The San Francisco call., 1908-08-25
FROM ENCHILADAS
TO MAKING LAWS
Mattias, Wizard of Chile Con
Carne, Aspires to the
State Assembly
Prospective Downfall of Noted
Chef Agitates the Italian
Quarter

Shall good cook become an indif-
ferent legislator? Shall the cunning
hand that prepares the enchilada and
the chile con carne demean itself tc
law making? Shall the tongue that
rolls line from Cervantes over the
steaming frijoles and pours the vino
to the music of Calderon's verses be
heard in roll call and in committee dis
pute?
These are the questions that are be-
ing anxiously asked in the Latin quar-
ter. The debate wakes hot while the
consomme grows cold in the Flor d lta-
lla- 1t is subject of engrossing inter
est over the spaghetti in Coppas. AT
Caesars on the hill the topic is not ex-
hausted when mine host serves the
unguent zabayon
And all because Mattias would run
for the assembly in the forty-fourth
district. Mattias, the famous restaura-
teur, within whose doors have supped
the great in music and literature and
beauty; Mattias who has circled the
globe and explored the world of books;
Mattias, who once locked his door and
left sign-"Closed; will be back in
two years; Mattias has been bitten by
political ambition.
Just what inspired Mattias with the
desire for legislative honor is not
known. Perhaps the news that L.
Clarence McGrath had similar aspira-
ton. Perhaps something else. But, at
any rate, Mattias will take the repub-
lican nomination for the assembly If
John C. Lynch will give it to him.
More than that. Mattias has been
planning trip to Mexico. 1t is way
Mattias has--to travel here and there,
be business ever so good. But Mattias
declares that if he can secure the NOM
ination he will forego the trip to the
southland in favor of two months
sojourn in Sacramento.
1t is doubtful whether the bohemians
of the Latin quarter would vote for
Mattias. Selfishly they would prefer to
keep him home. His torrid tamales
are more to them than his Legislative
efforts. His ecstatic discourses on po-
etry, his glowing narratives of travel
loom bigger than his possible achieve
ments in the lower house.
But they are troubled, none the less.
And Mattias? He only smiles his
shrewd Slav smile (for Mattias is a
Spaniard in temperament onlyl and
quotes his beloved Sancho Panza:
Some people look for bacon where
there is not even a peg to hang it on
Fred Eggers has decided that Frank
Burnett, the photographer shall have
the assembly nomination in the thirty
sixth district. Burnett has been in the
state senate. AS he voted for Otis in
the state convention at Sacramento, it
is not likely that he will receive the
union labor Endorsement. This in
dorsement may go TO the democratic
candidate, George Dawson. a millman.
who is the choice of the Bell men.
In the twenty-ninth district John A.
Cullen, the last assemblyman, may be
turned down by Tom Finn in favor
of Dennis Quinlan, who used to tend
bar for Tom
not yet been decided whether Harry
Kelly. the plumber, or Joseph Ken
bricks, a clerk, shall receive the
nomination. In the thirty fifth the
most likely candidate seems to be
Fred Gerdes, an expressman, although
William Augustine, book keeper, is
also in the running.