The San Francisco call., 1908-08-22
Bell Says Scot Can Have All
San Francisco Delegation
and Be Beaten
A Fair City Boss, but Lacking
First Qualification of a
State Leader"
Napa RefOrmer Makes Cutting
Comment on Criticisms of
Local Bourbon

Theodore A. Bell, who was away
from home when Gavin McNab, in
the flush of primary victory, told
what he thought of the beaten Bour-
bon rebels, has returned to take a
hand in the battle of epithets.
McNab, it will be remembered,
characterized the Bell men as pre-
datory politicians" and the carpet
bag association of Napa," and called
Bell himself "a grand Turk" "a
chronic Office seeker" political
hack" and "a sophomore who makes
memorized speeches"
Now comes Bell with the retort that
consistency is not among McNab's jew
elry, that he assumes to dictate, that
he is either grossly ignorant or a will
ful deceiver. that he is in politics for
retaining fees. that he seems to be on
close terms with Ruef and that he is
churlish-
The tournament OF adjectives is mer-
rily on. In an interview given out yes
terday Bell said:
n What do I think about the outcome
~ the democratic primaries in San
Francisco2 Well, TO tell you the
truth. I have not lost any sleep over
the results. We can give McNab all
the delegates from san Francisco and
Etil control the Stockton convention
with margin that will put McNab to
sleep, II he wishes to show his strength
on a rollcall
Il have read with no little amuse-
ment his comments on the day follow
ing the primaries. Consistency evil
GENTLY does not constitute any part OF
his 5ewelry. For years he has as
suned the right to dictate 10 the dem
ocracy Of the interior and now he
challenges the right Of any one out
side the city to participate In the selec-
ton Of delegates TO the state conven-
tion from San Francisco. He also en-
cages in a discourse on gratitude.
i wish he would point out just where
/ owe him anything.
From the time Of my election &c
congress in 1902 up TO the convention
at Fresno last May his attitude toward
me was a simple ignoring of the fac
that I was doing my share Of the work
in the party It was his intention Il
prevent, II possible, my selection as {
delegate at large TO the national con-
vention.
q DID NOT ASK CONSENT
He has tried to make it appear thai
he was responsible for the guber-
material nomination given 10 me il
1906. This is absurd, for I neither
consulted him nor asked his consent
in accepting what was rendered to ms
without any solicitation on my part.
During the gubernatorial hghi
about the only thing that he did was
10 advise me TO keep out Of SaI
Francisco. saying that he would turr
over 5000 majority on election day
he sent word 10 me eight days before
election at Sacramento, through Ton
Ceary, that when I reached San Fran
cisco on the following Thursday I had
better denounce the action Of Ruef in
attempting to remove Langdon from
the ofice Of district attorney.
This concurred with my own ideas
for / believed Ruefs action to be
most outrageous thing, and so in al
three OF my san Francisco meetings
severely condemned Ruef
a thousand witnesses can be brought
n testify TO this fact. McNab claimed
At that time TO be the leader in Sar
Francisco. but he failed to show up al
anv of my San Francisco meetings or tc
give me an opportunity TO see him per
i sonally His opposition TO Ruef at that
time was just strong enough to cause
him 10 send me a message through
C=earv and then to keep out OF the way
and avoid any detailed discussion with
NE concerning the situation in Sar
Francisco. EcNab was either grossly
spnorant Of the real situation. or els'
~ wfllfuIly deceived me into believing
right I'D to election day, that my plu
raIity there would not be less thar
600. The trouble with McNab is tha
he has cared more TO maintain his loca
orqanfzation that he has for the success
81 the party at large. He liked to hav'
a. appear that he was a state boss il
order 70 bolster up his bossship a
home. The patronage Of a few munici
nal Offices has looked bigger to hin
than q victory IN the governors Office
He makes fair city boss, but does no
possess the first qualifications Of
sac leader. He prides himself that b.
has never sought public Office for him
self
INDIRECT EMOLUMENTs
This is true, for his policy has beeI
", let the other fellow get the Office an.
Jet McNab get the indirect emolument
mat naturally flow TO the man who i
imposed TO control the fellow in Office
do not mean 10 charge him will
graft. but I do say that his retaine
fees have undoubtedly been swollen b,
lis position OF power in the party. HI
las been patriotic enough TO eschev
public Office and content himself will
the more profitable returns through hi
legal profession He has a great sdea
10 say about my being a candidate 70
ONCE The fact is that 1 have sough
but one nomination in my life, and tina
was when ] entered the contest 70
district attorney OF Napa county il
1894, when I was % years Of age.
was successful at that time, and ever.
nomination since then has been ten
dered me unanimously by nay party
- 4 81. a
nation for congress in 1902 and again Il
,lsOz when my district was overwhelm
ugly republican and when il was re
Farded as a sacrifice.
In 1905 j could have won the con
KressionaI fight easily, but ] laid asfd