In June, 1871, the Democratic State convention met in
San Francisco, and installing Henry George as secretary.
nominated Haight for re-election as governor. There was
some friction among Democrats over the radical issue, but
the party generally being lined up squarely for a big fight
on a straight principle, and he himself beginning to think
clearly on the great social as well as the great political
questions, Mr. George was even more desirous than he had
been two years before to run for the legislature. On
August 10 he secured a nomination for the Assembly in
a San Francisco district and he made several speeches
there and elsewhere. Again his hopes were to be dashed.
At dinner time on election day he announced to his wife
that the indications were that the Democrats were carry-
ing everything, but late that evening he came home again
in laughing humour. "Why," he almost shouted, "we
haven't elected a constable!"

Haight had opened and pressed the fight -- and George
had taken an important part in it -- that had stamped out
the policy of subsidies in California; but the great railroad
corporation had in turn thrown its gigantic power into the
election and had cast Haight and his entire party into the
dust of defeat. Henry George, whose pen had been so
active, was a shining mark for the powerful company, and
his vote did not rise to the average of the party Assembly
candidates in San Francisco. His one personal satisfac-
tion in that hour of defeat was that he had fought and lost
on a principle.

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