The San Francisco call., 1896-05-04
Why, the Fabiola Fete Will
Henceforth be a Free and
General Fiesta.
GEORGE HATToN's FIRST SUIT.
Alameda County Ladies Have Shown
. Enough Diplomacy to Insure
Them the Ballot.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRASc1soo CALL !

1ulure years the great MayQay neSta VIII
not be given for charity, but for the gen.
eral purpose of exploiting the city and of
bringing large crowds to Oakland. The
result is but natural. To be great sue
cess the masses must attend, and the
mass of the people cannot afford to pay
star theater prices for the privilege of
viewing the floral parade. Last weeks
fete, although it will leave surplus. can
not but be regarded as a partial failure.
The balance will probably be less than
$1,000, and this is a sum altogether too in
significant when compared with the time
and services of the many able and generous
men and women who labored for weeks.
The weather had something to do with
the result, but for the past month it has
been noticed that the general interest in
the affair was not one-tenth OF what it
was last wear. An invitation sent to eyery
merchant in town asking them to decorate
their stores and make the town look at
tractive did not meet with single re-
sponse. The argument was made that no
benefit would be received and that busi-
ness dio not justify it.
With the promise of the fete association
that next year S fiesta will be free and will
take place on the streets of the city, inter
est will be increased thousand fold, and
instead of small and exclusive process
sion at the park pageant viii be arranged
that will rival thai of Los Angeles and
pack the city with people, which will be
an inducement TO merchants TO make gay
their stores.
Another reason for the smallness of the
iste was that it was whispered to death.
o Since last years show the hospital for
whose benefit it was given has been made
the headquarters of the railroad HOSPITAL
work and no words are necessary at this
time to explain that the addition to its
sphere did not increase its popularity.
Still another reason can be found to ex-
plain why "alI Oakland did not go in to
make 1T success. Social, political and
religious lines are all drawn too tightly in
this city to permit of any general celebra-
ton for any institution necessarily so ex-
elusive as a semi-private hospital must be.
All these things figured on Mayday and
the result was seen at the park. Oakland
ers take far too much pride 10 allow
Fabiola TO want, but it has been clearly
proved that the annual fiesta must be
thing of all the people and for all the peo-
.plesto insure the success it deserves.
George Hatton, the local newspaper
man, has been missing for about year.
. He was never absent from his desk during
the day time, but as soon as his last edition
was out of the way George was no more to
his friends. Speculation was rife and he
was suspected at different times OF being
interested.in some of the many midnight
depredations that have been committed in
Oakland. 1t was more than suspected
that he knew more about the boy burglars
than he allowed to escape his blue pencil.
Then it was mentioned that he had cap
tured San Francisco heiress and was
preparing to asuonish the social world with
the announcement of notable engage
ment. This idea was popular, for it con-
veYed vision of certain farewell bache-
e lors' banquet, and such events in these
depressed times are devoutly to be wished
for.
But George was not doing anything of
the kind. He was doing his best to win
bet from his bosom friend, Colonel Tom
Clarity. Tom and Hatton made wager
year ago that the newspaper man could
not apply himself to anything that would
keep him in his rooms in the evening.
Garrjty bet his friend could not stop at
home. George bet that he could. Garrity
suggested the study of law, but the sug-
gestion was one of pure sarcasm.
"Done" cried Hatton, and hands were
clasped at 20 to 1.
Last Friday the secret came out. Hatton
was seen on the street with his friend, the
colonel, and the next morning among the
names of those entitled to parchments
from the Supreme Court was that OF
George f. Hatton. 1t was the first time
George ever kept a secret, and he could not
have done it had he not kept at home.
Now Garrity refuses to pay the bet, and
Attorney Hatton's first case will be to sue
his brother attorney for that twenty. For
the first time in five years the two friends
occupied different pews at church this
morning.
If all the counties in California were like
Alameda the women would have the
suffrage after next November. For sew
ersl years there has been a marked in
crease of the desire to let women have
their own way, and already many have
figured prominently in movements re-
quiring great skill. There are few ladies,
however, who do the cause more harm
than good. They are forever making
themselves Objectionable to the male half
of the community and have not Judgment
enough to see it. They stand on street
corners and make wide their phylacteries,
but they are in the great minority. They
may De truthfully compared with the
'flong-haired" element among the Popu-
lists which was so thoroughly oyerpow-
cred by the conservative, youthful and dig
nified element at the recent county con-
vention.
Among the ladies of brains and char
acter who have commanded the respect of
their brethren are many who are capable
of showing more discrimination at the
polls than the majority of men. They
of.Alameda County, the Ebell Society, the
Women's Suffrage clubs and similar or
carnations and are as powerful in the
home as in the public sphere. During the
past few months careful inquiry has i'm
pressed the husbands of these ladies with
the business of their cause. Therein lies
at once their power and the secret of their
probable success. Every converted hus-
band at once becomes an active suffrage
evangelist and the ladies are nearer their
goal than they think. Diplomacy that
can win over a husband can be trusted
with the ballot.
The First Congregational Church is still
without pastor, and Rev. G. e. Jefferson
is back in Massachusetts, telling of his
pleasant trip to California. Although
rendered CALL after he had preached TWO
Sundays there were many who hoped he
would not accept He is not brainy man,
and his discourses were very ordinary
affairs. de Impressed the leaders of the
cORPrepatlOn with fba manu- +h;poe hat