The San Francisco call. [volume], January 06, 1897, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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VOLUME LXXXI.— NO. 37.
SHORTAGE'S STRENGTH GROWS HOURLY,
The Perkins Conference Is Held, but Fails
to Secure Enough Votes for
His Nomination. .
This Is Considered a Victory for the Popular
Orator and Leader, and His Friends
Are Joyful.
► Demonstrations Show That the Bulldozing Tactics of Perkins' Managers Will
Not Avail, and That the Honest Legislators of California Will Refuse
to Return the Incumbent Senator to Washington.
Several Gentlemen Who Attended the Caucus Stated That They Went In With the
Understanding That It Was to Be a Friendly Conference of Repub
licans, and That Unless There Were Sixty-One Votes They Would
Not Be Bound by the Action of the Caucus. They Ex
plicitly Said That If the Majority Was to Bind
Them They Would Not Attend.
SACRAMENTO, Cal., Jan, s.— Senator Perkins' ships did not come in
last night. They were caught in a gale and were stranded on a bleak and
rocky shore.
All that could be mustered was fifty-seven votes, and not another one
was in sight.
The crew are completely demoralized and hardly know where to look
for shore. ,
Scores of people visited the headquarters of Samuel M. Shortridge to
night and congratulated him upon the splendid victory which he had
achieved.
PERKINS MEN ROUTED.
They Line Up In Caucus, but Do Not
Have Enough Votes to
Nominate.
SACRAMENTO. Cal., Jan. s.— The Per
kins forces lined up in caucus to-nipht
and were utterly routed.
Instead of the siaty-three or sixty-four
votes which they boasted they had the
rollcall showed only fifty-seven, four less
than the necessary majority, and one of
those votes was a proxy.
When the members of the caucus filed
out of the room into the crowded lobby
their faces wore a smile sicklied o'er by
the pale cast of disappointment, and in
order to cover their confusion they an
nounced that they had received sixty votes
and that they could get a few more when
ever they wanted them.
It was a great victory for the opposition
and it showed a part of the strength of the
contestant, Samuel M. Shortridge. The
Perkins adherents utterly failed to get. a
majority of the Legislature to attend or '
abi'ie by the caucus. They had been j
workine for days and nights with a full
and well trained corps of political whip
pers-in. They had run through the Capitol
building, they had ransacked the hotels,
the sidewalKs, the saloons, they had even j
gone to private houses; they had gath
ered, corraled, bulldozed, cajoled, prom
ised to do everything and anything in or
der to gather together a suriicient number
of Republicans to nominate Mr. Perkins,
yet while they worked the strength of Mr.
Shortrid c was gaining.
For months they had traveled up and
down theßtate, attending county conven
tions, political meetings and visiting leg
islators before and after election to gain
recruits for ti.eir rasn. They had the Ex
aminer and tbe Record-Union at their
backs and despite all their well-directed
and most desperate efforts, Mr. Shortridge
succeeded in blocking the caucus and in
preventing a majority vote for his op
ponent.
It is hailed with joy by the friends of
Mr. Shortridge as a decisive Victory, not
withstanding the bulldozing and misreD
Mr' Lynch, Speaker Leon Dennery. Sig Eetman's Smile. Mr. Markley, Secretary
of the Last House. Board of Examiners.
The Call
resentations of the other side. They are
in hiih feather to-night and are receiving
congratulations on every bund.
It Had been announced early in the day
that sixty-three or sixty-four legis:ators
had signed the call for the caucus and
that their choice was Senator Perkins,
but only fifty-seven vo'es were the pro
ceeds of toe caucus. After the adjourn
ment a roilcall was exhibited to the mem
bers of the press purporting to represent
sixty votes.
Senator Gleaves was selected as chair
man of the caucus and Assemblyman Bel
shaw as secretary. When the object of
the meeting had been stated Judge Way
mire of Alameda arose and said that he
appeared there as a Republican and in
the interest of harmony and the success of
the Republican party.
"We nave eainea a great victory in this
State and Nation for that grand party and
the peerless statesman, William McKin
ley," he said, "and it now rests with the
Republicans elected by the people to fit
tingly carry out tbe good purpose of the
Republican party by electing some dis
tinguished Republican as the next Repub
lican Senator. We have met here for the
purpose of considering the first steps to
that end. I appear here as I always have j
appeared — as tbe friend of Senator fer
kins, and I am pleased to say, also, that I
am here as the friend of every leading
gentleman who aspires to the high and
honorable position of Senator, and in the
interest of the Republican party to pro
mote that harmony which is needed for
future success.
"I am advised by leading members of
the Lepislature and by citizens through
out tbe State that it would be unwise for
us to take any hasty action in this impor
tant matter. I therefore think it wise
that we should take a short adjournment,
al Jeast until to-morrow evening, that all
the aspirants for the office of Senator may
have an opportunity of presenting their
claims to the members of this body. I
beiieve this postponement would create
harmony and would redound 1o the honor
and the interest of Senator Perkins ana
1 his friends, and particularly to the party
SAN FRANCI«CO, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 6, 1897.
whose representatives *ye are. I therefore
move that this body adjourn until to
morrow evening at 8 o'clock, and in doing
this I aim only, as I have indicated be
fore, to bring harmony out of discord, and
to unite solely for one man and with the
concurrence of the entire body of Repub
licans represented in both branches of the
Legislature. I have voted for Benator
Perkins before, and took an active part in
his election, and I think that no man can
accuse me here of not having proved in
the most unmistakable manner my friend
ship for him.
"1 have been complimeuted by many
members of the House and Senate by sug
gesting my name fora Dosition in the
Cabinet. I desire to assure you all that I
highly appreciate this honor. If 1 can in
any way aid in the organization and per
petuation of the Republican party and its
principles, and purely in the interest of
hnrmony in the party, and without any
selfish motive whatever, I assume my
present attitude in this matter."
