The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-04
DEMAND A MASS MEETING
The Chamber of Commerce
Will. Act on Davidson's
=: :. Dismissal.
MARINE UNDERWRITERS TALK.
: The Mechanfcs' Institute Adopts
i. Resolutions-Books and Instru-
'-==.-. =. naents Removed.


!: The popular feeling of merchants and
professional men regarding the peremptory
disrlissal.o of Professor Davidson from the
Coast and, Geodetic Survey has developed
>a>spontaiieous demand for mass-meetlng.
- This nass-Ineeting in which 1t is sug-
g6sted that the Chamber OF commerce
shall take the initiative VIII be called
some. time next week to give an oppor-
trinity for more concise and direct express
:siion.of that general opinion obtaining IN
This City that Professor Davidson en-
= forced. absence. from that office is an out
rage,
General Dimond, president OF the Cham
Der OF c Olrn}eEce, said yesterday that he
heartily ipdorsed.the stand taken by the
BE- Gail IN: he *matter, and earnestly con-
= c1rrred ia the numerous expressions OF
confidence iu.PFofessor Davidson and APP
:nrectation OF his invaluable services to the
marine and commercial interests OF this
coast Regarding the action to be taken
by the. Chamber OF Commerce and the
holding Of a mass meeting he said:
- J.fiaz-e talked with n number OF the members
of the body and the only question seems to be
whether We should have a special meeting
Or 10 +rlacethe matter before Tuesdays meet
ing There is no heSltancy IN regard to the
:. exI1relGion.of the view OF the Chamber upon
I:iucl;re now to the opinion that if the Tech
<nicaf Society win hold its special meeting on
Monday aud since the Geographical Society
OF the Pacific VIII hold a special meeting on
. Wednesday, we ought to- present this matter
form fly at our regular meeting on Tuesday.
There is no question as to the feeling upon
fhis -Subject. Everybody who knows anything
OF the value OF Professor DaYidson's work in
The responsible position he has held for nearly
fiftvcyears seems to have the same opinion
thai his removal was an actof injustice 10 him.
Sell and OF detEiment TO the marine and COM
lneTcial welfare OF this coast, ana San Fran
cisco in particular
. OTTO Won GeIdern, secretary of the Tech
liical Society, when informed of General
Bimond preston, said he would call
the Special meeting of the society for Mon
day, +July8, at 4 P NJ, and that he would
say in. advance OF that meeting that the
]EGchnical> Society will concur IN the call
for a. TnasszfneetiIg at whatever date the
<GhaTnber of Commerce. may name. Mr..
Won Geld ern:said further:
I Lam very. much in earnest in my opinion of
this political Outrage upon Professor Davidson
and the people Of this coast. i am in favor not
Only Of his Ee[4lSt ateuienF, but IN MS ultimate
IlrCmOtfon to the head OF the bureau at Wash
fngtOn. He is the most efficient man, IN my
opfnfOn, in tlleser1ice and his long career of
JlSefulpeSS ought to demand recognition. do
KNOW that he has. committed great blunder
nd olght himself tO'be removed to give place
TO a ma in every way his is uperior.
:. Hugh Craig, manager of the New Zealand
Insurance Company was most positive and
ernT4ratic in his personal expression and IN
Noicing the*feellng OF the Board OF Marine
Underwriters OF: San Francisco. He said:
Personally / cannot express too strongly my
. confidence in. Professor Davidson, nor protest
100: vigorously. against the indignity placed
upon him. He was. the right bower of the
Board OF Marine u Underwriters, always ready to
{ijrt Fer Interests. He has taken the local
MACS that e,haye had furnished in the rough
by Peterson. FrEsk and Captain Reed our own
.j6eal .insrectors, and forwarded them to the
.HtdfoCFaphie Bureau at " Washington, showing
that the owners and ship captains were obliged
. togo to private expense to make them part
:of he Davidson system OF surveys OF outside
! The: board IS fully in accord with other or
foundations in. the protest against the removal
OF a.Ian so capable andIn whom It's members
O.. have unbounded confidence.
3ica:5resfGent OF the Chamber of Com
Ilerce. l. earthly favor acrOn by the Chamber
aild:tha farther expression of merchants and
. CftfZeus@ln .lnassrm Getting. Let Us have that
*p0pIIlar methed Of. expression, by all means.
Every man of the 800 me1n beFs OF the Chamber
&Gf; Commerce; ought to come out and express
:: coRfdencetin them man and protest against his
unfairzd dismissal. - -
Action: upon the subject was taken by
: the board: 81. trustees of the Mechanics
Institute concurrent with the action by
the .Acad emX. OF Sciences, and the resOlu-
lions adopted were prepared IN proper
form vest erday. They are as follows:
Res0H5d That the board OF trustees of the
Mechanics. Institute. CT san francisco. give
pJIbliaeXpreSSIOI to the painful regret OF its
nipTnbers caused. by the dismissal from the
sCnited States Coast and Geodetic Survey of the /
:Ieteran: scientist, the eminent public servant,
the distinguished gentlemanand scholar, and
he Ttllb
Of whom The. people of. the entire Pacific Coast.
and especially the people OF this City, are so
Justly proud.
:. Hci5iTed., That this board condemn alike the
acfof dIsmissing Professor Davidson, and the
manner in which the act was done, and re-
= speetfIilly ask the administration to. restore
HIM al once to the position which. he has so
long adorned and in which he has rendered
such Invaluable services to the cause Oh science
and progress.
..,ResoIted That this board publicly express its
grateful appreciation OF Professor Davidson
many valuable services to the Mechanics In
stitute, and its earnest hope that the great in
justice done him may be speedily righted.
Res6lreT That, in the opinion of this board,
It isdetrimental to the public service, injurious
TO public interests and discreditable to our
Government to treat any public servant OF the
-PmfneDce and worldwide reputation OF Pro-
lessor Davidson in the manner in which he has
been. treated A. s -HALLIDIE. President,
CHARLES E. MoOsER, Recording Secretary.
p" Professor Davidson's books and instru-
ments were Yesterday removed rom the
office Of the Coast Geodetic Survey. There
were sixteen large cases OF them, all his
own personal property. The removal of
the: property made the Office look desolate,
as.itleft only eleven old books on the once
well-hlIed shelves, The only instruments
that now remain are those belonging to
theattaches of the office. The loss to the
office by: the*removal of these books and
instruments-is great but not so great as
the. IN, tha C,Ovari1 rapnt by the
moyalof the professor himself
-. - --------=------.----s-~
=. GH0RALIST DAMROSOH. :.