The San Francisco call., 1908-08-21
CRITICISM MAKES
fRATESSA WAIVER
Politician Who Took Program
From Herrin Doubts About
Going to Sacramento
Organization Leaders Credited
With Having Selected a
Stronger Candidate

After working for months to secure
the assembly nomination Paul Fratesss
of the thirty-third district is not quite
sure whether he wants to go to Sacra-
mento after all. Fear OF unkind treat
ment at the hands of those who have
criticised him in the past is given by
the young politician as the reason OF
his uncertainty.
Fratessa lined up with the organiza-
ton in the last legislature and took
Herrin program with such docility that
he was roundly scored in the news
papers for some of his votes. More
criticism came his way when he helped
10 send a delegation to the last state
convention and lined them up for Har-
rison Gray Otis. Still more followed
his activities in the recent campaign
Fratessa says he is tired of being de-
noUnced. and while he is not defending
himself against all the charges made
by the papers ne thinks the easiest way
10 avoid further attacks is TO stay at
home and take no part IN the approach
ing campaign as a candidate for Office.
He declares that he has learned a great
deal since he took his first nomination
and has about decided that IS a day
for 60 days is not worth the trouble ii
costs. Fratessa says that If he were
only sure that he would not again be
attacked or criticised he would take
the nomination, but he is not too op-
timistic.
OTHERS SEEK NOMINATION.
There is another story told to ac-
count for Fratessa's reluctance at this
late day. It runs TO the effect that the
young aspirant is not too popular in the
thirty-third and that the organization
leaders have concluded that a new man
would stand q better show Of winning.
However that may be. while Fratessa
is hesitating other organization men,
less sensitive about criticism, are
scrambling for the nomination. Joe Nc
Tigue. the harness maker, would like to
60 10 Sacramento. McTigue is presi-
dent Of trotting association and has
boasted that the racetrack people want
him in the legislature and would pay
his campaign expenses, regarding him
as safe man in connection with any
anti-racetrack legislation that might be
attempted.
The other candidates are Mike Welch
of Ocean View, who used to be a ticket
broker, and Fred Meinke, now in the
county clerks Office but once before an
assemblyman by grace of Abe Ruef.
THREE TEST EGGERS' SKILL
Another trio is wrestling for the as
sembly nomination in the thirty-siXth
district, and it may take all of Fred
Eggers' skillful diplomacy to make
satisfactory adjustment of their claims.
Jack Wessling, who was the last as
semblyman from the thirty-sixth,
wants TO go back. Just at present he
IS z deck hand on nreboat, but he
thinks he could serve the state at Sac
Tamento as well as under the harbor
commissioners. Jim Bonney, the grocer,
yarns for q whack at legislating, too;
and Burnett, the photographer, has de-
veloped the same ambition. Eggers has
not yet decided who shall have the
place.
The democrats in the thirtieth must
be sanguine Of electing an assembly
man. for there are three men in the
race. Harry McGovern, a grocery clerk
and Con Rodden have been mentioned
before. Now comes James Bresnahan
a grocer. AS McGovern and Rodden
are tussling excitedly for the nomina-
tion Bresnahan may slip in as COM
promise candidate.
T. Clarence McGrath still insists that
he is q democratic candidate for the
assembly in the forty-fourth, but he
has a rival IN Adolph Nestori. Nestori
seems TO have the backing of the Bell
leaders, who control the nomination.