The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-09-25
HOLIDAY FOR ALL.
At the Expense of the
State.
DOWN ON THE WATER FRONT
Over One Hundred Men Pressed
Into Service Saturday.
so AS TO "DO PURE POLITICS"
Which Was Done With Vengeance
by Some and With a Pro-
test by Others.
DOWN ON THE WATER FRONT
so AS TO "DO PURE POLITICS. A"

''Stiff-legged Jack" and "Nealy the
macer" sat discon solately upon the
stringer to Mission-street wharf aud retold
stories of the great primaries fought OUT
last Saturday for the colonel. Nealy had
voted nine times in the Thirty-third and
six times in the Furty-hrst. while Jack re-
peated in the Fortieth often enough to Ell
an ordinary ballJt-box.
Nealy and Jack, however. were not the
only worthless that helped the waterfront
contingent win out" for the bosses. The
entire list Of employees of the HarbOr Com
missioners (and incidentally the Southern
Pacific, of course) we're given a half holi-
day at full pay, and we've delegated to this
Ut that district to help the railroad candi-
dates get through all right, all right.
81 understood from Mr.. Bassetr," said
one sweeper, "that we were to have
whole day, but Chief Boobar said we could
only get off for half. De colonel didn't
need any help. anyhow. No; de- colonel
is too fly, is de colonel, an so is de rail-
road. They can get along widout us, but
guessed we'd go just the same. Yes.
holiday went"
And sure enough it came to pass. The
1harfinger's offices were empty and the
sound of the hammer could not be heard
in the waterfront repair department.
Tie sweeper was gone aud the dust few
about in clouds. In short. tue front was
deserted by the Commissioners men, who
had been told from headquarters on Fri
day that a general half holiday had been
declared for primary gay 80 give the
boys little chance TO do the work." you
know.
A great many Of the States employees
were unwilling to take any hand in the
fray. but were forced through fear of their
superiors 10 taxi up positions in their re-
sDective districts and Work for fraudulent
ballots.
No questions were asked of the men be-
yond that of an inquiry as to what they
thought they could do in this or that pre-
cinct. The hint was enough.
About % sweepers, 90 10 80 repairers,
piledriveE and dredger men and fully half
the regular clerical force of the State
waterfront department were sent in
squads to various parts of town. Some OF
the former have been absent from du,y
under full pay for weeks at time attend
ing 20 political duties for their masters,
but the height of political folly was
reached when the head of the Board of
Commissioners gave out the order for
half holiday through subordinates.
This delivered nearly 125 men, chained
and collared, figurativsly speaking, over
to the railroads forces. The very men
working on the belt line, and employ ed by
the railroad. were in number of cases
sent out 10 do "pOlitics." Peace reigped
on the front, but there was lively time
at the polls. The whole affair leaked out
yesterday.
1t was expected that some of the men in
the States employ might get off" for a
few hours, but it was not suspected that
the Commissioners would authorize the
men paid by the State to use their time
stuffing ballot-boxes instead of attending
to their duties.
81 am not speaking for publication"
said one State employe. "Jr, rather, | do
not wish you TO use my name; but | Will
say this much by way of reminder, the
Commissioners seem To think that we owe
our existence to them for a few paltry
jobs. This man Burns cannot rule me
any more. If | am told 70 60 out and do
dirty work shall refuse. that is ALL"
Not more than 10 per cent of the men
given legal holiday" were inclined to
accept of it, seeing that they were to be
ca led on TO act as suffers and ffyhters.
All went, however. fearing their Jobs
might be taken from them if they did not
1t was the boldest piece of work ever
undertaken by State or city depaI tment
TIE whole affair was done openly, and
men were practically carried into action
against their wills.
ln the case Of the sweepers, dock re-
palrers and other laborers, many of the
men have families that are dependent upon
them and dare not make a COMPLAINT.
The Harbor Commissioners, especially
Mr.. Bassett. are making a desperate effort
TO curry favor with the brss OF the Repub-
licans. Their cause Eas been weakening
very rapidly Oh account of the failure IF
President Bassett to pacify the rank and
file of the party, who are clamoring for his
scalp. The railroad is the only power
that holds the commission to Burns, who
is said to know and believe that il is polit-
cal death 10 be known as a friend of the
men who sold the belt railroad out for the
benefit of the Southern Petite.