The San Francisco call., 1908-09-19
CONVENTION WILL
NOT Be RECONvFNFD
Democratic State Central Conn
mittee to Name Candidate
for Supreme Justice
Many Applicants for Position
Vacated by the Death OF
Mcfarland

After taking legal advice Secretary
John F. Murray of the Democratic
state central committee has decided
that 1T will not be necessary to follow
the lead OF the republicans and recon
vene the state convention to nominate
candidate for justice Of the supreme
court.
After conference yesterday with
James G. Mcguire, Curtis Hillyer and
David |. Mahoney, Murray announced
that the state central committee would
be called together to make the nominal
ton.
Before the state convention ad-
1ourned." explained Secretary Murray,
1t empowered the state central COM
mtttee to fill all vacancies which might
arise and to transact such other bust
ness as might be found necessary. The
convention adjourned sine die. SO It
can not be called together again. AS a
matter of fact, the assemblage of the
state central committee will answer the
same purpose; for it would be impos-
sible to get the delegates together, and
they would naturally give their proxies
to the committeeman In their localities.
II have communicated with Secretary
of State Curry, and he has assured me
that the state central committee can
make the nomination. However, shall
take no action until 1 hear from Judge
Raker. chairman of the state central
committee, and / expect to hear from
him in the morning.
Many candidates for the position va
Gated by the death of Justice MeFar-
land are being discussed. 1t is consid-
cred very likely that Governor Gillett
Will appoint the republican nominee to
serve until after the election. This
would naturally add to his strength
during the campaign.
The name of e. c. Hart. "Lige' Hart,
as he Is familiarly known, was men
toned yesterday by the republicans.
Hart is associate justice of the appel
late court for the third district, and
like Mcfarland, Is a Sacramentan. He
was allotted the eight year term on
the appellate bench, and has still six
years to serve.
Judge Albert G. Burnett of Sonoma
has only two years more to serve on
the appellate bench of the third dis
trict, having received the four year
term. He also is being talked of In
connection with the nomination.
While Judge Harry Melvin OF Oak
land has many enthusiastic boosters, it
is being pointed out that he is un-
fortunately placed geographically, hall
ing from a county which already has
a representative on the supreme bench
in the person of Justice Fred Henshaw.
Robert I. Devlin. United States at
torney, is also spoken OF as a likely
candidate, and so is Thomas B. Dozier,
chairman of the recent state convention
in Oaklands Dozier. however. has been
appointed president of the board of
managers of the state hospital at Napa
in place of DR.. E. 2. Hennessey.
The Los Angeles democrats have two
candidates for the nomination. Joseph
A. Call. the attorney of whom 1t Is said
that he brought the Southern Pacific to
its knees in rebate litigation, is one,
and Cyrus McNutt is another. Judge
M. T. Dooling of Hollister is spoken OF,
but is not regarded as being in the
race as he is the nominee of both
parties for superior judge in San Benito
county. Judge William M. Conley of
MADEIRA is regarded by many bourbons
as likely candidate.