The morning call., 1892-06-18
iFsSS'T- GROWING CHILD
The League Of Progress Is
Young but Strong.
ITS BIG VAR WITH MONOPOLY.
An Onslaught That Is Soon to Be
Commenced.
The TranscOntinental Association Will
Undergo Vigorous Over.
hauling.
ITS BIG VAR WITH MONOPOLY.

Although the League Oh 1EOSIeSS - Oul9
week old it is a strong, healthy infant.
eve are going to begin our fight against
the railroad monopoly in dead earnest In
less than a fortnight" said Chairman w. 81.
Metson. I'm fact. you might say we have
already begun. but Of course we will have
to ele permanent officers and do some de-
tail work before we can hope TO accomplish
much"
HAS any one present any particular plan
Of action? p was asked
mo trouble about suggestions. The air
is fun of them. II we acted oil half OF them
we would have more irons in the FIRE than
we could begin to handle"
"Haye you any plans of your own?"
Mr.. Nelson's modesty held him silent for
moment
Eyes. l have, but don't know how the
members feel about taking them up. Some
Of the persons In the organization seem to
favor them. Il may be that the plans will
be adopted.
First of all we want TO get money TO-
gether for a competing railroad Here IS
San Francisco, with an assessment roll
footing up $500, COOS and we haven't had
energy enough or grit to put some Of that
capital behind a project that would return
US $40 for every 81 that we might put forth.
Mr.. Leeds, ! am told, thinks that 100000
would be a sufficient sum TO build CON-
peting Ii ne for us. Now if We can't raise
that $50. 100000 in some way OF other we
ought not to succeed as a community"
"Are your league young men good money
raisers?"
81 think they are. We have in the league
number Of the same young meu who are
so successful in raising funds for the Native
Sons celebration. They didn't 60 about
like book agents. They first managed in
nearly every case to interest in the ceiebTa-
bration the man of money to whom they
went"
'You ought to go into this thing" the
committeeman said:
WHATS the good OF it|
"Pll show you the good OF it.
"Well primed with his facts the commit
teeman made his little argument, and so
aroused his mans interest il the affair that
he generally said'
"'NeIl, you can put my name down.
Mr.. Nelson went on to say that he be-
Geved great interest could be aroused in
the competing railroad project.
From talks that l have had with the
league members, " said he. i believe that
that is the plan that IS in high, st favor"
You would have the league men make
personal canvass then?
Yes. OF course, there would be a great
deal Of hard work, but our members are
not lacking in enthusiasm, and that is one
half Of the fight We could get business
men to 90 into the movement II we went at
them 10 the right way We could show them
that On every dollar they iuVeStin the bonds
Of the competing line they would soon be
in a position 10 get big interest, for San
Francisco would grow Ia prosperity, aud the
whole State would be greatly benefited"
Are you getting much encouragement
from the interior tOwns|
"a great deal We want to get in as
many country merchants as possible. We
are trying to make everybody see that this
movement is not merely for he benefit Of
San Francisco, but for the whole State.
California would thrive wonderfully if we
eouG only get that competing line, and of
course whatever helps California is bound
TO help San Francisco.
I'VE will elect cur officers Monday night,
and We will get down to effective work as
soon as possible"
Other members Of the league who were
seen thought that the organization was de-
velOpinG great strength for So young a one.
And It will keep on growing" said one
member, until we have knocked out the
monopoly"
Who are you going to choose for presi-
dent?"
That's hard to say. Nelson is my
choice because he has studied up tile situa-
ton aud Is not too conservative. You don't
want a conservative man 10 q place of that
kind. You want some one who will act
and is not afraid of making mistakes. /
would rather see a president who made
thousand mistakes and accomplished some
thing than a too-careful man who would
show US no results at the end Of the year.
Our people have been thinking about this
thing of amelioTiation by means OF COM
peting ailroads long enough. The thing to
do now is to act"
Mr.. Metson thinks our rivers ought to be
improved aud that our land barons ought to
be so heavily taxed as to make them sell
their land or pay the State good revenue
fOT the privilege ofh0ldiEg their large areas.
One of the plans of the league is to give
the TTanscontinental Association a severe
overhauling. A study will be made Of the
iBiQuity fOstered by that organization, so
that the attack may be made intelligently