The morning call., 1895-01-11
Election Frauds and Nose Gunst's
appointment.
MORE WORK TOR THE GRAND JURY.
Men Who Fear Huntington Decline to
Take Part in the MOyement-Dis.
patch to Mcguire.


every organization formed to advance the
common veal and crush the despotism of
wrong. have united in an effort that cannot
come to naught. The guilt that trails
through the cutters, and the crime that
stalks in high places are to be assailed
together in spite of the high wall that
wealth and society have built between
them. The movement owed its birth to
United States District Attorney Knights
refusal to issue warrant for the arrest OF
Coils P. Huntington when confronted
with evidence that the man of millions
had deliberately violated law passed by
Congress for the protection of the people
against combinations of capitalists.
The Labor Council sounded an alarm
and called upon the people to say how
long they would be ruled by officials, who,
in defiance of the fundamental laws of
the land, prosecute the poor aud shield
the rich. Other organizations took up the
cry and petitions for ia mass-meeting TO
voice the public disapproval of the Dis
trict Attorneys conduct appeared on
every side.
1t was decided to interview the Mayor.
and by having him call the meeting make
its action official as we'll as popular.
But while the committees were gather
urged to bring forth other wrongs for con-
domination and punishment. A recount of
the ballots cast at the recent election re-
vealed the existence of glaring frauds.
Votes cast fol a candidate had been stolen
by the counters and given to his opponent.
The Great Register had been stuffed and
criminals had been employed as election
officers.
Then the Governor of the State had in
suited the people and outraged decency by
appointing a representative OF the gam
bling element in the community to enforce
the laws against crime, and the reformers
were asked TO make that matter for con-
siderati0n at the mass-meetlng.
There was some difference OF opinion as
to the ACCESSIBILITY of handling more than
one subject at the convocati0n of the
people, but it was finally decided that
Knights conduct, the election frauds aud
the appointment of Nose Guust as Police
Commissioner should be discussed and
acted upon.
The petition of the Union for Practical
Progress, signed by several hundred ciii-
zens, was published yesterday, but petit
tions were also prepared and presented to
the Mayor by the Law and Order League
and the Civic Federation.
Mr. knight, the attorney whose conduct
has caused so much unfavorable comment,
is mem Der of the Law and Order League,
d
discussion among the directors before
they signed their petition, which was the
following:
SAN FRANCISCO, January 8, 1895.
To the Hon. Adolph Sutro, Mayor Of San
Francis co--DEAR SIR: The undersigned direc-
tors OF the Law and Order League request that
mass-meeting of citizens be called TO deter
mine what effective measures can be taken TO
secure more strict enforcement OF law, and
particularly TO bring the proper influence to
hear
knight that no discrimination shall be shown
in favor OF the president OF the Southern Pa
cfc Company for alleged violation Of the inter-
state commerce law.
! Charles C. Terrill, the president of the
Union for Practical Progress. had rather
instructive experience in procuring signers
to the petition presented by that organiZa-
ton. The chief officer of reform society,
when asked to sign, said: Illumination
has always treated ME well. and | think
he has right to use his money as he
thinks best"
.'But in this case" the petitioner urged.
she used his money or his pass in violation
of law"
that. and | am not In favor of taking any
action"
"But you are president of law and
order society"
Eyes, know: but we are not formed to
lied TO enforce the laws, it is true, but it
will not do to go into anything that will
cause a number Of our mem berS to with.
draw"
The bearer of the petition sighed and
remarked that G. 2. Huntington ought to
be member of that society, for he, too.
believed in law and order that do not an
tagoniZe any interests.
Another member of the same reform
roanization said. al hava oousin r16n
holds quite an important position with the
Southern Pacific Company, and l am
afraid they will discharge her il am con-
nected with this movement. l am in most
hearty sympathy with you, but, really, out
of consideration for this relative l cannot
sign"
A number of merchants ''had read some
thing about that Huntington matter" but
did not know any of the particulars. They
were too busy trying TO turn an honest
penny to Inquire or read what Hun tin gton
is doing. HE may have violated the law,
but we have considerable business with
the company and it would be bad bust
ness policy for us to put our names to a
call for mass-mee ting"
A banker showed the canvasser a u ote
for $1,000 that he held on a prominent
official Oh the road. You wait until get
my fangs on that money" he said. 81
would like TO sign it, but you know how il
is, they could make me lots OF trouble
about that note. Keep the thing up.
though. Don't drop il"
They did not drop it. The petitions
were presented to the Mayor yesterday
morning and with them was the following
communication from Attorney George w.
Monteith:
I am requested by the committee having the
matter IN charge TO write you line concerning
the condition OF The complaint that Mr. Roberts
has Instituted against q. 7. Huntington. The
complaint is In proper form and the Commits.
sioner has undoubted Jurisdiction. Thesr two
facts are not disputed nor denied by MIR
Knight, the District Attorney. AT the time the
complaint was FLED there was no hesitation
about the Issuance OF the warrant until they
noticed The name OF G. p. Huntington on the
back, when they suddenly changed front and
refused the warrant. BY a provision of the
Federal statutes the proceedings before a
Commissioner are exactly the same as
the proceedings before magistrate under our
S ate law, and the duty OF the Commissioner is
no. discretionary but mandatory. Strictly
speaking, the District Attorney has no con-
troll over the issuance OF warrants. 1t Is a
pure assumption on bis part, but an assump-
ton that has grown up with long usage and
practice. In this case the Commissioner re-
fused TO act without the consent OF The Dis
trict Attorney, although th re was no reason
why such consent should be had. plain err
case was never Instituted before mag istral e.
and IL is not case where The District ATTORNEY
is required to- examine the evidence, as 1t was
all produced In court In the course OF the pro-