The San Francisco call., 1909-01-08
Sharp Battle in Republican
Caucus Ends in Victory
for Programmes
Efforts of Rebels to Delay Sc
lection Brings Forth Much
0ratOry
CalIan Leaves Assembly Cham
Der Rather Than. Cast
Vote for Incumbent
By Edward F. O'Day
/ Special Dispaioh 10 The Call

lDtCLt0A LiaAAtAH 20 4 NN N1At
CALL HEADQUARTERS. CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE BUILDING. SAcRA-
NIENTO. Jan. After refusing by a
vote Of II to TO place him on record
regard the charges made against him
by Senator elect Joseph L Bristow OF
kansas the joint caucus of the repub-
licans Of the senate and assembly to-
night chose George c. Perkins TO sue
ceed himself as. United States senator
Five insurgent republicans in the
lower house Of the legislature sprang
their attack upon Perkins just in time
TO prevent his progress toward re-elec-
ton from being the thornless path OF
roses which the organization has beer
vened. The efforts Of the rebels to de-
lay Perkins. selection raised the tenn
perature Of the assembly chamber
whore the caucus was held. to some
thing like fever heat. and 1t took a dea'
Of oratory on the part OF the program
mers TO readjust matters so that hi'
selection might be made by acclama-
tiOn.
INSURGENTS ARE BEATEN
Led by Drew of Fresno. the insur-
gents put up a lively scrimmage, and
when they were beaten four of the five
submitted To the Inevitable while the
fifth. Z. J. Callan Of the Thirty nintt
district Of San Francisco. who has com
mited to public print 30 reasons fol
his opposition 10 Perkins. walked ou
Of the caucus, followed by the, glare:
OF the organization leaders.
The letter written by General Bris.
tow in which. as a special Panama rail
road commissioner vested with author
ity by President Roosevelt, he charged
that Senator Perkins had helped t,
block the establishment of a govern
ment owned steamship line between
san Francisco and Panama, was tn,
instrument with which the insurgent.
sought TO stay the selection Of Per
kins.
Assemblyman A. NJ. Drew of Fresh,
rose TO the attack as soon as 50 mem
bers of the two houses convened be
hind the closed door,
When Senator Frank W. Leavitt o
Oakland had been chosen chairman o
the caucus and Assemblyman Georg
N. Perine Of san Francisco had beel
installed at the secretarys table, Drew
presented a resolution, the purpose 0
which was 10 delay the selection of
caucus choice for United States sena
Tor until wire could be dispatched L
Perkins demanding his answer to tn
fat footed charge made by Joe Bris
tow.
CALLAN TEARS LOOSE
Drews presentation of his resolu
tion was followed by a not shot froT
Assemblyman II. G. Cattell of Pasa
dena, another Of the insurgents. The
Callan. the letter writer. tore loose
summarizing the reasons for his oppo
sition which he had already addresse
10 Perkins in an open epistle.
There was charge after charg
against Perkins in Callam's rapid de
nunciation. the speaker laying specia
stress upon his attitude toward the rat
bin and his cooperation with the .'gra,
wolves" Of the senate.
senator Henry n. Willis of Redland
was the first TO arise in defense o
Perkins.
Eddie" Wolfe followed IN a long an,
forceful speech in which he denounce,
the resolution and shot whitening bolt
Of irony at the introducer and sup
portcrs OF il.
Grove I. johnson. tired after a lon,
losing fight in the afternoon, took tn
floor after Wolfe. The elderly assem-
blymsn from Sacramento was facetiou
and insisted that he had not intende,
10 vote Tor Perkins until he becam,
aware 81 the dastardly attempt to de
feat him.
ORATORY CONTINUES
That did not end the oratory. fo
many were eager TO place themselve,
on record. but ii practically ended tn,
L.
excused on account of fatigue. frs
directing that his vote be recorded
against the resolution, the caucus pu
the stopper on the eulogistic orator,
and got down to business. Roll cal
showed II in favor OF letting Perkins
out Of the tight place in which he wouls
have been penned If required to answer
Bristow's charge. Five voted in sup
port OF the resolution. They We're Drew
Of Fresno. Young of Berkeley, callan O.
San Francisco, Cattell of Pasadena ant
Flint OF HOLSTER.
Defeated but undismayed, callal
arose once more.
gentlemen" he said. Il can no
stand for Perkins. I have placed my
self on record as opposed to him, AM
as the representative of the people o
the thirty-ninth district ] must be con
sistent ] ask you TO excuse me from
voting with this caucus"
CALLAN LEAVES CAUCUS
"Be does not represent the thirty
ninth district cried Senator Gus Hart
man. jumping up. Il represent tn
1hfrty-ninth: they are my constituent
and / have received kilograms iron
them instructing me TO vote for Sena
Tor Perkins. How dares the gentle
man assume TO speak for the Who'll
district Callan LETT the caucus
Senator James ". Stetson Of Oak
land made the nominating speech an,
Harry W Pulcifer. the Piedmont as
semblvman, followed IN a secondini
speech.
When the flow or eloqnence ha'
thoroughly saturated the caucus, /
WAS decided TO dispense with a rol
call and TO make Perkins the caucu
choice bya viva voce vote. So Georg
O. Perkins was chosen as United State
senator to succeed himself by the &C
clamation OF 81 votes. and Tuesday n
viii receive all but one o. the votes o
the republican majority.