The San Francisco call., 1908-07-14
Shifty Politician Removed From
State Payroll, but Will Still
Serve Railroad
William c. Watson OF San Fran
cisco Named for Vacancy
or Bank Board
Theatrical Maneuver Made to
Save the Face of the
Machine

All of sudden out of his COM
Portable $4,000 year job in the bank
commission goes Herrin's man, John.
c. Lynch. The thing was spectacu-
larly done, and there is strong evil
dence that Herrin was the stage man
ager.
Whatever effect it was designed to
have, the ousting of Lynch actually
demonstrated that the railroads ma
chine is in bad straits. 1t had to have
Lynch in San Francisco to black
jack the county committee into sub
mission to the Southern Pacific Arthur
Fisk, Eddie Wolfe. George Hatton and
the other little fellows were not max
ing good So Lynch was ordered to
San Francisco and opened UP head
quarters and a sack with Phil Grim
minis, reSurrected from the political
ashpile, as a side partner. With Jobs
and, presumably, with money, the reor-
ganized machine brought an apparent
majority or one in the republican
county committee. Lynch had begun
to deliver the goods.
HERRIN DIRECTS MANEUVER
But the shout of protest from all over
the state over the spectacle of a state
official in a position like that of Lynch
openly doing Herrin's dirty politics was
too much even for Herrin and the sub
servient Governor GiI1ett. 1t became
obvious that Lynch must quit serving
Herrin or quit serving the state.
Then, instead of letting Lynch re-
sign, State Manager Herrin directed
that Governor Gillett, who appointed
Lynch, should fire Lynch in such a
way as to make capital for the gov
ernOr. 1t was a neat scheme to extract
all the comfort possible from painful
necessity.
LYNCH TOLD TO QUIT
Here is the story of Lynch's going as
telegraphed to The Call from Sacra-
mentO:
SACRAMENTO. July 1S.-John t.
Lynch, member of the board of state
bank commissioners. has been liter
ally fired out of Office by Governor Gill
lett because his political manipula-
tions were too much for even the re-
publican organization to swallow with
out making a wry face He has been
succeeded by William c. Watson OF
San Francisco. whose commission was
signed today by the governor
1t was given out at the capitol that
Lynch had resigned. He did resign.
but he had been told very positively
that a resignation would give him
soft thing to tumble on. and that if he
was not willing to accept the chance.
he would be forced to fall with an
unpleasant political thud-
1t is declared that LynchS work in
political way has been too raw" for
the organization, and the word was
state administration too many friends
and adding too much strength to the
ranks of the Lincoln Roosevelt league.
There was much regret in the or
UanfZafinn Haf
Lynch was marked for decapitation-
He was known as a thorough machine
man. but it is announced that he was
too Jealous, and had overstepped the
bounds of political decency to such
an extent that the injury he had done
to the or2anization could not be repaired
short of cutting him or his $4,000 a
year job
CONFERENCE HELD HERE
This decision was reached at a con-
| ference at San Francisco a few days
ago, at which Lynch. several repub-
/ Iican machine leaders and the governor
were present. Lynch was told at that
time that the political atmosphere was
becoming too hot for him. He was
I being deposed "for the good of the
| cause" He demurred at quitting. and
| as a compromise was given until today
/ to make his choice.
The letter of resignation reached the
governors office in this mornings mail
| 1t is very brief and announces that It
/ is to take effect upon the appointments
\ and qualification OF my successor" 1t
was Immediately indorsed by the gov
ernor as accepted and before the ink
was dry the commission of Watson was
signed and ready to be forwarded.
Asked off the activity of Lynch in
organization" politics at the bay had
anything to do with the matter, the
governor made the following evasivs
reply:
'Mr. Lynch sent in his resignation
and I accepted it, / have appointed
/ William c. Watson of San Francisco
/ to succeed him. Mr.. Watson is well
/ fitted for the position. He knows bank
/ ing from A to z. He started at tho
bottom of the ladder and has reached
| the top. I feel that he will make a
good commissioner"
MACKENZIE OVERLOOKED
! Lynch's work is too raw for the
organization-aRd it was the organiza-
ton that appointed him because he
had done raw work; it was the or
| zanization that ordered him to San
Francisco because he was an artist IN
doing raw work and gave him the
| money with which to do some more
of it,
Heard about Labor Commissioners
Johnnie Mackenzie and the raw work
he has been doing and is doing at San
Jose?
1t Is quite true that Lynch's work
in San Francisco is raw" Also it Is
true that he never should have been
made bank commissioner He did not
/ n nm.aar- 60 =