The San Francisco call., 1906-09-28
Langdon Badgered to Withdraw
and Discipline Hearst.
Laborites Reverse Themselves
on judicial Nominations.
BY Thomas

The nomination of William Randolph
Hearst for Governor of New York has
inspired an interesting and somewhat
animated controversy to determine
who owns Langdon. Some of the
shrewdest observers are inclined to the
belief that the proprietorship rests
with Boss Murphy, while others insist
that Boss Hearst has as yet lost no
rights in the premises. Still others
lean to the opinion that both Boss
Murphy and Boss Hearst have equal
claims to ownership.
Langdon himself favors the impress
sion that the dispute is purely aca-
dennic, for if Boss Murphy owns Boss
Hearst there can be no reasonable dis
cussion in reference to the ownership
of the nominee of the Doodle Dees for
Governor. In this decision of the case
Langdon is supported by the council of
j. J. Dwyer. There is something very
much more serious than this, how
ever, gnawing at the vitals of the
Doodle Dees. They are trying to dis
cover by what process of political
witchery they can read themselves back
into the Democratic party.
LANGDON BETWEEN TWO FIRES.
Every possible pressure is being
brought to bear on Langdon to con-
vince him of the existence of a very
palpable truth-that Hearst has not
only deserted him, but has placed him
in a position where he never will be
able to rehabilitate his political for
tunes within party lines. He is being
urged to withdraw his candidacy and
save his political face from further
mutflatfon.
While he hesitates. it is understood
that Hearst will send him a recipe for
loosening the joints of his neck so that
he may be able to look both ways on
the Question of the municipal owner
ship Of public utilities. Dwyer and
Johnson are to receive the same pre-
cfous document. With Langdon the
matter Should be simple one, as his
head has never been very hard to turn.
IN THIS campaign he appears to be like
the 7ittlei boy who was arrayed in his
big brothers trousers-you can't tell
whether he is coming or going. With
Dwtyer the condition Is Slightly differ
ent. as his reputation for the possession
OF a stiff neck is almost traditional
While the Doodle Dees are desperate
lysill at ease the Democrats are plan
ming all sorts Of surprises and coups
for the campaign. Among the brill
liant schemes is to have James D.
Phelan speak with Bell tomorrow night
at Los Angeles. The ex-Mayor stands
very well in the opinion of the men of
the south, and he Is expected to stand
godfather to the gubernatorial candi-
date 1t is Mr.. Phe1an's presence not
his eloquence, that is needed in the
southland.
DEMOCRATIC SLATE ON JUDGES.
The committee on vacancies of the
Democratic State Central Committee
has nominated Judge Cowan of So
noma to. fill the vacancy for the Appel
late bench of the Second District
created by the declinatfon of Prewett.
Nobody has yet been chosen to fill the
gap created by the Rainey fiasco for
the position of Clerk of the Supreme
Court.
The County Democratic Convention
has at last found a local habitation as
well as name. Tom Hickey, chair
man of the county committee which
never meets. says the convention will
assemble next Monday night in Do
lores Hall. The question of rent, it is
understood, has been privately adj
justed with the landlord, who probably
will be heard from later.