The San Francisco call., 1905-01-03
SOLONS ARE ANXIOUS TO
START T0GA FIGHT.
CANDIDATES. CONFIDENT
POSTMASTER FISH OUT FOX F1ONORS
Former Speakers Appearance in Contest
Cause of Much Speculation.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

rumors and will be INDUCED in so long
as men run for office in California.
But there is no truth in it. I have
heard nothing of it. l do not believe
it and still hold that this fight will be
fairly fought"
The serious hand Arthur Fisk has
taken in the fight has given rise to
much speculation. Fisk is now an
avowed candidate and says he hopes
to land in case none of the men now
prominently mentioned in the fight Sc
cure enough votes to elect. FiSk'S candi-
dacy shows that he thinks there is a
probability Of a deadlock and he knows
something about the game of electing
United States Senators.
L am what you may call a receptive
candidate said the former Speaker,
Il am ready to receive anything that
may come my way. My candidacy is
purely personal and / think / have
enough friends to elect me if matters
shape themselves right. | am in the
fight in earnest and in case one of those
supposed to be leading in the fight does
not develop enough strength to win l
think can get the place"
Fisk is credited with only two votes
that are certain-those of Jones of San
Francisco and Shortridge.
IN A RECEPTIVE MOOD.
Fisk.s announcement that ne is in a
receptive mood is taken as an indica-
tion that he believes the forces that are
backing the southern candidates were
so embittered during the recent fight
there that it is impossible for south
ern man to be elected and that all
northerners in receptive mood and cor
responding ambition had better get into
the field early. Some say that George
A. Knight is going on the same theory,
but knight has another story TO tell.
Knight says that he is here to get
into the fight on the first ballot and
stay in it until the last and that his
claims will be based on naught but his
record. The story that the organiza-
tion had sent out word that Flint was
to be the man knight also discredited.
He says he has positive assurance that
the fight is open and that it will be won
by fair means, no matter which man
gets 1t, and that the scandals of past
elections will not be repeated. To sub
stantiate his theory he points to the
fact that the legislators are all un-
certain as to what the outcome Of the
contest will be. Those that are pledged
know how they are going to vote and
that is all. The others are open to, con-
viction. but in just what manner this
conviction" will reach them is only
conjectural. The day of the balloting
will alone determine this.
OXNARD is CONFIDENT.
Henry T. Oxnard had lost none of his
confidence. He says that as yet every
one is at sea and that the battle has
not as yet fairly opened, to say moth
ing of the claims of some that it is al
ready won. The votes will show, he
says, and we must wait for them and
on them the future campaign can be
based.
At Senator Bard's headquarters the
same calm assurance prevails. Sena-
tor Bard, they say there, has repre-
sented California well and it In not
Californian that he should not be re-
turned and his course in the Senate of
the United States indorsed. Politics
may have some bearing, they say, but
the loyalty of the legislators to one
that has filled his office well Is more to
be depended on and on this they are
mostly depending. at the same time not
forgetting that politics must be played
and the points Of the game consid-
cred.
In brief, the situation hardly war
rants speculation as to its probable
outcome. 1t is a big game these am
bilious Californians are playing and so
far it is an open fight, with the best
man, whoever be may be, the prospec-
tive winner.