The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-23
SHAME CAST TO THE WINDS.

The "solid eight of the Board of Super
visors proclaimed themselves aloud yes
terday when, without any explanation,
excuse or charges. they passed an order
dismissing seven City officers and appoint
ing others in their stead. 1t was in vain
that member of the minority pro-
tested against the outrage and demanded
that charges be made against the
holders of the offices. He was
contemptuously ignored. and the shame
less act has gone on the records of the City.
Not even party spoils or civil service
reform can be urged to excuse this
action by the "solid eight" The
Board of Supervisors is composed of
eight Republicans and four Democrats.
The Republicans are: King, Benjamin,
Hughes, bunker, Morgenstern, Taylor,
Spreckels and Hobbs; and the Demo
Gratis are: Scully, Hirsch, Wagner and
Dimond. The "solid eight are: Scully,
King, Benjamin, Hirsch, Hughes, bunker,
Morgenstern and Wagner-fve Republi-
cans and three Democrats-and the mi
nority is composed Of Dimond, Taylor
Spreckels and Hobbs-three Republicans
and one Democrat.
III electing eight out of the twelve Su-
pervisors the Republican party came into
control of the Board of Supervisors, and is
therefore responsible for the acts of the
majority of the Board. The very fact
of combination of five Republicans with
three Democrats to form 'solid eight"
who shall vote together constantly makes
it impossible to imagine an honest purpose
on their part and makes it impossible for
the minority of the Board to act with
them.
In all the political scandals that have
afflicted the City this is the most conspic-
uous and disgraceful. We all remember
the earnest protest from the public
against the election of dishonest men,
and we have fresh in mind the siren
uous efforts of many good citizens to
defeat the two old parties by forming nom
political organizations for the purpose of
cratic party had betrayed the people, and
it was feared that the Republican could
not be trusted. But the Republican party
pledged itself solemnly to elect worthy men,
and it was faith in that pledge and
in the stern integrity and clean history
of the Republican party that broke the
strength of the non-politieal movement
and caused the election of Republican
majority in the Board. A feeling of Sc
curity arose. Now majority of the
Republican members have proved rem
egades from the party and traitors
to public duty, and have dragged
their party in the mire and dashed
the hopes of the people to the ground. 1t
is the most disgraceful combination of
scandalous elements ever found together
in our municipal affairs, and it comes at a
time when the proud and energetic men of
the City were pressing forward with high
hopes and an earnest purpose to make San
Francisco one of the greatest cities in the
world.
Disgraceful as this is, it would be vastly
more disgraceful and absolutely ruinous to
permit this scandalous state of affairs
to continue and flourish unchecked.
While it is every citizens duty, what
ever his political belief may be, to take a
hand in purging his tair City of this
shame that has fallen upon it, it is
more directly the duty and responsibility
of the Republican party to take the lead.
By whatever means these renegades can be
reached, let the work proceed. Now, if
ever, is the time to hold up such men to
public scorn, as punishment to them, as
a check upon their future exercise of an
evil power, and as warning to others who
may be tempted to betray so sacred a thing
as public trust.
Supervisor Scully, who hitherto has
voted consistently with the "solid eight"
declined to vote on this motion to dismiss
tried and competent officers, but in the
absence of his history in the Board and of
his protest and opposing vote, he has failed
to keep his name out of the mire.
1t cannot be expected that men who
would act with so open shamelessness
could be induced by a popular protest
either to resign or reform. The proceed
ings to cripple their power for harm must
come from without, and it is the clear
duty of the Republican party, both for the
sake of its own fair name and for its
responsibility to the public, to take prompt
and determined action in the premises.