The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-09-14
APPROACH LEADERS
Ryan and Eagan Discuss
Plan With Members
of Committee
WILL VISIT McNAB
Democratic Boss to Be Re
quested to Join in
Movement

By George A. Van Smith
The Merchants association has
taken the initiative in the much
discussed attempt to secure a con-
ference of party leaders, to the
end that all parties may agree
upon a single candidate for mayor.
The associations committee,
consisting of Byron Mauzy, music
dealer; Andrew Davis of the En-
porium and J. Swayne of the COM
mission firm of Swayne & Hoyt,
discussed yesterday a tentative
plan with Daniel A. Ryan, leader
of the regular republican league,
and later with Chairman T. F.
Esgan of the union labor city and
county committee. Members of
the committee expect to see Gavin
McNab as the head of the demo-
cratic party today and II IS believed
that II McNsb exhibits the same will
ingness TO cooperate that was ex-
hibited by the republican and union
labor leaders there win be no bitter
p mayoralty fight.
The Merchants association does not
propose 10 go into politics, nor yet to
attempt 10 select the mayoraIty can
didate for the three parties. Its pur-
pose win be accomplished when It Sc
cures from the three conventions their
consent TO a conference and the ap-
.pointment OF conferees.
The general plan which was put in
operation yesterday has been under
discussion IN the councils OF the asso-
ciation for some time. Final action re-
suited in the appointment OF the com
mittee. with instructions to secure If
possible a conference which should re-
suit in an agreement upon a nonpar-
tisan candidate for mayor.
The single nonpartisan ticket so
much mooted would. OF course. be
ideal but the prevailing sentiment
among the members OF the association
was that such a ticket would approxi-
mate the impossible Accordingly. the
committee was not directed to ask for
more than an attempt to secure an
agreement upon the head OF the three
tickets. II the three parties could
agree upon a single mayoralty candi-
date. the significance Of such an agree
ment would be an assurance TO the
world that San Francisco was united
for good government II the parties
could agree upon candidates for the
other Offices. weIl and good, but il not.
the city would not be vitally anected by
such disagreement.
The instructions given the commit
tee and under which It is working do
not involve the nomination Of a candi-
date selected by the Merchants. asso-
citation The nomination of either DR.
Taylor or Daniel A Ryan. II agreed to
by all the parties, would be satisfao-
tory 20 the committeeman. as would
the nomination OF a candidate not vet
mentioned under the same terms. In
short the attitude Of the association
as exhibited by its committee is that
a conference convention would not Sc
Iect a bad candidate, ana that the elinni-
nation Of typical political warfare is
more vital 20 San Francisco than is
the personality or the partisan anlia-
tIons Of the candidate.
Neither the members OF the commit
tee nor YET Ryan or Eagan would dis
cuss any tentative agreements that
might have resulted from the visit 70
Ryan in the morning and to Eagan
later beyond stating that the conferees
found themselves entirely in harmony
so far as the general principals were
concerned, and that II 8IcNab would
exhibit the same disposition shown by
Eagan and Ryan the appointment OF
conferees by the several conventions
seemed almost assured.
The near politicians were greatly dis
tressed yesterday by the temperance
OF the rumor that McNab and the union
labor leaders had reached a fusion
agreement which involved the nomina-
tion Of Raphael Well at the head OF
the ticket II was argued that WeiIl.
who enjoys the admiration and respect
of both labor and capital. would be an
Irresistible candidate and that his nom
insfion by the union labor party would
once for all establish the good faith
OF the union labor leaders McNsb
tentatively has suggested Veil as the
ideal candidate and the rumor may