

ChOtce OF CGLfTOTntG O6n0IOF-b dttOt
Boa Stuffng Trial.
San Francisco, jan 13.-The election this week
of Frank P Flint as United States Senator to
succeed Senator Bard was no surprise after the
first ballot showed his great strength. Up TO the
last many imae eined that Senator Bard had votes
in reserve and would suddenly develop strength
but when he refused to come out here and take
personal charge of his campaign 1t was evident
that he would be beaten. Senator Bard is too
independent TO suit several large interests In
California and he refused also to surrender a
large share of his patronage. Mr. Flint is gray
haired. but he is a comparatively young man.
being only forty-two and he is very popular.
He is acknowledged to be an able lawyer, and'
though no orator he is a strong and convincing
speaker He has lived nearly all his life in Cali
fornia and he understands thoroughly the needs
of the State. His home for almost twenty years
has been in Los Angeles, whittier he was driven
from San Francisco by asthma He is extreme
ly popular in Southern California, where he de-
monstrated his ability as United States District
Attorney and later in the private practice of the
law. He has q wife, young son and daugh-
ter.
1t is a curious fact that the Republican tidal
wave which swept California at the last
election left only nine Democratic legislators
Republican majority in the present legislature
that the lower house alone could have furnished
more than the sixty-one votes necessary to elect
a United States Senator AS ii was, the forlorn
band of Democrats gave a complimentary vote
TO Congressman Bell, and Ill Republican votes
were cast for Mr.. Flint The other candidates
retired when they the hopelessness of the
struggle, and thus made Mr.. Flints election
unanimous.
An entire week has been consumed, in the trial
Of Charles Wyman for ballot box stuffing. IN
proving that the primary election was held in
this city on August last Every technical de-
vice has been employed by the defence to check
the progress of the trial. when if the simple
facts had been presented the case would have
been closed in two hours. Evidence Is adduced
that Wyman wrote another mans name on a
precinct register and voted that mans num-
ber Fairfax Whelan. one of the prominent local
lawyers, declares he witnessed the whole proceed
ing. and gave the testimony before the grand
jury which indicted Wyman. Yet the Schmitz
administration, which stands back of Wyman, Is
exhaustng every technical device to secure some
court ruling on which the case may be appealed
1t is a remarkable exhibition Of the insolence
of a political boss who actually instructed his
lawyers TO question the motives of Mr.. Whelan
in making this exposure of the worst form of
civic crime
Mayor Schmitz has added to his many offences
against good government by the appointment
this week of Edward Aigeltinger as head of
the Board of Public Works and Frank Macs
tretti as a member of the same board AlgeIt-
niger several years ago was conspicuous as
the leader of the majority of seven In the Board
Of Supervisors which approved large number
of apparently corrupt contracts. Despite the
protests of the remaining five supervisors and
all the local newspapers. these seven men voted
away public money to alleged swindling con-
tractors and are accused Of receiving their
money reward for this violation of their sworn
pledges After his term expired Aigeltinger
dropped out of sight, has come again to the
front. and Mayor schmitz has insulted all the
charge Of the department where any ability OF
his as CRATER may have full play. Macs
tretti his associate, is the employed by
Wyman, and who directed the alleged ballot
box stuffing which several of his tools are now
accused.
II is now announced on authority Of ]. w.
Reid the architect, that no changes will be
made in the plans of the Fairmount Hotel on
the summit OF Mob Hill Mr.. Reid, who has just
returned from conferences with Mrs. Teresa Oel-
richs in New York, declares that the hotel viii
be completed according to the original plans.
1t is hoped that the building will be ready for
occurancy within the present year. but this
has vet been done. An important sale of real
estate was recorded this week, the Monroe
Greenwood company buying large lot on the
southwest corner of BUSIEST. and Grant-ave., on
which now stands the Ahlborn Hotel. The price
paid was $4,000.
The election of Homer S. King president of
the Bank of California a surprise to the
Street as Mr.. King had given no ntimation
that he would resign from the presidency cf the
Wels-Fargo Bank with which he has been con-
nected for many years His election TO succeed
the late William Alvord and his resignation Of
his old post occurred the same day. Mr..
King was associated with the Wells-Fargo Bank
and Express Company for nearly forty years.
The southern counties have received heavy
rain this week, which extended even to the
Colorado and Mojave deserts. Much damage
was caused by the washouts but this was more
than balanced by the great aid to orchards and
lrmers on the desert the rainfall was a god
nd, as the supply OF water to all the fruit dis
the edges Of the Mojave and Colorado
deserts has been small.