The San Francisco call., 1910-05-15
Endorsement of Former Ruef
Man and Mccarthy SuppOr-
ter Upsets Politicians
Rumor Has Ii That Tim SuIIi=
vans Fine Hand Can Be
Traced in the Deal
By GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

ADL hALrLn W. JOAHSQn nave SUGteeQeQ
in completely mystifying both the pro-
fessional politicians and the rank and
fle Of the league.
The fact that the men who have au-
thority TO speak for the committee
that Endorsed RoIkin decline to ex-
plain and that some of the Ieaguers
are IN q bad temper over the indorse-
ment has opened the doors for the pro-
fesslonal politicians, who have half
dozen hypothetical explanations Re-
gardless of any explanation. Rolkin's
endorsement by the organized express
sion OF reform in the republican party
goes long way to prove that politics
does make queer bedfellows.
OWNER OF HOTELS
Bolkin is san Francisco's largest
owner Of south Of Market street hotels
and lodging houses. He occupied the
same commanding figure in the hotel
and lodging house business before the
Nfe I'm those days Rolkin was consid-
efed one of Rusfs most valuable men
dits Winchester hotel was one of Ruefs
sheet anchors in the twenty eighth dis
tflct and his other Establishments and
Connections were counted upon by Ruef
as vote delivering assets in the twenty
eighth, twenty ninth and thirtieth as
senhly districts.
Last year Rolkin was prominently
identified with the municipaI cam
paign. He was in the forefront of the
hght for Mayor Mccarthy and a ban
quet was rendered Mccarthy in one of
Ilolklns hotels. McCarthv's election
and McCarthy's administration are be-
ing played up by the leaguers in their
state campaign The organization is
beng denounced for electing McCar-
Thy and for the enumerated evils Of his
auminlstraton. Mccarthy himself is
used as one Of the principal arguments
against the republican machine and its
candidate. Ia san Francisco the league !
has Endorsed one of McCarthy's chief
supporters for a place on the state
board Of equalization.
INIHL NOT RESPONSIBLE
Max Kuhl. the reform republican
leader in the big thirty-seventh assem- |
hly district and state organizer for the
Lincoln Roosevelt league. expressly
disclaimed any responsibility for the
Endorsement Of ROlkin.
i had nothing to do with it," said
llutl yesterday. 1T may be that the
committee was ready to back any one
10 peat Scott lie, you know. was a
Ruef man"
"Is il not fact that RoIkin was
Ruef man and that he was one of
Mayor McCarthy's most prominent and
vigorous supporters2" Kuhl was asked
-A--ph -ADlLlilS OF MS relations
win Ruef, replied kuhl, I never
heard Of him until I heard Of his activ-
tiles in the Mccarthy campaign
A Z. Graupner of the committee
which gave Rolkin the league indorse-
ment was 10th TO discuss the matter.
i asked Graupner when Rolkfn became
a reformer. He answered me with an
Illuminating question
Who said he was a reformer?" was
Graupner's answer.
The Los Angeles contingent on the
Lincoln Roosevelt leagues executive
committee gave it out cold months ago
that all the members of the state board
Of equalization must be retired because
Los Angeles assessment was boosted
100 per cent last year. The resent
ment Of the Los Angeles leaguers was
especially directed a. J. II. Scott of the
san Francisco district and Dick" Col
Inns Of the first district. They felt so
strongly about the boost given their
town by the board Of equalization that
Hiram W Johnson was induced TO de-
nounce the equalizers' action in his
first speech delivered at Los Angeles
NoRTHERNERS PROTEST
That speech evoked storm of pro-
test from the press of northern Cali
fornia. Colonel Forbes, the big
Lacquer in Collins district. declared
that # the selection of the leagues
candidate were left TO him he would
name Collins Many of the San Fran
cisco leaguers said that they would not
tight Scott for raising an assessment in
which the eight leading hotels of Los
Angeles were returned for combined
assessment of less than that returned
for the St Francis alone. In any event
ROlkin has the leagues Endorsement
The professional politicians outside
the league contend that Rolkins in
dOrsement was given as a considera-
ton for Tim Sullivan's support of the
leagues ticket. Rolkin made his ap-
pearsnce under the management of
Assistant Secretary Scott Of the coun-
~ committee. Scott is Charlie Forbes
law partner and both he and Forbes
were put into their places on the coun-
~ committee by Sullivan. The leaguers
insist that neither Scott nor Sulli-
vans influence played any part in the
Endorsement of Rolkin.
CONFIRMATION WANTED
Machine men are puzzled over the
report from Los Angeles that Willis
Booth has again declined to make the
race for United States senator Some
Of them are prepared 10 accent the re-
port out Of hand. Others insist that
they viii not believe that Booth is out
Of it until the report is confirmed by
their highest authority. W. r. Herrin
None is prepared to believe that
Booth quit through fear Machine
men generally believe that the task
OF beating Works is simplicity itself.
Indeed some OF them are of the opinion
that Works can not round up q ma
iority OF the next republican caucus
even If no candidate is run against
him al the primaries.
That, of course, is not the view of the
majority Of the machine leaders They
recognize the futility of asking legis-
lators who must go back to the people
for nominations, 10 commit what would
amount to political suicide They
say that the organization viii have a
senatorial candidate in the field. Pend
ing continuation of the report that
Booth has run out on them, they be-
lieve that candidate will be Booth. And
in any event they believe the question
viii be determined when Anderson and
Walter Parker arrive from Los An
geles. They are expected tomorrow.
OPEN WEEK FOR JOHNSON
At the Lincoln Roosevelt headouar-
ters in this city il is announced that
this viii be an open week for John
son. He viii speak at Santa Rosa on
Friday night and may go to Los An
geles on Saturday. He is expected TO