The San Francisco call., 1906-08-14
Ruef VIII Triumph Without
Effort in Most of the
City Districts.
Opposition to McNab Must
Struggle Without an
Organization.
By Thomas B. Sullivan

w the larger communities of the
State will be elected today the men
who will sit in the various conven-
tons, State and county. guberna-
torial, congressional and judicial. In
both Of the leading parties the machine
will score & victory. The State has
been thoroughly canvassed and few
men that are in opposition will be sent
either to Santa Cruz or Sacramento.
From the Republican machine point Of
view the situation is all that could be
desired. Walter Parker has looked out
for the Los Angeles delegation and
Ruef viii win a substantial triumph
here Together they will carry TO Her
rim delegations, which will dominate
the various conventions In return,
they viii be given freedom of action in
their own local fields.
In Santa Clara an exceptionally ac-
tive factional fight has been in
progress and viii be brought to a con-
clusion. In Solano County. with Vallejo
as the seat of war, an interesting fight
has been conducted by adherents Of
PardeeS and Gillett, with few flashing
side lights on the contest for the Con-
gressionall nomination.
RUEF's ROTTEN BoROUGHS.
In eleven districts in this city Ruef
viii win without effort He has coll
onized wherever he pleased in the
burned district and has made Of them
simply rotten boroughs in the politics
OF the State. While everybody who
does not make of politics a dubious
profession, has been busy in the re-
Mobilization Of the city. Ruef has sent
into the fire zone a few tents. These
are occupied by men it would not per-
haps be pleasant to meet on a lonely
road. and il is these men who will die
tate the primary representation of
D miles of ruined territory.
In the Thirty-second District the
Welch brothers will give battle to
Ruef and furnish one Of the few di-
versions OF the day. In the Thirty
fourth District Frank French is re-
" viving memories Of a very sad affair
by trying TO elect a delegation that
might have the audacity to nominate
him again for the State Senate. The
fight is three-cornered one, with
French poor third. Ruef has no
reason TO consider the squabble Of
more than incidental concern TO him
self.
DAILY WILL TRY AGAIN.
In the Thirty-f fifth District John
DAILY viii Try again. He is one Of a
very small minority of politicians that
deavor rewards itself In the Thirty
sixth District Eggers and Crimmins
want 10 punish Ruef for his treason to
the vested rights Of the saloon-keepers.
In these days Of ready money sa-
loon license is better than a lease on
Van Ness avenue property. The new
tenderloin on Fillmore street, with its
motley array Of all that is unpleasant
and much that is unmentionable, is
loud in its testimony as TO the value
Of saloon licenses. The association Of
saloon men naturally sought TO pre-
serve these privileges TO its own mem
bership, and one loud, angry howl
went up when Ruef, as attorney, made
successful endeavor to obtain licenses
from the administration for people who
never before had been in a saloon ex-
cept on the expensive side of the bar
So eager has been the rush to en-
gage in this lucrative branch of retail
trade that even real estate dealers
have become thriving saloQpists. The
old guard of whisky sellers looks
askances blames Ruef for not protect
ing its interests, and will punish him
II II can Eggers has taken the con-
tract IN the Thirty-sixth and VIII have
the very uncertain support of Phil
Crimmins in his fight
FISK YIELDS TO RUFF.
In the Thirty-seventh District Post
7
candidate for Assemblyman, but insists
that the State package must be deliv-
cred by him to Herrin. The quarre
must be considered trivial from any
point Of view, except the possible shock
70 Mr.. Fisk's finer feelings. In the
Thirty ninth District is the Maestretti-
Wheelan-Keane row, with no chance OF
q loss TO Ruef In the Fortieth Dar
Ryan would like TO keep Jesse Marks
and Henry Ach where they belong.
In the local Democratic field the sit
uation gives no concern to the regular
organization, which claims a gooC
working majority as a result OF the
primary. In the burnt districts th'
vote viii, Of course. be absurdly ligh
and viii be simply a colonization. II
several Of the Assembly districts ther,
will be q. stubborn resistance to the su
premacy Of Gavin McNab.
NO PATRONAGE, NO POWER.
The opposition argues that McNal
has lost practically all of his patronag
and with that his power. Where ono
he had the support of every man in tn,
Offices Of the Recorder, Sheriff, Coroner
Assessor and District Attorney, now h
has nothing. Indeed, the head an,
front Of the opposition to him are Il
the Assessors Office in the person o
Chief Deputy Bill Eagan.
The weakness of the opposition is tn
utter lack of any attempt at concert O
action Each district is making it's owl
fight Each opponent hopes that he ma.
become the local boss. Eagan has tn
bee in his bonnet. Little Dick O'Con
nor knows that the mantle of Leadership
viii fit him, and one or two others, fear
full Of fighting in the open, have light
ming rods down their backs. 1t is pal
pable that the disaffection is NOR
widespread than it has been in years
It is probable, however, that it will de
velop nothing to make the regular or
ganization uneasy.