The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-09
ANGRY REFORM ELEMENTS
They Adopt Resolutions De-
nouncing Superior Judge
BahrS.
THE JUDGE Is INDIFFERENT.
Mrs. French Says He Opposed the
Ordinance Which Coleman
Violated.

Superior Judge George Fl. Bahrs was the
subject of adverse criticism at two meet
icgs yesterday afternoon on account of the
stand taken by his Honor in declining to
transfer the case of Saloon-keeper William
Coleman to some other department OF the
Superior Court for trial.
Attic meeting of the Central W. u. L. u,
the first union of the w. c. Il. U. organized
in California, Mrs. Rose NJ. French and
Mrs. II. Mason, who had been appointed
committee to investigate the facts con-
corning the alleged connection of Judge
Bahrs with the liquor dealers OF San Fran
cisco as counsel prior to his election TO the
bench, submitted their report. They SAID
that they had learned from Clerk russell
OF the Board of Supervisors and from the
records OF his Office that on July Il and Is,
1894, Judge Bahrs, at that time practiclng
attorney, had appeared before the Super
visors with the statement that he repre-
sented the German Saloon-keepers' Asso-
citation and desired to oppose the passage
OF the slde-entrance and dive ordinance.
Attorney Bahrs further stated that he was
there in the interest of capital and that the
people who wished the ordinance to be
passed were only talking sentiment.
Mrs. French spoke earnestly on the
subject, and referred to the fact that the
ordinance, which was passed in spite OF
Attorney Bahrs and which he strongly OPP
posed, was the same ordinance under
which Saloon-keeper Coleman is now about
to be tried by Judge Bahrs. Mrs. Mason
added her voice to the Remuneration by
Mrs. French, and the following resolutions,
offered by Mrs. French, was unanimously
adopted:
WHEREAS Centra1 Union w G. IT r. learns
Wi tn great Indignation that Judge George II.
Bahrs, who formerly acted as attorney Tor the
Liguor-dealers' Association, and as such ap-
peared before the Board OF Supervisors TO pro
test against the passage of the s1de-door ordl-
nance and the dive ordinance, has reversed the
decision of the lower court in the case OF VIII
liams Coleman; and, whereas, we deem the
course pursued by this Judge in this matter to
be still another disgraceful judicial outrage
upon this community, and sincerely regret that
a law of imperative mandate is not in force
which would enable us to demand his resigna-
ton effectively; therefore be 1t unanimously
RESOLVED, That we hereby publicly condemn
fused to permit this side-entrance case to be
tried by another Superior Judge, as had been
requested by the prosecution.
The Law and Order League also met yes
terday afternoon and devoted considerable
attention to the attitude of Judge Bahrs in
the Coleman case. Mrs. French reviewed
the circumstances which occasioned the
against Judge Bahrs in the Union for Prac-
teal Progress and Central Union w. G. T.
U. and urged the adoption of resolutions
which would reflect the sentiment of the
league concerning Judge Bahrs' attitude.
The following resolution was passed unani
mously:
Resolved, That the case of the People VS.. VIII
liam Coleman should be tried in some court
other than that of the Hon. Judge Bahrs, for
the reason that he was formerly employed as
counsel for the German Saloon-keepers Asso-
citation and opposed the passage of the City
ordinance under which the case is being tried.
Judge Bahrs when spoken to concerning
the resolutions directed against him by
the different reform elements said yester-
day afternoon:
"Oh, l suppose these people have a right
TO adopt resolutions If they wish to. l
will take no notice of them except to see
that attorneys who are interested in cases
pending in my court do not take part in
resolutions which concern their cases. If
they do | shall take steps to prevent
repetition.