The San Francisco call., 1895-07-14
A HEARTY RESPONSE.

If such meeting as that held at Metro
politan Hall Friday evening had been
called five years ago it probably would not
have been attended by two score persons;
but the crowds which were present at this
meeting, the earnestness of the speakers
and the deep interest of their auditors
were eloquent testimony OF the great
change which has overtaken our people.
Had it not been for the hard times prevail
ing universally recently, though with less
severity in California than anywhere else,
it is not likely that such an organization
as the Manufacturers and Producers As
sociation would have been formed and
therefore not likely that steps would have
been taken to produce a standard by which
the excellence of California could be
measured. 1t is from adversely that the
lessons of progress are learned.
This mass-meeting called by the Manu-
facturers' and Producers Association for
the purpose of increasing the popular in
terest in the movement to encourage the
consumption of home products ought to
have a twofold effect-one of rousing the
interest of consumers and the other of in
ducing manufacturers and producers to
Join the association. The advantages OBJ
servable in both these aspects of the ques-
ton are so obvious that attempts to create
a public sentiment in their favor ought
to be unnecessary. 1t is the Indifference
of California's people to her interests and
their own that has kept the State so long in
the background, and the Manufacturers
and Producers Association has under
noble.
Chicago was made the great city that it
is solely by the tremendous energy, high
intelligence and perfect unanimity of its
citizens. 1t is within the memory of many
of US that the time was when battle
for supremacy in the Middle West was
fought between Chicago and st. Louis, and
how the guerdon hung wavering until
Chicago made the supreme effort that re-
suited in the most wonderful city growth
and prosperity that modern times can
show. st. Louis, dominated by that easy
going spirit infused into it by its Southern
population, fell immeasurably behind
when it came to match its energies with
the sharp, shrewd, tireless men who came
from further North and threw all their
vim into the destiny of Chicago.
No question is more commonly asked
than this: Why is it that the men of won
derful energy who have made Chicago and
other Western cities the marvels of prog
ress that they are do not come to San
Francisco, where the rewards of their
efforts would be greater and the comforts
of life more abundant? In view of the
awakened sentiment which is now abroad
among our people, we shall not attempt
an answer to the question, but we do say
this awakening will remove the one great
cause for the absence OF Eastern energy
among US. For out of this awakening will
come decent streets, an honest City gov
ernment, reasonable taxes and sound CO.
operation in trade and industries. Cali
fornians themselves have now taken the
situation into their own hands and will
proceed henceforth to work out the destiny
OF the State. And it will not be long be-
fore the unconquera bic world-builders of
the Eastern States will come to urge on
ward the ball which we have started roll
ing