The San Francisco call., 1908-07-04
THEODORE BELL
IS CALLED D.
LIAR BY FOX
Delegate Resents the Imputa-
tiOn of Being Political
Agent for S. P.
DisCOrd Among California BOur-
bOns Due to Caucus of Nathan
Coles Supporters
Dozen McNab Men Meet on
Train and Parcel Out Patron
age of the Delegation
By Edward F. O'Day
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

ON BOARD CONVENTION
TRAIN, OGDEN, Utah, July 3.-A
meeting of the California delegation
extending over several hours, which
had not proceeded far before Theo-
dore A. Bell charged Tom Fox of
Sacramento to his face with being a
paid political agent of the Southern
Pacific, only to be called a id
liar, and which resulted in Bells re-
fusal to participate in the pro-
ceedings of the delegation, more
than justified the anticipation of
trouble which was made Immediately
after the delegation left San Francisco
Bell walked out of the meeting after
the stormiest session ever held on an
carry his fight back to the people of
California, and more than intimating
that he would nullify the action of the
delegation when he assumed the gavel
as temporary. chairman of the conven-
ton
delegation has there been such a wash
ing of soiled linen in public as took
place when the special was hurrying
the delegates from EIko to Montello
in the Sagebrush state 1t was 100
miles of bitter taunting, acid recrim-
ination and cutting sarcasm, and wnen
it was all over the visions of harmony
conjured by some of the delegates had
faded away like an iridescents but fleet
ing dream.
! OPPOSITION TO COLE THE CAUSE I
The trouble was caused in the first
place by Bells determination to go
/ the limit in opposition to the candidacy
/ of Nathan Cole Jr., for national COM
mitteeman, and in the second place by
/ the calling OF meeting, "a tentative
and suggestive caucus" . it has been
called, to which none but Nathan Coles
| friends were invited and at which
! his candidacy was indorsed and the
| other convention honors divided up by
/ his supporters. This caucus was held
| late last night and was attended by -
delegates, who pledged themselves to
Cole. They then selected Nicholas
| Bowden of San Jose for honorary vice
chairman of the Denver convention
John f. Quinn of Humboldt for the
committee on credentials; B. F. Thomas
| of Santa Barbara for the committee
on organization and rules; Isadore
Dockweiler of Los Angeles for the
committee on platform; Charles Edel-
man of San Francisco to notify the
presidential nominee, and Justus War
dell of San Francisco TO notify the
vice presidential nominee.
BELLS WRATH AROUSED
Those present at this, tentative eau
Gus" were: Fitzgerald, Cole, Quinn, Fox,
| Lynch, Wardell, Edelman, Bowden,
|
After midnight, when the caucus ad-
journed, Bell had a furious scene of
mutual upbraiding with Nathan Cole
and everybody went to bed with the
feeling that the morrow would bring
trouble. This morning the indignation
of the eight Bell men who were not
invited to the tentative caucus" took
definite snaps, and the smell of blood
was heavier in the breeze than ever.
The Cole men, on the contrary, were
raggsh in their elation.
BELL is making himself a pair of
kits out of the car window curtains"
suggested a follower of McNab.
"Laymance is practicing the burr
dialect" declared another.
"On what meat does this our Caesar
feed that he hath grown so great
demanded an opponent of Bell from
| the south. When Bob" Fitzgerald
! tried to call the delegation to order in
the morning the Bell men pleaded for
delay and spent the time thus gained
! in active campaign work. When the
| two sides finally clashed it was through
the instrumentality of Judge Raker Of
Alturas, Bells right hand man. Gath
ering all the delegates in the obser-
walton car, Judge Raker pleaded for
| harmony. He said he understood that
a caucus had been held at which all
the appointments had been distributed,
but he declared that eight members of
the delegation knew nothing about ie
RAKER'S BLOOD BOILS
But now you are trying to ram, your
program down our throats" he cried
with rising passion. Us this q square
how Cole had laid before him after
the Fresno convention a scheme for
organizing committee of moneyed men
to run the Bryan campaign in Cali
fonia.
MY blood boiled as I listened to
him." shouted Raker. Il told him
there would be a conflict between bis
committee and the executive committee
afterward I was told that a certain
man wanted to do this. Now / want
you men to tell me why. you met last
night
why was no Sacramento man put
on that executive committee?' de-
manded Tom Fox, jumping up. I'VE
gave Bell 300 majority
Here was where Bell jerked the pulse
of the meeting to fever heat
I'VE have a truce now, you and
Tom Fox" he declared, but after the
campaign the question between Won
and me must be settled. Then we will
find out whether you are getting $500
month for political work from the
Southern Pacific"
IF you make that statement you're
a ID liar."cried Fox, jumping .up
Great God. gentlemen, is it possi-