The San Francisco call., 1896-08-15

ment or adjustment by either or both parties
within their respective party lines. or the ola
familiar compromise through which eacn may
receive certain share of the Offices would
simply result il perpetuating the present dls-
graceful methods now being inflicted upon an
already tax-eaten, boss-ridden community.
The infamous plan OF dividing the offices as
demonstrated at the last election is still fresh
in our minds. While some OF the bungling
participants in that plot are now in San Quen-
tin the more umid and crafty ones, equally
are to-day tremblingly drawing the dishonest
profits OF their bold criminality.
Under the present consolidation act there is
not now and cannot ever be hereafter any pro-
tection to property or property owners from
the ceaseless demands of corporations who
are bonded and stocked far in excess of their
legitimate value. Nor may we expect honest
public service from either principal or sub
ordinate municipal officers who are more or
less dominated by persons or corporations OF
self-confessed dishonesty.
Nomination and election to City office, ac-
cording to the customs prevalent to-day, mean
merely common public plunder and apJect
private servitude whenever the occasion arises,
regardless OF the name of the party in power.
Political party nominations OF men hereto
fore regarded as above reproach in large ma
jority OF cases after election have developed
the fact that they were simply awaiting the
opportunity, and misfortune has invariably
overtaken the City's valuable privileges which
they had been selected to protect Deplorable
evidence of this fact is already exempilhed IN
the Geary-street railroad franchise.
Under the prevailing farce OF holding party
primaries and the subsequent convention
tableaux very few aggresslyely honess ana ; up,
political patronage. The time is now come
for the people themselves, who represent nine
tenths OF the voting capacity OF TINS CITY, 70
say at the polls whether they wish 10 remain
serfs to impecunious political criminals ana
place-hunters, led by an insignificant minor
ity, or whether they desire to assert their
American citizenship and assume parI OF
RI ba' n responsibilities OF CITY govern
mental management.
There can be no genuine betterment OF our
City government until it is done by the people
themselves outside of National party lines. II
must be apparent to every one that any
change will prove advantageous.
There is only one method we can discover py
which our municipal affairs can be conducteo
econ omically and honestly, and violation OF
election laws be made as sure of punishment
as a violation of any other law.
Many of our fellow-citiZeRs Will readily re-
call the Vigilance Committee of 1856 and the
class of men who originally composed its
membership. The cause and history OF thai
organization are well known to all; ana hard-
ly less exasperating than the schemes which
gave it origin are those resorted to by the So
called politicians of to-day.
The exposure of the corrupt criminal prac-
tices developed at the trials OF that committee
aroused the masses to action for self-protec-
ton, and party composed of the best citizens
of the City was formed. For period OF about
twelve years no city in the Union was better
or more economically governed.
These facts conclusively demonstrate that
the time has come when citizens ticket OF
tried men, known to be true, regardless OF
former party afhliation, would carry every
precinct in the City and County of San Fran
cisco.
Therefore your committee would earnestly
recommend that all good citizens urite in or
ganiZing reform movement for the purpose
OF placing before the voters OF this City q full
municipal ticket that will commend itself to
the support of all good citizens.
C. B. PERKINS,
ID. GILBERT DEXTER,
GEORGE T. GADEN,
R. LAMBERT.
w. F. HARRIS,
r. L. RIGDoN,
Committee.
G. B. Perkins, the genial merchant and
prominent member of the Simpson
Memorial M. E. Church, was unanimously
elected secretary OF the organization.