The San Francisco call., 1906-10-20
PHELAN' s PHANTOM
OF THE TOGA.
He Hopes to Swing Into the
United States Senate on
the Shoulders of Bryan
LEGISLATIVE FIGHTS
3 Thor1as b. SuIIivar,.

By Thomas b. Sullivan.
Republican leaders throughout the
State are taking the keenest interest
in the various Senatorial contests now
in progress. 1t is the privilege of the
political manager to look into the fu-
ture, and both Democrats and Republi-
cans are bending more than the usual
energy to elect most of the twenty
Senator's who will be chosen this year
These men will vote for the United
States Senator two years hence and the
issue may depend upon their votes
Speculation has been rife to explain
the exceptional interest James D.
Phelan has displayed in the candidacy
OF Theodore Bell for Governor The
Senatorial aspiration of the San Fran
cisco millionaire is the key to his pres
ent activity. While he could have had
the Democratic gubernatorial nomina-
tion by acclamation, he positively de-
clned 70 permit his name to be used
IN that connection on the score that
his private affairs, greatly in disorder
from the disaster OF April, demanded
/ his entire personal attention. Mr..
Pheian is a shy political fox when he
scents defeat, and the prospect Of
winning canvass against GilIett did not
persuade him against his better judg-
ment
PHELAN AMBITIOUS.
time 70 stump the State for Bell, to
introduce that young man to the bank
ers OF Los Angeles and to contribute
literally 10 the Democratic campaign
fund II has been said very unkindly
Of Mr.. Phelan that he only votes the
Democratic ticket when hts name is on
Il, but this year his orthodoxy is above
suspicion. He wants to be the Junior
United States Senator from California.
The California Democracy is hugging
the hope that William Jennings Bryan
viii be the nominee Of the national
Democracy for President two years
from now. They are nursing a belief
also that Roosevelt Will not be the
Republican standard bearer. Bryan
has always been popular in California
and he might as a Presidential candi-
date carry the State and swing into
Office a Democratic Legislature. In
that event the orthodox and self-sacri-
hcing Mr.. Phelan would grab for the
tOga-
Republican manipulators recognize
the same possibilities. and they are
making hay while the sun shines. In
a Republican year they want to elect
as many State Senators as possible A
conservative estimate Of their chances
figures that they viii elect fifteen out
Of the twenty hOld-over State Senators
this year This is not a formidable
array IN an assemblage Of 12O men, but
II IS e good beginning.
GRASPING AT THE ToGA.
Most Of the incoming State Senator's,
81 is safe to predict, viii tacitly be for
z reelection of United States Senator
George Q. Perkins, who wishes to succeed
himself He is campaigning for Gil
lett and is not neglecting himself
There are, OF course. other candidates,
FOR members Of the California Legisla-
ture viii not allow so great a prize as
al }
The contest always lends zest TO the
Sacramento halls of legislation. Elo-
Quence Of more than one variety must
be expended before the final vote is
taken
II is accepted as a matter OF course 4
that the next Senator viii not be chosen 4
from The southern part of the State. /
which is now represented by Senator
Flint This viii m-IItate against >the 4
chances Of Frank Short. who is a can
didate for the State Senate with aspira-
tions for the higher post Short is
quietly constructing his pipe line but
material, for the present at least, is
very short.
RUFF As AN IMPOSSIBILITY.
Abe Ruefs ambition is, of course, no.
torious He could not, however, rely
even upon the four votes from San
Francisco II the four Republicans were
elected French would be his but the
be as remote as those OF a SNOWFALL in
some climates. Gus Hartman is Henry
4 Ach's man before he is Ruefs. IN. ad-
ditiOn to these disadvantages Ruef is
not success IN State politics
The men from the interior DO not
take kindly to his methods. and they
are not inclined to indulge his halluci-
nation that the Republican party owes
him a living on the scale he has estab-
lished for himself His humiliating sub
mission 10 the Parker programme at
Santa Cruz indicates what would be
handed TO him in a contest involving
greater issues than those that were de-
cided there.
Governor Parcee has not taken the
pains TO deny that he viii be a candi-
date for the high honor. His friends
throughout the State are declaring that
ate would be a splendid revenge for the
political trick which robbed him Of the
denomination for Governor. The wor-
thy chief executive has a rod in pickle
also for the part Senator Perkins
plaved in the campaign. The federal
brigade was for Gillett 10 a man and
the Governor swore deep oath Of ven
geance. It is all very we'll to make
these political vows. but It Is quite
another thing 10 fulfill them, partlcu-
Iarly when the Governor has not a
voice even in his own county organi-
zatiOn.
KNIGHT AND PARKER.
George knight has been among those
frequently mentioned" but he is not
vet out OF the ranks OF those that are
not looked upon seriously. Knights
friendship for GiIlett suggests simply
q contingency not involved IN an cleo
tion for the Senatorship. Then there
IS Walter Parker. but somebody is only
trying TO perpetrate practical Joke
on the public by making any reference
to him in this connection. His alleged
candidacy may be accepted as a politi-
cal scare crow that doesn't scare.
The Doodle Dees are raising a wild
howl OF indignant protest In the ex-
pressiVe language of one OF them,
somebody has swiped a part of their
petition containing 1000 names. What
IN the name OF all that is reasonable
ANYBODY would do such thing for no
one IS able to understand Perhaps it
IS to show US that local conditions are
50 desperate and gaspipe men so inso-
lent that they viii steal even a Doodle