San Francisco Call, Volume 69, Number 92, 2 March 1891 — THE SENATORSHIP. [ARTICLE]

THE SENATORSHIP.

The Candidates Striving for the Toga. The Size of the Sack a Conspicuous Feature of the Canvass. Politicians Flocking to the Battle-Ground. Influences That Hay Affect the Result. Efcrial to The Mornin-9 CAr.r.

Sacramexto, March I.— From end to end of the city, whenever legislator meets legislator, nothing is spoken of but the empty toga at Washington, and instead of a discussion of the merits of the men who are spoken of as candidates for the garment, the money they can pay or are willing to pay is the sole topic of conversation since the death of Senator George llearst. The tones of the voices of the solons have had a metallic sound. 'I'm: race that is to .be ' .run is to many of them a mc« in which not the best man, but the biggest sack is considered. Hike .de Young, who hovered over the dying Senator like :a ■' vulture over "a fatally wounded animal, was the first in the field. He lias several henchmen at work-in his interest, nmong whom are two very prominent Assemblymen from San Francisco. '■ .'!:'.■." -.' ...• ■.'.'•'.; ■:■'"'.-. ■'••"■ .'. = '. SIZE OF THE sack;' '.:"■ ••:...'. !■• Some time' ago it . was retorted that he was willing to pay $100,000 for the coveted prize; but it. is now reported he Jias agreed to pay ■ S2soO ■'. each ■ for . the ' votvs ...of. • seven of-.tho.- most . Influential iueni- .. bers -ofi ■ the •■'.. Lenislaiure, and- ■ $i.too, each for the votes of the remainder. . His heelers are working like liouniH upon scent of blood and it will.not be their fault if many a ■ legislator who; jeante to . the Capital with a fair record, returns. to his constituents -.blackened '. . with' ... infamy. -. Your correspondent Vis. informed that several members- have ' pledged tfieln selves ■ to • Voting's • sack ; .- and there . Rre| others;-. ■'. who will follow their examples unless a ' bigger suck' makes its appearance. It is safe to . s.iy. that there is not . a ' member of either house who does not, in his heart, believe that the .State would be forever disgraced by sending Mike de Young to the Senate, and those who vote for him . may expert to meet with, no mercy from their constituents. . '£g ' • ■ ■ ' . .

RAiqtS MKNTIOXEP. The race for the empty chair is lead by ex-Crongresstnap Fulton, with M. M. Estee a good second. . . • . E»tee. will be here to-morrow and his friends are very hopeful that he will overtake tie man from San Jose. 'It "is estimated that Estee is sure of at least 12 votes in the Senate, while Felton'-s following, although thought to be much lar^t-r, is an unknown quantity:. It is believed that Eitee will have, the support of the railroad company, and it is said that FeltoD, who is wealthy but none too free with his money, will have the backing of an Eastern railroad in which his son-in-law is interested. Heside- lVlton and Estee, ex-Gover-nor George C. Perkins, W. H. Mills. C. Bonebrake, a wealthy banker of Los.AnKeles and ex-(.ongressm.in W. \V. Morrow are mentioned as possible candidates.

. THE 15ATTI.K-C.ROUXD. "-.-; '•. ' If the plans of the Republicans are not chunked before the day on which th« first vote uni-t, under the Constitution. .he taken, no caucus will be held, and the battle will be fought ' and ■ won on . • the floor of the Senate and • Assembly, Uonobraka may display an unexpecteddevelopment of strength before the fateful day arrives, us it is said that he would have been appointed by the Governor if Senator Hearst had not died -before the close of the session. :: ■ '■ ■■■■'' '.- •' -'.. .-. . ■

Phil Crimmlns came up to-night and W. \V. is expected tn-morrow. Felton will arrive on Wednesday evening. It is not known to-!iiuht whether the Legislature will r.-eeive official information of Senator Hearst's death tv-morrow or not. It is tlie. opinion- " ol many, including Lieutenant-Governor Reddiek, that n« vote fur United States Senator eanbe taken until tbe Becond '1 .iie*day after an offl ial notification ot Senator Hearst's death bu been received by letter'"fToirj Washington. Others think that the news nf iih death as. ithas been received is sufficrent, and that tlie first votu may be taken on Tuesday, March ioth. :\.; .'■..■;■■ „;■-■, ■. •.-.;■ ■ . '•;.. " ;: . 8.\1.1.0T-RKF(iIIM BILT.S. ..

Ex-Judge J. B. tiagiilre came up ••to-night-to be present at the discussioji&f tiie batlotreform.bills to-morrow;. He will seek per-: . mission to address llio.-- Assembly' in .Cohir nitttee of the .Whole-.' in,.' ■ favor: of the . Federated Trades . - bill as ■-. it; passed': the . Senate. ' '..'l lie;-, bill '■.' has: . . .'a^ hard road to travel, as aJmost every able speaker in the Ass 'liitilv Isupeuly or -secretly against It. . Dibble,' 15ruiier,\Low.V'.yduug " and. Shanahau have, \it .is.- said, entered into a compact to drive : tho Legislature their wav, Sh -inn'han . will :■ not' stay with them inovposinp ballot reform, for the ■ sandwich man from Sliastn -.'would: cohiniit' political suicide if he did; He has reason to ; believe that, notwithstanding the "jjerrymander" of the State, the failuro of the Republicans to pass the Ballot Reform Bill will Ciiuse them to be driven "from power, and with the in Ip of ' the farmers 'and the Democrats ho might be able to regain his position. . ' ■•:'':.■. ■■'-.:.:■■.' .■'■■'■■ ■'■■'i

. ' ... TEKSOXAI.. ; ..' . -;. •.. - Colonel Dan Burns is still on the sick list, but is rapidly recovering. He takes a deep Interest in the conflict which, has just commenced. . ■..' . ■ ■■■.. .■.•■; Speaker and Mrs. Coombs are. dDwn with la cnppe.nnil Senator Wilson. is con valescing fruni an attack of pneumonia. ' : '. ', : ■"