The San Francisco call., 1908-08-28
FIFTH SENATORIAL
DISTRICT. FIGHT
Gilmore of Tellama Holds Situa=
ton in the Hollow of
His Hand
Lynch Wins in Thirty-first, De-
spite Defeat at the
Primaries

oiAh Il. QclCS dlC II OlH
hama county, and E. B. Walbridge of
Tuscan Springs, potential candidate for
the assembly from the fifth district,
were brought into the limelight yes
terday by the struggle for supremacy
between the machine and the anti-ma-
chine forces in the fifth senatorial dis
trict. They will make themselves pow
ers in the good government ranks today
or turn both the assembly and senate
rial districts over to the machine
Gilmore holds the situation in the
hollow of his hand. He can insure the
reorganization of Assemblyman Finney
of Downieyille and the defeat of George
Root by e. S. Birdsall of Auburn, or by
hanging out for his friend Walbridge
defeat Finney and force the withdrawal
of Root for a compromise candidate,
which would result in the defeat of
Birdsall, one of the straightest men
that ever served in the California leg
islature
Both Gilmore and Walbridge are con-
sidered good government men. Finney,
who has fought the good fight for
Birdsal against Root, who was one
OF the most faithful of the machine
followers in the last assembly, can
scarcely be nominated without Gill
more's vote. Walbridge can not be
nominated in any event.
AC AiAhn dtSli1CI QtlC6dlcS ilCl NCS-
terday afternoon. but took no action
beyond agreeing to postpone any at
tempt at nominating until this morn
ing. The third senatorial district
convention did likewise. With the CO.
operation of Gilmore both Finney, in
the fifth assembly district. and Bird
sail, in the third senatorial district,
can be nominated and signal victory
for good government won. Without
his assistance 10 10
may go down to defeat
State Senator Henry c. Lynch was
given the nomination in the thirty first
senatorial district yesterday after one
of the hottest and longest drawn out
fights of the present campaign. He
beat Warren NJ. John, his opponent, by
four votes.
Great bitterness exists among the
delegates from the thirty first sena-
torial district, which comprises San
Luis Obispo. Monterey and San Benito,
and when Lynch by capturing the three
delegates from San Benito assured HIM
self of the nomination there was no
motion to make the choice unanimous.
Rumor had it that John intended to
make a great roar over the election and
the possibility of an interesting row
brought quite a crowd of outsiders to
the chambers of the Oakland city coun-
ell in the city hall, where the little
convention met
Lieutenant Governor Warren Porter
was there; so was Johnnie Lynch and
Hartley Peart Hatton's right hand
man; State Senator Frank Leavitt, Jake
Steppacher, John L. McNab of Mendo-
cino. Gavin McNab's brother, and AL
Murphy, the boss of the doodle dees.
There were no fireworks, however.
Louis Sinsheimer of San Luis Obispo
objected to the report of the committee
on platform. which insisted on paying
special tribute TO Senator Lynch, and
declared that 1t was being crammed
down his throat, altogether against his
will; but there was no other opposition
expressed and the election took place
in sullen silence.
The convention organized by electing
II. w. Scott of San Benito chairman
and George w. Sill of Monterey secre-
tary. Committees on credentials, per-
manent organization and resolutions
were appointed during a prolonged re-
cess.
When the committee on platform re-
ported glowing euIogy of Lynch, Sin
sheimer made his protest but without
avail, and the report was adopted
Henry c. Lynch was placed in nom
ination by NJ NJ. Gregg of Monterey,
and Warren NJ. John by A. f. Gorham
of San Luis Obispo. Then the voting
of San Luis Obispo, where he beat
Lynch. who also halls from that county,
overwhelmingly. but Lynch got the nine
delegates appointed by the machine in
Monterey and Tom Flint delivered the
three San Benito votes, promised to
John as the winner in San Luis Obispo.
Other legislative nominations were
made as follows:
For state senator-First senatorial
district Charlpc % Of
member of the last assembly, to
succeed Senator Rolley; fifth senatorial
district-Benjamin T.. Bush, renomi-
mated; ninth senatorial district-E. B.
Martinelli of Contra Costa county, to
succeed Senator Charles M. Belshaw;
twenty ninth senatorial district-Hall
c. Ross of San Mateo.
For the assembly-First assembly
district: c. II. Newell of Weaverville;
fourth district-Arthur M. Doan of
Redding; eightieth district-Percy A.
Johnson, renomnated.