The San Francisco call., 1908-09-10
NO ONE WANTS TO
RUN FOR CONGRESS
Democratic Nominations Are
Refused by Many Party
Men of Prominence
After Hunting Far and Wide
Self-Sacrifcing Gentlemen
Are Lined Up

Up and down the state, wherever the !
wise 'pollies" gather to look for the /
signs of the times, one good and suffi- /
cient reason is being given for prophe- |
sying democratic defeat in California. 1
That reason is simply the difficulty 4
that was found at the Stockton conven-
tiOn in getting men TO run for con- /
gress against the republican incum- /
oents.
In the hotel lobby, on the grass of |
the courthouse lawn, at the general |
merchandise store and in all the other 1
places where political wisdom is dis /
pensed, this feature Of the democratic |
campaign is a matter Of endless COM |
ment
The democratic state central commit |
tee, through its secretary, John f. Muir
ray, processes cheerful optimism over
the prospect Of carrying California for
Bryan. OF course the committee is not
certain Of California and has been con-
servative enough to tabulate it among
the doubtful states in a forecast of the
electoral vote that adorns the walls of
headquarters in the Monadnock build
ing But there is no explanation forth
coming from the committee of the re-
luctance of democrats to try their
strength in the congressional fight.
The fact is that congressional nomi-
nations were hawked about Stockton
success that there is no earthly chance
Of putting this phase Of the campaign
IN a favorable light. While all the
state is talking about the matter, the
state central committee is discreetly
silent The attempt 10 dispose of the
sixth district nomination broke all rec
ords in the number of declinations it
brought forth. Fifteen different men
were impOrtuned to run before the
nomination was fastened on a luckless
candidate. The result showed not a
single democrat in the San Joaquin
valley who would consent to try con-
clusions with Congressman Needham.
Here is the list Of the men who were
begged 10 run but who eteadfastly de-
clined:
George W. Cartwright of Fresno.
N. L. Short OF Fresno.
A. /. COwell of Stockton.
H. r. McNoble Of Stockton.
". r. Jacobs Of Stockton.
Wallace Kerrick of Stockton.
Judge W NJ. Conley of MADEIRA.
Roy Rhoades Of MADEIRA.
Judge NJ T. Dooling of Hollister.
James r. Bardin of Monterey.
Edward White Of Watsonville.
4. E. Bush Of Hanford-
l. J. Coffey of Modesto.
Thomas Griffin of Modesto.
OF these W. r. Jacobs of Stockton
was actually nominated by acclama-
tion, but protested so vigorously he
was allowed to withdraw. Then, as a
forlorn hope, Frederick P. Feliz of Sa-
linas consented to jump into the breach,
where he is now waiting for Needham
TO slaughter him.
In the second district the nomination
had to be proffered to eight men be-
fore a martyr was finally found. Here
is the list of declinations for the second
= district
Theodore A. Bell Of Napa-
Marshall Diggs of Sacramento.
Archibald Yell of Sacramento
Thomas Geary of Sonoma.
J. B. Sanford Of Ukiah.
J. c. Reddick of Ukiah.
J. 9. Zumwalt of Colusa
When all of these men SHE'D at the
dubious honor of being beaten by Dun
can McKinlay. there remained only w.
X. Hays Of Chico, and he was nomi-
mated in precipitate haste for fear he
should hear Of the action being taken
and refuse the crown Of martyrdom
like the others.
In the first district all the delegates
agreed that Congressman Englebright
hadn't a chance Of being reelected but
they Were equally unanimous in refus-
ing to assume the responsibility of de-
feating him Z. L. Sisson of Tehama
was requested to do the job, but said
Nay. Nay" Then it was passed up to
+. ". Holland Of Sonora as a duty
which he must not shirk. Holland was
very. very reluctant
That republican majority in Hum
boldt is a nightmare to a democrat"
he piteously explained. But finally he
consented and is now, without doubt.
having bad dreams with Humboldt
county as the incubus of his couch
In the eighth district Albert Schoon-
over Of San Diego was unanimously
nominated, this being easy work, as he
was unaware of the honor conferred
upon him. But a witless delegate
called him up on the long distance teLe-
phone to tell him about it and the
roar Of refusal emitted by Schoonover
Travelled from San Diego to Stockton
Ike the blast Of doom So while the
democrats are officially confident about
carrying California for Bryan, they are
not disposed to be loquacious about the
chance Of sending Bourbon delegation