The San Francisco call., 1908-12-04
MCkANNAY BEATS
BOURBON MACHINE
McNab Democrats Say Mayors
Republican Secretary Is
Their HOOdOO
Plays on TayIOr's Vanity to
Keep Regulars Away From
Pie Counter
By George Van Smith

frenzy Of impotent rage San Francis
cos militant democracy is sitting up
nights TO howl about the evolutionary
processes of a year which have trans
formed Mayer Taylor's accidental
Young republican secretary from But
tons" TO Boss" AIcKannay.
san Franciscos democracy objects
oratorically and for publication to any
old boss, but TO a democratic boss
skilled in tapping governmental strong
boxes for salaries for the faithful
those objections are purely theoretical,
II vehement Given, however, a demo-
cratic mayor whose republican aide
and adviser turns deaf ear to the i'm
portunities Of the faithful and a strong
hand against organization onslaught on
The pie counter and democracy's OBJ
iections 10 bossism become genuine,
pathetic and almost fearful.
aTcExANNAY THE REAL THING
The summary manner in which the
claims Of Tim Fitzpatrick to a place
on the police bench were overlooked
and denied; Mayor Taylor's disinclin-
alton TO advise" with il and a horrid
fear that il will not get so much as
a look in at the several commission
berths 10 be passed out next month
have convinced organization democra-
cy that it is up against the real thing
and that the real thing is a young re-
publican named McKannay.
Just one brief year ago Harry Nc
Kannay. Mayor Taylor's secretary, was
dubbed Buttons" by the organization
democrats. who were using reformer
republican prestige and money to elect
Mayor Taylor and tunnel their way to
a few hundred Jobs for their faithful
regulars. That was a year ago. 1t is
different now. The disgust with which
song hair republicans regard W. +.
Herrin. democratic boss of the repub-
lican machine, is as nothing compared
10 the dread with which organization
democrats view the specter of But
tons AfcKannay mounting guard be-
tween them and the jobs they need to
keep the machine running without an
hoy5ng cresks.
DfSPLEASED WITH MAYOR
Mayor Taylor, who is a member of
The despised san Francisco democratic
% csnb, comes in for share Of organiza-
/. ton criticism, but the soft pedal is
down on most of that sort of thing for
very practical reasons. Organization
. democracy has never been able TO get
10 Taylor for anything ike gratifying
results. The captains Of the organiza-
= ton explained that originally on the
highly humorous ground that Taylor
was only a legendary democrat anyhow,
.shim for Jobs.
Clamorous pressure from the horde of
hungry privates and ''noncoms," coup
led with Taylor's persistent failure TO
see that the captains were around ready
10 tell him. what to do. developed a sec
ond excuse-executive senility. That
served until they got the goods on Nc
sIannay. he whom they dubbed But
tons" last year.
-. III
nay a republican" with q double roll
on the initial. and fout him as an
accident, but they admit with mourn
fuI grace that he has it on them.
When Edward Robson Taylor was
proclaimed mayor by Langdons
leashed supervisors the political wise
acres figured that the supreme court
would give him the humorous wink.
x was up to Taylor TO establish him
self in a mayors Office and proceed
70 be mayor.
The uncertainty of the thing looked
mighty uninviting to the chronic job
chasers and there was a dearth Of
applicants for the post of secretary,
which might never involve a salary.
It was suggested that NcKannay, q
young lawyer in the Office OF George
A. Connolly, had nothing to lose by
taking a chance. The job was passed
up 10 McKannay.
He accepted promptly and helped
pack the Mayors Office" sign from
the Franklin street yard hired by
Schmitz down TO the city hall ruins.
where Taylor took up the reins of
government. The supreme court de-
cieed that Taylor was mayor. Another
court decided that Mckannay could
collect the secretary's salary, which he
did, and the nerve Of democracy suf-
fered a slight twinge. A bet had been
cuences Of that error were not appar-
ent then They are now.
DUBBED HBUTTONs,
McKannay took an active interest
fn the campaign Waged on behalf of his
chief and incidentally his job in 1907
The young secretary, who took a
chance and landed a job, acquired the
habit Of dropping around to the Fill
more street headquarters daily and
interrupting the secret councils of the
strategy board with requests for cam
paign buttons. After the fourth trip
he was dubbed Buttons" and his daily
visits er iured with indulgent smiles on
the part Of the generals of regular
democracy and their headquarters SEN
tries.
They admit now that had they sus-
spected the possibilities Of Buttons de-
velopment they would have slipped him
a few shiny badges loaded with dyna-
inNe.
After election they did not connect
with Taylor in anything like the man.
ner they had anticipated. But they did
not suspect Buttons. They landed a
few places but quite as many more
went to democrats who wore no or
ganization label The number of the
latter increased.
cOLONEBs WAKE UP
Quietly but firmly it was borne in
upon the generals. colonels and other
dignitaries OF the organization who
stood around ready, even anxious, to
be consulted that Taylor was getting
his advice from other sources. Accu-
sations and theories availed them moth
ing with the clamorous faithful. They
got no jobs. Connolly. McKannays old
boss, had been selected for the board
Of supervisors and McKannay landed a
friend occasionally, but still their sus-
piciOns were stirred only slightly.
But when they fell down hard in
their attempt TO land Tim Fitzpatrick
in the place on the police bench vacated
by the promotion OF Judge Cabaniss TO
the superior bench, the cruel truth was
brought home to them. James d.
Phelan, Gavin McNab, Charley Fay.