The record-union., 1891-05-05
OAKLAND's MISTAKE.


The Oakland blunder in receiving the
President is made the subject of great
deal more bother than it is worth. The
Oakland committee mismanaged in not
informing the President of what was the
detail of the programme; it was misman-
aged in inficting a seven-mile drive upon
him on cold, raw, foggy day, and the
attempt to have him exhibited at all the
little settlements on the road. Had the
committee told General Harrison that the
programme called for him to reach Oak
land only at a given hour and that a pro-
cession would meet him; tired, disguised
and nl-treated as he was, he certainly
wouldmot have violated the arrangement.
But notsuch information was conveyed to
him.
One of his party for him announces
that he had no knowledge whatever that
there was a procession waiting, or that
carriages were ahead of time, or that there
was any other gathering than that he met
at Lincoln Square, while it is emphat-
ically stated that his failure to go upon
the prepared platform was due to the
Mayor, who told him that it was impossi-
BILE to reach it. Under the circumstances,
it would seem that no one was to blame
but the committee. It was not consid-
crate of the guest; did not consult him,
and generally mismanaged and blum
dered.
The wonder is that the reception busi-
ness about the Bay did not PROSTATE the
President completely and give us a fu-
neral instead Of reception. Between
two Saturdays, inclusive, so much was
laid out by absorbent San Francisco, he
was compelled to meet committee arrang-
ments and fulfill obligations of promise,
to attend six banquets, six receptions,
two excursions and make fourteen
speeches, exclusive of the trip to Monte
rey, Sacramento, Oakland and back, and
Incidental speaking and receptions on
the road. 1t was rush, up early and
late, and the maintenance of a constant
strain or tension that it is simply wonder
ful the General could, at his age, endure.
These things should have been taken
into account by the Oakland committee
and the arrangement proposed communi,
Gated to the President. Instead of that
it appears that he was taken off the trair
In the country, driven about to public
institutions, over a long road, through
small places, and finally into the city
which he had set out to reach direct
where all was confusion and disorder
He was pelted in the face with bouquets
numerically by rude persons, and one
nearly knocked him out of his carriage
The floral sentiment does not lessen the
vigorous force and danger of mass Of
packed vegetation hurled into ones eyes
In short, there was enough about the
Oakland mismanagement to make an an.
gel lose his temper and beg to be removed
from the scene. If President Harrison
did not become angry, he is less a mar
than we take him to be. He came to meet
the people, not to be made ridiculous
show of, or be tramped around the
country at the end of Mayors string
like a strange animal on itinerant exhi.
bition.
The truth is, Oakland was yexed, as the
Times of that city yesterday as much as
confessed, because the President did no
give whole day to that city, but shared
the time with Sacramento. Oakland knew
perfectly we'll when the Presidentia,
train was to arrive. 1t came in to sec
ond on time, but the scheme to trot the
guest about the suburbs of the city O
wonderful distances was unknown t
him, and that he should have urged hast,
in the carrying out of the plan, after HI
had fallen into the trap, is not at all to b,
wondered at
When next Oakland attempts to enter
tain a public man, let it send its commit
tee to Sacramento to receive a few lesson.
in good breeding. The Capital City mad,
no mistakes in receiving President Hayes
General Sheridan, General Grant, Gen
eral Sherman, or President Harrison. /
consulted the wishes of the guest in every
case-that's the simple rule which Oak
land ignored, and is the key to the who'll
trouble.