The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-26
MR.. ASHWORTH AGREES.

several tunes within the last few months
The CALL has clearly expressed its dis
agreement with Street Superintendent
Ashworth's course in antagonizing the
popular movement for an honest and faith
full performance of official duties. 1t had
always seemed inexplicable that man of
his shrewdness and high character should
mot only have failed to observe that no
antagonism could repress this onmoving
wave of right conduct, but should appar-
emily have been blind to the fact that
whatever were the motives of his conduct
they could be construed only as having an
inspiration of sympathy with the evil
things that have cast shadow upon the
name and prospects of the City.
1t is therefore exceedingly gratifying to
learn that he has placed himself in line
with decency and reform, and that he has
announced to the Mayor his willingness
to open his books to inspection and to CO.
operate in the movement for securing an
honest administration of the affairs of his
department. 1t would be both unfair and
unkind to doubt his sincerity. Time will
determine these things. Meanwhile we
may be sure that Mayor Sutro, the mi
nority of the Board of Supervisors, the
Civic Federation and the Merchants Asso-
citation will relax nothing of their vigil
lance, and that Mr.. Ashworth will be held
as strictly accountable hereafter as FORM
erly.
In his case it has been always question
of judgment rather than of integrity
While the openest scandals were bruited
concerning streetwork under his super
vision, he angrily resented the decent,
honorable and manly assistance that good
citizens offered him. He proposed to con-
duct his department to suit himself, keep
ing in mind his obligations to the public
and to his bondsmen. He thus placed
himself in light that all but ruined him.
His coming into the fold means much.
In no sense does it prove that he has been
dishonest or negligent, or that he fears a
ruinous prosecution. Whatever it may
mean from his point of view, it clearly
means from that of the people that a wise
public officer will not deliberately antag-
onize the forces which are making for
decency in the conduct of our municipal
affairs, and that his honesty and intelli-
gence may be measured by his respect for
and cooperation with the irrepressible
sentiment that is now moving our people.
The next citadel to be stormed is held by
the Solid Eight of the Board of Supervisors.
No such practices were ever dreamed or
limited at in connection with the Street De-
partment as those which disgrace this
more important body. 1t is learned that
these complacent gentlemen facetiously
call themselves "boodlers' and loosely
handy Jokes on their reputation. 1t is
evident that as yet they have not felt the
influence of popular sense of decency or
the pressure of honest indignation. ALI
these things will come in time and then
the masters of these men will have hard
task in saying them from disgrace and
ruin. In making this fight against them
THE CALL is fully aware that it has the
sympathy of all worthy citizens, but that
consideration, valuable though tits, would
not be sufficient as a mover of our con-
duct. 1t is only when every citizen realizes
that it is his duty to oppose corruption in
the direction of municipal affairs that our
great City is ready to ask strong men from
any other part of the world to cast their
fortunes with US.