The San Francisco call., 1909-11-11
Bv GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

By GEORGE A VAN SMITH
Francis J. Heney1s refusal to permit
the use of his name as candidate for
= attorney general may result in spelling
one Of the prettiest political cheekmates
ever devised to avenge an injury OF
barass a political enemy.
If Heney can be Induced to permit the
use of his name he will he given run
ming start for the republican nomina-
tion for attorney general by republican
fsctfons both within and without the
regular organization. Both long hair
and short hair sponsors for the scheme
believe that Heney can win the repub-
lican nomination and the democratic in
dorsement and nomination by the writ
ing in process.
One-half of the scheme was hatched
originally in a spirit of revenge The
other half was born at about the same
lime in an entirely different camp and
amid entirely different surroundings.
Save for the unwillingness of Heney
10 have anything to do with them the
children are lusty infants and their
nroud patents have great hopes for
them.
Strange as il may appear 10 the uhlh-
formed there is some soreness among
The genuine supporters of William
CROKER. who carried the republican
colors in the recent mayoralty sprint to
a bad outside finish. Many Of them are
rfsibIv vexed when they think of what
they are pleased to term "CrOcker's po-
Ktical asininity," but they get both
.'peeved" and 0ratorical when their per-
turbed minds turn to the consideration
OF the "slow up drops" administered to
their candidates at the barrier before
the field was sent away for the last
dash.
CROCKER MEN SEEK REVENGE
Machine republicans who worked and
voted for Fickert and worked just as
hard TO prevent the ENHANCEMENT of
Crocker with Fickert contend that the
straight ticket" statement which
Crocker signed on Saturday before the
election cost him 10000 independent re-
publican votes and furnished the oppor-
tunity for the big machine leaders to
drive the rest of their votes into the
Mccarthy camp. The statement was Sc
cured from Crocker by Fickert's sup
porters and the Croker men declare
that 1t was a clear case Of frame to
put their man under the political sod
They want to get even" Heney is
the chosen weapon of their vengeance.
Rasing their calculations on what they
believe to be the sentiment Of
the interior toward the graft prose
cution they consider the job OF
securing the republican nomina-
tion for attorney general for Heney
something like mere child's play
They also believe that the state democ-
racy would make the same play for
votes that was made by the San Fran
cisco democracy and that the special
prosecutor would be given the demo
cratic nomination and a strangle hold
on the election.
Then. say the machine promoters OF
the Heney candidacy, Heney. the attor-
pey general. if not satisfied with the
manner in which Fickert might be con-
Quoting any remaining portion of the
graft prosecution, could step in. take
the cases away from Fickert and begin
sgain the work stopped by the election
last Tuesday.
Their solicitude for the persons under
Indictment is a thing of the past. Al
that, they do not pretend to believe
that Heney would get any of them in
san Quentin. They see in the man they
fought two weeks ago an instrument
with which to wreak their vengeance
REFoRMERS CHOSE HENEY
While that neat little scheme for re.
venge was in process of incubation in
the compound of the disgruntled ma
chine republicans who stuck to Crocker
the same general scheme with WHOLLY
different purpose was being worked out
by anti-machine republicans, who want
10 put Heney up to the Lincoln -Roose-
velt leaguers, now grooming themselves
leaders of the Lincoln Roosevelt league
have Heney's candidacy in mind thes
have not taken the public into theii
confidence. That does not prove that
there would be any opposition to his es-
pousal by the league. Both machinists
and anti-machinists consider Heney the
one best bet as a vote getter outside the
city Of San Francisco and the lincoln.
Roosevelt league is going after votes
. next year. The chief difficulty con.
fronting the proponents of Heney foi
attorney general is Heney himself The
proposition was put up to him yester-
day and promptly rejected. He de-
ciared:
Not on your life. They can not make
me the fall guy a second time. L do not
care what the next district attornev's
. Offices does with the graft cases
n may dismiss them as fast as it likes
] am not candidate for attorney gen.
eral and l would not lift my hand to at.
tempt to set aside the verdict of the
people given at the polls. / am goins
70 stay right here in San Francisco. TIL,
people VIII hear from me, but / wan
none of this
Heney's refusal has not who'll,
y damped the enthusiasm of some of tn.
sRroponents Of the scheme They de.
cIsfs-that he can be induced to chang.
his decision a7d. that by one means O,
another tbs will have him in the run.
ming for both the republican and demo.
cratic nominations long before the nri.
mary entry lists close next summer.