Cutter of Yuba opposed the motion to
adjourn and made a long s, eech. He
said that there was not a Republican pres-.
ent who was not there in behalf of Senator
Perkins. Why should they delay the
nomination any longer. I: was the wish
of tne people of California that the Re
publican representatives stiould vote for
him. It was their wi«h and their will, re
peated Mr. Cutter. He did not believe in
postponing action for even one minute.
"We all know," he added, "t.. at there
are other candidates who wou'd be glad
to see the election of Senator Perkins pre
vented, and this delay, in my opinion, i?
simply for the purpose of saving time for
the benefit of the opposition, it is the
will of the people of this State, and if the
Republicans who have chosen not to at
tend this caucus knowing as they do that
it is the people's will, and do not choose
to vote for him, well and good."
Other Bpeakers followed, and the mo
tion for postponement having failed of
passage Senator Perkins was placed in
nomination, and tbe roll was called, re
suiting in 57 votes, including the proxy of
Sims to Ennis.
SAMUEL M* SHORTRIDGE, the Candidate for United States Senator, Whose
Election Would Promote Harmony in the Republican Party and Be a Credit to the
State of California*
Then some one said that they ought to
have sixty votes, and it was accordingly
eiven out to the pross as sixty votes for
Senator Perkins — not enough to elect him.
When the news became known on the out
side, scores of people — legislators and
others — nocked to Samuel M. Ehortridge's
heail quarters in the Golden Eagle Hotel
to tender him their congratulations.
The Perkins people count upon one or
two more votes, but these have been al
ready gathered in by Mr. Sbortridge and
the outlook is rather bleak for them. The
coup d'etat by which the majority of the
caucus was blocked, and in fact broken up,
is the talk of the street to-night.
JACKSON A BULLDOZER.
Peculiar Insult to Judsre Waymire
While He Is Talking to Some
Friends.
SACRAMENTO, Cal., Jan. 5.— A scene
of attempted bullciozin ? without a paral
lel for intrusion was witnessed by a num
ber of centlemen who were standing in a
little alcove of the State Capitol rotunda
at 8:30 o'clock this evening. Judge James
A. Wnymire, Assemblyman from Ala
meda, left the Senatorial caucus in the
Supreme Court room to confer with H. I.
Kowalsky and some of the latter's associ
ates. Judge Waymire carve out of the
caucus on his own motion and was ex
tending bis hand to Charles M. Snort
ridge, when Colonel J. P. Jackson
brusquely stepped forward, exclaiming in
an angry tone to Judge Waymire, 'If you
want to see me you must ?ee me now, as I
am busy nnd going upstairs."
Jud^e Waymire replied in a mild and
gentlemanly manner that he had come
out to ?peak to his friends, pointing to
Charles M. Shortridgc, Fremont Oider,
managing editor of the Bulletin, and Col
onel H. I. Kowolsky. Colonel Jackson
waved his hand impressively toward the
caticus-room and exclaimed, in a husky
and r.ngry tone:
"If you hare anything to say to me,
speak at once and go back."
Judge Waymire protested that the
amenities of politics required him to ex
plain. Jackson then became more ex
cited, and, in an impatient manner, re
plied :
"If you want to maintain your self
respect you will go back to the caucus.
You have nnly two minutes to decide."
Judge Waymire is a highly sensitive
man, yet slow to wrath, but he smarted
under the lash of the Perkins whip as
Jackson cracked it over his head and about
his oars. The insult was more than he
could endure, and he sepmed to be ready
to spring at his insulter. He shook his
finger in Jackson's face and retorted: "I
will not take any instructions from you,
Colonel JacKson."
Charles M. Shortridee, not ■wishing to
embarrass Judge Waymire, withdrew a
few steps, exclaiming: "I do not desire to
be a party to any sensation in the lobby."
Had the high-minded and self-respect
ing Republicans in tne caucus witnessed
this unparaFleJed scene of bulldozing as
did the gentlemen outside they would
have been surprised and grieved.
When the Deople of Alameda County
read of this remarkable scene they will
feel that every man, woman and child of
Waymire' s constituency has been griev
ously insulted. Tbe incident is not over
drawn or highly colored. It was witnessed
by a number of spectators.
DONE IN THE SENATE.
Approval of the Resolution Asking
for Protection on California
Fruits.
SAC-KAMENTO, Cal., Jan. s.— The
Senate convened promptly at 10 o'clock,
and Rev. Mr. Miel delivered the first
prayer of the session.
Immediately thereafter Senator An
drous presented a joint resolution to in
struct the Congressional delegation at
Washington to urge the incorporation in
the'tnriff bill now being prepared by the
Congressional committee of a provision
which will afford protection to California
iruits from foreign competition and se
cure a home market at reasonable prices.
In order that there might be no delay,
the Congressional committee being In
session at Washington to-day, the reso
lution was adopted without reference.
It was sent to the Assembly to be adopted
by that body and telegraphed at once to
Senators and members of the House.
The Senate then adjourned to 11:30.
The Governor's message was read in the
Senate and made the special order for
10 o'clock 10-morrow.
The temporary committee on mileace
and attaches was niimed, consisting of
Holloway, Bull and Henderson.
The Senate then adjourned to 10 o'clock
to-morrow.
EDITOR SCIPIO CRAIG Docs the Lobby Act,
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
WORK IN THE ASSEMBLY.
Resolutions Asking- Congress to
Oppose the Refunding Scheme
Are Passed.
SACRAMENTO, Cal., Jan. s.— The As
sembly settled down to business without