The San Francisco call., 1909-08-21
Want an Independent
Candidate for Mayor
Good Government League Is Casting About for
Man to Head Ticket
By GEORGE A. VAN SMITH


Will the good government league put
an independent candidate for mayor In
the field? This question is sorely puz-
znng a lot of politicians. The partisan
nominees for mayor are also scratch
ing their political heads over 1t.
This is by no means the end of the
puzzle. The good government league
itself is torn UP some about the may
orally question. 1t will not be decided
until IT has been thoroughly thrashed
out by the executive committee, which
between campaigns is the good gov
and one or two other members OF the
committee are out of the city. In their
absence no binding action will be
taken.
WILL CALL CONFERENCE
Meanwhile the league purposes to
confer upon the political situation with
the Independents of all political par
ties. The conference was decided upon
yesterday afternoon by quorum of
the executive committee. The date was
fixed for Monday. Invitations will be
issued to the municipal league of inde-
Francisco democratic club and inde-
pendent union labor party men. II
the invitations are accepted the con-
freres are to help the good government
league yivisect the situation.
Naturally enough. there is some
doubt about the invitations being ac-
cepted by the municipal league OF in
dependent republican clubs and the
San Francisco democratic club. The in
dependent union labor party men have
no concrete organization
Ralph McLeran. one OF the leaders
OF the San Francisco democratic club
and the anti-McNab candidate for the
the opinion that the San Francisco
democratic club will not confer.
TT is my judgment" said McLera n,
that the San Francisco democratic
club Will not accept an invitation TO
the good government leagues confer
ence, or participate fn such a confer
enee. OF course, can not speak au-
thoritatively for the club, but that is
my judgment"
INDULGE IN CROUCH
1t may be noted IN passing that the
San Francisco democratic club is not
very sweet on the good government
democrats think they are entitled to
the crouch on the good government
league. in which they are now in
dulHing themselves. The anti-McNab
democrats wanted to nominate Nc
Leran for mayor. Before the prima
ries they were frank enough to confess
that they probably would not be able
TO elect McLeran IL they managed to
nominate him-but they insisted that
his nomination on the democratic ticket
would insure San Francisco against the
election of P. H. Mccarthy.
They are not prepared to charge that
the good government league is wholly
responsible for McLeran's defeat at the
primary polls, but they attribute his
defeat in part 10 the good govern
menters They assert that the demo-
Gratis who were controlled by the good
government league were ordered not
to vote IN the partisan primaries Tues-
day How far those orders were effect
i've none knows. That many democrats
did refuse to vote Tuesday because OF
the good government leagues program
is common knowledge. The municipal
league republicans have small stock
OF the same kind Of knowledge and
a corresponding grump.
INDEPENDENT REPUBLICANS
E T. McMurray, secretary of the mu-
nicipal league of independent repuo-
Iican clubs, declined last night TO ex-
press an opinion about the probable
action of his organization. He said
he had no knowledge of the purposes
OF the conferences and was not In q
position TO give even a personal opin-
ion The advisory committee of the
independent republicans conference is
to meet Monday, and McMurray
thought this committee the proper
body to deal with invitations to con-
ferences of any kind.
The Tow down" OF the independent
republican situation IS that the inde-
pendents, or some of them. purpose to
sit on the fence until they see how
they are to be treated by the repub