The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-06-27
LYNCH TO
RUN FIGHT
FORHFRR|N
Campaign Against League to Be
Under Direction of Bank
Commissioner
Phil Crimmins Named to Assist
Him in Restoration of
Push Methods
New Boss Retains State Job
While Doing Politics for
Railroad Ring
Old Heelers, Ready for Orders,
Itch for Opening of Bulg-
ing Sack

John Z. Lynch, bank cornn1iS-
sioner, has taken charge OF the
primary campaign in this city.
with carte blanche from William
F. Herrin to spend as much
money as he needs to beat the
oln-Roosevelt league.
Phil Crimmins, the last of the
old ward heelers, has been ap-
pointed Lynch's first lieutenant.
and has already started operations
in the burned districts.
The machine politicians got
Indian information" of this new
regime yesterday and all day long
besieged the office of the bank commits
sion in the Crocker building. seeking
private interviews with Lynch. Herrin's
new prime minister.
The information. as IL has been
passed along the line. is calculated to
infuse new enthusiasm into the hearts
of the push" who have been greatly
disheartened by the sweeping victory
of the Lincoln Roosevelt league in the
last primary.
I am 10 have full swing. like old
Bill Stow" Is the way Lynch has con-
fded his commission from Herrin TO
the higher ups among the machine pol
iticians.
VISIONS OF SACKS
This saying has flown like wildnre
and visions of the good old days when
Stow, as the railroads political manip-
ulator, emptied sack after sack OF red
gold into primary fights havs put new
spirit into the, push" The itching
palms are trembling with eagerness to
feel the soothing touch OF the railroad
coin.
Herrin did not appoint his new lieu
tenants without due elaboration. The
conduct of the last two primaries In
this city has filed him with disgust
and reports tell of stormy sessions in
the high boss's ONCE when George Hat
ton and Arthur Fisk went on the car
pet TO explain their failure to deliver"
Now the two men are thoroughly dis
credited with Herrin, as far as their
ability to manage a campaign IN this
city is concerned. Hatton's soft shoe
fiascos, and Fisk has conclusively
proved his inability to carry his own
district
Casting about for new leaders. Herrin
has finally selected Lynch and Grim
Minis Both have had long training
in local politics and while they have not
been very active for several years.
neither has lost touch with the situa-
tion-
AS internal revenue collector Lynch
learned few things about lining up
the boys who work on the front which
will be put into practical operation. His
onerous duties as bank commissioner.
particularly heavy at this time when
two big receiverships are under way,
will not be allowed to interfere with
the more important work OF brin ging
back the IS assembly districts to the
great white throne Of the railroads
political king
TRAINED IN OLD METHODS
Trained under that veteran politician.
Bill Higgins, in the good old days when
primaries were won with knockout
punches and the stuffer iourished un-
disturbed, "Philly'' Crimmins Is also
versed in the kind of politics that Her
rim wants played this fall After Hig-
gins death Little PhiP' entered into an
alliance with Martin Kelly and alb
sorbed all OF the latters political lore
Those were days when the slate was
made in Crimmins' saloon at Fifth and
Market, and they lasted till Abe Ruef
pushed Little Phil" out OF the saddle
Now the old push crowd halls ths
return of the golden days again and the
s.Indian information" as IL comes to the
wise ones has cheerful gilded ttnge-
Yesterday was a busy day for Lynch.
the new prime minister of Herrin. A
long conference with Jere Burke. one
of the railroads slickest manipulators,
was followed by a 1evee to which
numerous push politicians Hooked
Among those who went to shake the
hand and engage the prtvy ear OF the
new leader were Tim Sullivan Of the
thirty-seventh district and Billy Bell
of the thirtieth.
When lynch could spare a brief mo-
ment for an interview he smilingly ac-
knowIedged that he was taking hand
in the local game. but nnodestly depre-
Gated the notion OF his leadership
some OF the boys asked me 10 arbt-
trate differences in the districts. was
the way he put it. Il am trying to do
IT In the twenty eighth. twenty
ninth thirtieth, thirty-hrst and forty
fourth they are lighting about the as
sembIy and senate nominations
while have no candidates for the
legislature myself. continued the new
prine minister with an almost bashful
droop of the eyes, Il am doing what
can to settle disputes OF course I am
very busy with bank commission work.
but am willing to take a hand In poll