The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-02

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contractor-FOur years.
Samuel Foster, Republican; merchant
Four years.
James f. Denman, Democrat; capital
q ist-Two years.
Albert f. Castle, Republican; mer-
chant.
Mayor Sutro late yesterday afternoon
appointed these four gentlemen to form
the new Board of Election Commissioners,
as provided by act of the last Legislature.
One of them-P. n. Wellin, Democrat,
for the long term-came as a complete sur
prise. He had not heretofore been men
toned for the Office. -.
Wellin took the place that has ali along
been set aside in the gossip of politicians
and others for James D. Phelan. TT APP
pears that Mr.. Phelan, as Mayor Sutro
said, had the misfortune to be a million
aire, and the phalanxes which rallied
chiefly to Mr.. Sutro's support in the cleo
ton times filed past in review before him
since the announcement was made of his
intention TO appoint him, and al Of them
inquired "Where do we come in in this
business?n
mr.. Sutro seems to have considered the
point well taken, and two DAYS ago mes
senger found Mr.. Wellin where he*was at
work at his trade as &C carpenter on a cot
tage Of his own over IN San Leandro, and
notified him that the Mayor desired to see
him.
When Mr.. Sutro saw Mr.. Wellin, Mr..
Wellin said, Certainly; / will be glad to-"
So that was settled. The others have
been in the field for some time, and their
merits and the reasons for their possible
appointment have all been canvassed.
oil Gathered at the MAYORS Offipa
at 2 o'clock Yesterday afternoon by ap-
pointment. John D. DAILY, who had been
publicly mentioned for the place, was also
present, together with number OF prom
inent politicians.
The Mayor called the chosen four into
his private office and presented each with
a typewriter copy OF a letter reading as
follows:
July 1, 1895.
Dear Sir: You have appeared to me as a
person fully competent TO discharge the duties
of an Election Commissioner and the conelu-
sion has about been reached by me TO tender
you the appointment. But believing that
there are some fundamental principles in
Volved il has occurred to me that before
definitely rendering the appointment your
opinions upon the following pubic questions
should be well known, as 8 guaranty that If
appointed you will discharge the duties Of your
trust. You will, therefore, please answer in
writing these questions:
First-Do you favor the general primary law
and will you act upon it as constitutional and
binding unless the Supreme Court decides to
the contrary?
Second-6o you favor the enforcement of the
election law under which you are appointed,
and will you assist in establishing its constitu-
tionality
election law under which you are acting, and
will you use all lawful means to insure q true
and honest count of the ballots
Fourth-Are you under all circumstances OPP
posed to the appropriation of public school
funds for any sectarian purposes
Fifth-Are you opposed to the inteFposition
of corporal tons in the political affairs of this
City ?? Very respectfully, ADoLPH SUTRo,
Mayor of the City and County OF San Fran.
cisco, California.
The four gentlemen read this all through
and then each wrote his Endorsement OF
the several questions in the affirmative
and returned it to the Mayor.
Thereupon the Mayor formally ap-
pointed them to form the commission,
reading prepared address, as follows:
Gentlemen: By an Act of the Legislature. ap-
proved March %, 1895, the honor has been
conferred upon me of appointing four Election
Commissioners, two to serve for two years and
two for four.
cisco that, for many years past, our elections
have been conducted in most scandalous
manner.
BY the use of large sums of money, great
corporations have introduced a system OF
bossism under which our elections have be-
come corrupted and the very fountainhead OF
our liberties choked. -
Packed primaries and conventions, dishonest
voting. fraudulent counts have been the rule,
until the liberties guaranteed by the constitu-
ton of the United States and that of our own
State have been oyerridden and set at naught,
and our once great, honest and popular Gov
eminent is practically destroyed.
1t is indeed no longer Government for the
people. 1t is Government of unscrupulous
corporations who care nothing for the we'll
being OF the community, and set its will at de-
hance.
1t is my duty-a sacred one-to appoint four
o, men to supervise our coming elections Four
men who will see that these elections are
honestly and "squarely and properly con-
Quoted and who will insure every voter the
opportunity OF casting his ballot as he may
deem best, and who will look to 1t that the
vote is exactly and fairly counted.
To you, gentlemen, belongs that duty tits
for you TO correct past abuses and wrongs; 1t
Is for you to set the example to the people, and
show that honesty is not dead.
This is the turning point in our history 1t
will be the test of our capacity for self-govern-
ment and of our ability 10 cope with dis
honesty, villainy and corruption.
From among our citizens l have tried to
select four men who have the honoraof their
country at heart and who viii strive to per-
form the duties of their Office as patriots.
You will have a trying time. The corpora
lions and their myrmidons, the bosses and the
hosts of boodlers will first try TO upset the law
which created this commission. II the law is
upheld, of which have but little doubt, It's
enemies viii try to influence you, TO harass
you will stand by your Coolers until victory
croHns your efforts and a new and glorious era
dsWns upon our City.
The four gentlemen briefly expressed
their appreciation of. the honor, and the
responsibility and the forfnality, together
with aflathe preceding doubt and anxiety
of the past several weeks, was over.
Now as to the personality of the men
chosen to fll this most responsible public
p n. Wellin is 90 years of age, a native
Of New York. State. He came to California
thirty-fonr years ago. lie is a carpenter
and contractor and has bcen9 engaged on
many of the big buildings of the City,
notably the Palace Hotel and, in its earlier
stages the new City Hall. He has always
been identified with movements for the
betterment of the laboring classes. He
was member of the constitutional con-
vention, and worked hard to secure a
charter for San Francisco such as would
free it from State interference. He says
he was rendered the Office few days ago,
accepts it with keen appreciation of its
responsibility, and will at once turn to an
earnest study of his duties
Samuel Foster, the other long-term men,
Der, isa wholesale grocer and commits
4 hr1cf ofO md