countering the continued denials made by san francisco-based newspapers, reports from the sacramento bee and the associated press describing the plague's spread, publicly announced the outbreak throughout the united states. the state governments of colorado, texas and louisiana imposed quarantines of california – arguing that since the state had refused to admit to a health crisis within its borders, states receiving rail or shipping cargo from california ports had the duty to protect themselves. threats of a national quarantine grew. as the 1902 general elections approached, members of the southern pacific board and the "railroad republican" faction increasingly saw gage as an embarrassment to state republicans. gage's public denials of the plague outbreak were to protect the state's economy and the business interests of his political allies. however, reports from federal agencies and certain newspapers continued to prove gage incorrect. other states were moving to quarantine or boycott california, and the powerful shipping and rail companies sought a new leader. at the state republican convention that year, the railroad republican faction refused gage's renomination for governorship. in his place, former mayor of oakland george pardee, a german-trained medical physician, received the nomination. pardee's nomination was largely a compromise between the railroad republican factions. in his final speech, to the california state legislature, in early january 1903, gage continued to deny the outbreak. he blamed the federal government, in particular, kinyoun, the mhs, and the san francisco board of health for damaging the state's economy.