The San Francisco call., 1906-09-22

is IN command of the county labor con-
vention, which will meet shortly. He
demands that this convention must do
just as he directs. not only in refer
ence to judicial nominations, but strict
1y in regard to legislative candidates as
well. He has given his orders to this
effect and the patronage club is omin-
ously in the air for all that may have
the Itemerity to disobey.
The result is row in union labor
political circles that would make
Democrat green with envy. For the
moment the men who toll In the polit-
ical vineyard of the labor unionists
have the floor and the affairs of the
other parties are in the shadow. The
lay members of the Building Trades
Council and those of the Labor Council
are up in arms. They don't like the
programme. They object strenuously
to the manner in which Ruef has
brought suit to quiet title to their votes
and merry time may be expected
when the Labor convention is called
to order.
BUSH STREET SAGE DEBATING.
The labor men are shouting that it is
about time they had something to say
in reference to the direction of their
own political affairs. The cry Of labor
for labor" is going up and the gentle
man on Bush and Fillmore streets is
debating in his own mind whether it is
wiser to threaten or to propitiate.
Ruef has issued his orders to the
district labor leaders that they must
either indorse Republican candidates
for the State Senate or nominate labor
men who will enter a Republican eau
Gus for United States Senator Ruef
will of course control the county Re-
publican convention and necessarily
most of the district conventions which
will nominate State Senators. An in
dorsement of these nominees by the
labor people will give the boss a good
start on hsi own Senatorial campaign.
But the labor leaders don't like the
Dose They want at least some sem
blance of freedom and before the fight
is over they may take it, When Ruef
informed them that they could exercise
all the liberty they chose in reference
to Assembly nominations they were
chagrined rather than gratified. As
semblymen do not hold over and will
play no part in the contest for United
States Senator.
Adding fuel to the fire of discomfort
is the attitude Ruef has assumed in re-
gard to the two Democrats whom the
Labor convention will indorse for SUI
perior Judge. The little man in Fill
more street declares that these two
nominees Shall be Superior Judge Cof-
fey and Police Judge Mogan. Ruef has
decided that even he cannot so defiantly
fly in the face of public opinion as to
deny Corey an Endorsement. If he
goes too far in his tactics the public
might take potshot at him.
His choice of Mogan instead of Po-
lice Judge Conlan may be surprising,
but such things come to pass in poll
tics. 1t is another instance of base
ingratitude, for Conlan has been faith
full in the service of the master. He
seems now to be out of it, and it is a
political shame, for he was even stick
ing fly paper to catch Republican con-
vention votes. The opinion appears to
be general, however, that he has begged
himself out of public and political
favor.
While Ruef insists upon Coffey and
Mogan as the Democratic selections,
Chairman Nelson of the Labor conven-
tion raises his voice in high protest
and declares that Justice of the Peace
Lawson must have one of the places.
There can't be three Democrats on the
ticket and the prospect for a row is
pleasantly encouraging. At the pres
ent time 1t looks as If Lawson had
much the better of the argument He
may not be very strong himself but
under the protecting wing of Nelson
he has craWled into very strong place.
sCrMITZ GETTING RESTLESS.
But these are not the only troubles
of Mr.. Ruef. Mayor Schmitz is getting
tired of the interminable injunction to
go way back and sit down when 1T
comes to the manipulation of the local.
Republican and Labor conventions. The
sitting posture is beginning to cramp
his legs, and he has decided to kick
little to timber them up. He will not
start on his trip to Europe unl-- after
both conventions have adjourned. and
in the meantime tLere will be things
doing politically.
His Honor took an awful swat at his
counselor and friend when he appointed
Police Commission which Mr.. Ruef
cannot handle. 1t requires $3.50 for
an ambitious citizen to hire a lawyer
to represent him when he wants a IL
cense TO sell liquor. 1t is a wilIful
waste of good money to give it TO a
lawyer who has no influence with the
Police Commission. Mr.. Ruef has never
quite forgiven his Honor for his play
fulness in this matter
But then came the affair at Santa
Cruz, when Mayor Schmitz was a YER
liable bull in the political china shop.
and now come orninous rumblings OF
more trouble in the local conventions.
Maestretti, Countryman and Atkinson
have wandered from the Ruef reserva-
tion and are giving the Mayor bad ad-
ViCe- kAitO&elHeT the SItu4tlOn suggests
many possibilities of general row.
Tonight the Democrats of the Fourth
Congressional District and or the Sec
ond Equalization District VIII. try to
hold a meeting under cover and i1orni-
nate two victims for political slaugh-
ter. Candidates for Congressional hon
ors are coy but Gus White will take
the nomination for the Board Of Equal
ization. 1t seems a shame too, for he
is young fellow with a host of friends
in whose hands in an unguarded mo-
ment he placed himself. He is a son
of ex-Sherif Patrick White. Both con
yentions will meet in the temple at
Webster and California streets.
General George stone, chairman OF
the Republican State executive commit
tee, departed -ast night for Los An
geles. He will return Tuesday. and
in the meantime 1t is expected that he
Will have given his attention to several
political fences that are sadly In need
of repair. There are sounds from the
south that do not seem good to the
ears of the Republican managers, and
the generals famed powers of persua-
sion are expected to bring harmony
where now there are few diseords.
Tonight Congressman Gliiett will
open his campaign at Oakland, and ev-