The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-08-06
WAR DECLARED
ON ARTHUR FISK
BY REFORMERS
Postmaster Will Be Given
a Battle in His
District
TICKET IN THE FIELD
Ryan Wing of the Party to
Oppose Herrin and
His Agents
CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
Federal Office Holder Does
Not Appear Out in
the Open
By George A. Van Smith

BY George A. Van Smith
The regular republican league has
prescribed vigorous treatment for Post.
master Arthur Fisk's habit of deliver
ing the big thirty-seventh district del.
egation to Herrin. The reform wing Of
the republican party headed by Daniel
A. Ryan has put a complete ticket ii
the thirty-seventh and will fight Fisk
as he never has been fought before
Fisk has so long INDUCED himself in
the practice of delivering the banner
republican district to the railroad boss
that he has come to believe himself
an incurable. His indulgences, how
ever, have been tempered with discre-
ton and his present day operations
in the thirty-seventh are quite as neat
as my of his previous efforts to conceal
his fne political hand from the post
Office department
President Roosevelt is not especially
enthusiastic about the public benefits
accruing from Harriman's investments
in politics and he might not look with
entire favor upon postmaster caught
playing Southern Pacific policies in
san Francisco. When the Southern Pa
cihc joined hands with the victorious
republican league two years ago, with
the laudable purpose Of putting Abe
Ruef out Of politics. Herrin put Fisk
on the general committee as his rep
resentative. On account Of Fisk's fed
eraI job. his name did not appear in
the published list Of committeeman
but ne participated in the deliberations
of the committee and his votes were
recorded.
Fisk was accepted by the league
committeeman as the least objection
able Of Herrin's nominations, and after
they had refused to accept Herrin's
first nominees. Jere Burke and John
Lynch. the league accepted Herrin's
proffer OF assistance 20 drive Ruef out
OF republican politics and drew Fisk
The electorate declined to stand FOR
such an alliance, even at the price OF
Ruefs scalp, and the leaguers learned
a valuable lesson.
JONES TO THE FRONT
Virtually the same tactics that
marked Fisk's connection with the
anti-Ruef committee have been en-
pioyed in his campaign to deliver the
.,--.- --..-..r- =. 49, -~,-,s,-or 1o-s1 .o,,
ventiou. He has not permitted the
public to see much of his personal df-
rection Of the game. The work has
been conducted through Fred c. Jones
Fisk's first lieutenant who is a deputy
labor Commissioners under Johnnie Mac
kenzie.
Giving ear to the popular clamoI
aroused by Herrin's attempt to appor-
tion the control Of the convention into
the burned district. Fisk inaugurated q
respectabnity campaign The first
move in this game was the capture OF
George Clark, who was made president
OF district club. Clark had always
stood for clean politics and had vigor-
ously fought with the Ryanites against
risks control Of the district When
he woke up TO the fact that he had
been used BY Fisk to embarrass and de-
feat Ryan he had induced several OF
his friends Of excellent character and
reputation to run on his club ticket
and because OF his friends. whom nc
had induced to permit the use OF their
names, he had not the nerve to call il
of.
The Ryan men were offered y of the
% delegates, but they remembered q
former unfortunate alliance with the
Herrin forces, declined with thanks and
declared that. they would have dele
cation that should be wholly represent
stive Of the republicans of the district
or take a wholly adverse verdict from
the voters Of the district at the pri-
mary polls.
FULL TICKET NAMED
The declaration OF war without quar-
ter resulted In volunteers sufficient TO
make I'D three anti-Herrin delegate