"The System," As Uncovered by the San Francisco Graft ProsecutionHichborn, Franklin
History
"The System," As Uncovered by the San Francisco Graft Prosecution
Hichborn, Franklin
Political corruption -- California -- San Francisco; San Francisco (Calif.) -- Politics and government
[322] On the eve of the primary election, P. H. McCarthy, leader of
the anti-Prosecution faction of the Union Labor party, issued
a warning to union men In which he said: "Too much caution
cannot be exercised by you, nor too much diligence displayed
in order to protect your rights at the polls today. One of the
most cunning, deceptive and vicious attacks ever made on
organized labor in this city is now being launched in order
that your wages may be cut and your working hours increased to
suit the millionaires in this city. To do so, those
millionaires have drawn to their side by what force we are
unable to say, certain labor men (Walter Macarthur and his
associates) with a view to shuffling, confusing and thoroughly
misleading the labor union voters and their sympathizers in
this city."
[323] Many Ryan Republican district tickets contained the following
printed statement:
"The candidates on this ticket are pledged to use all their
influence in the convention to secure the nomination of a
ticket of capable men and hope that they will be indorsed by
the conventions of all parties. They do not care who these men
may be, but will vote for no man who can be suspected of
peddling offices or jobs in return for support. They do not
desire nor expect for themselves or for their friends any
offices or jobs. No candidate on this ticket has ever sought
or held a political office or job. The candidates on this
ticket have all accepted the pledge of the Regular Republican
League. Daniel A. Ryan, chairman; Perry H. Newberry,
secretary."
[324] The Examiner, in its issue of September 19, 1907, in
discussing Mr. Ryan's proposed candidacy said: "It is
generally understood that Mr. Dan Ryan proposes to nominate
himself as the Republican candidate for Mayor of San
Francisco. That he has the power to do this thing is one of
the curiosities of our political system.
"The theory is that the delegates to a convention represent
that part of the public which marches under the political
banner of a political party. But Mr. Ryan evidently considers
that the delegates to the Republican convention were chosen to
advance his personal political ambitions.
"The people do not mean that the accidental leaders of a
primary fight should put the offices in their own pockets.
"They elect delegates as agents to select candidates from among
the people. The delegates are the bearers of a trust and
neither they nor the man who happens to captain them in the
scramble between factions has a right to appropriate the
nominations.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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