The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-28
THEIR ARMOR ON.
The League of Progress
Ready for the Fray.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.
Perfecting Plans to Aid in the
Struggle Against the Railroad
Monopoly.

oe gridironed with competing railroads,
and the Southern Pacific will exist only in
our dreams-a hideous specter-and we
will wonder how we ever allowed the
original to live"
Such were the prophetic words OF
Thomas j. Harris, president of the Cali
fornia League of Progress, and they were
delivered at the close of the meeting of the
board of control of that body, held last
evening at 1872 Market street.
1t had been an interesting meeting, one
of great moment to the people of this State
and one that struck another blow at mo-
nopoly. Definite arrangements were made
to aid the Traffic Association in securing
subscriptions TO the San Francisco, Stock
ton and San Joaquin Railroad. and finally
the initiative steps were taken to push Tor
ward the interests of the Davie Transport
tation Company in its war with the octopus.
Thus on one side the league holds out a
helping hand 10 the new railroad and on
the other to the new ferry. The Southern
Pacfic's enemies are drawing together and
will soon present solid front.
The leagues action in regard to the San
JOAQUIN road demonstrates that the aid
will not be in the matter of words only.
The president was empowered to appoint
five committees. the number to be in
creased to ten if necessary. Each CON-
mittee will consist of two members, one
from the board of control and one from
the regular membership.
j. S. Leeds. manager of the Traffic As
ISOLATION, has divided the city into dis
tricts, and although the association and
league committees will preserve their indl-
vidualities, vet they will work in concert
and cover the territory as mapped out by
the officers of the former organization.
The Traffic Association committees be-
gin work Monday and the districts allotted
TO the league will be given out by Mr..
Leeds on the day following. At the same
time each committee Of the league will be
furnished a complete list of those who
have already subscribed to the new project
and Will be able to show the merchants Of
San Francisco and Oak land just what has
been done. For the city across the bay is
going to have an opportunity 10 aid in
this fight against their arch-enemy and
will be as thoroughly canvassed as this.
The subscription list of the San Joaquin
project is a model and was carefully framed
by skilled attorneys. Subscribers can see
at a glance that the concern will forever be
a competing line. that it will ne so tied up
in trusteeship as to render it impossible
for the Southern Pacific to secure any con-
troll whatever, much less buy it out.
AS soon as the league meeting was
opened last evening Attorney Morgan,
who had been invited 10 attend on behalf
II the Davie TRANSFORMATION Company.
was asked to speak. He first recited the
history of Mr.. Davies fight against the
southern Pacific and the stirring times
ever the waterfront question. Then con-
tnuing he said 1--WE propose TO issue
2, 0OO0 shares of stock at So per share. A
majority OF this stock will be placed in the
hands of a trustee, and he shall be so
bound that it can never fall into the hands
of the Southern Pacific nor any other cor
poration. We feel as if the people of San
Francisco and Oakland, for whom we
have done so much, should aid US in our
fight, and we can assure them that they
could not make better investment. We
ask them now to come to our aid against
the corporation that has been robbing
them for years. and | speak advisedly
when ] use the word rob
we could not be bought ont. Bought out?
No. For twenty years have been fight
ing the Southern Pacific. l have been
blacklisted at Fourth and Townsend
streets, and have been harassed time and
again. No, they couldn't buy me ont. AS
to Mr. Davie and Mr.. Bassett. their char
acters speak for themselves. The line
itself, once the corporation is formed, will
be so tied up that it can't be bought
"And another thing. There is really
nothing to sell. The Oakland water front
is open to all now, and were we to sell out
tomorrow another line could start, and
another, and still another. But Wa will
not sell out. We ask citizens to help us,
but even if they do not the opposition line
will keep in existence. We are determined
that the Rosalie shall make regular trips
to Oak land. carrying passengers at nickel
apiece, so long as we have enough money
in our pockets to buy the coal. When the
Resale stops we will be forced into in
solvency.
Arrangements were perfected yester-
day by which the Davie Company has
secured control of another boat. It will
carry both freight and passengers and can
accommodate 1000 of the latter. Two
thousand dollars in repairs will at once be
invested, and the boat will be ready for
service within twenty days. We are
already preparing plans for large double
ender ferry-boat to cost 100000. Oakland
has promised that as soon as the Broad
way case is decided it will build US large
station on the pier. At that point eleven
street car lines have terminals. and they
radiate in every direction.
''Poor peoble in Oakland are thronging
to our aid, and every hour in the day they
take up So, $40 and $40 worth Of stock.
But we want the rich as we'll.
1--WE have found the weak spot In the
armor of the Southern Pacific. and into il
we have thrown spear. This weapon
we are going to twist and turn until the
old monopoly groans in agony. and we
want the people to help u.s."
Mr.. Morgan's address was enthusias-
tically applauded. and a committee was
appointed with instructions to draw up a
resolution indorsing the Devie Transpor-
alton Company. Incidentally this CON-
mittee will confer with Mr.. Davie and
Others and arrange matters so that aid can
be extended the same rs is being done to
tho San JOAQUIN Valley project