The San Francisco call., 1896-03-30
Promise of a Man Who Has
Great Sympathy With the
Baby Burglars.
KETCHAM's HIGH SCHOOL FIAsCo
Chinese and Police in Tug-of. War
With Lottery Men on the
Short End.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL !


was one OF the moving spirits OF the recent
exposition, and, although there are others,
there are not many who would admit that
in their boyhood they were on about the
same plane Of boyishness on which the
four baby burglars now at the City Prison
are standing.
81 have feeling OF sympathy for those
young rascals, said Mr.. Bell yesterday.
'and believe that if Chief Lloyd, with the
consent OF Judge Wood. would spank
them and send them home the safety of
society Will not be jeopardized. Later on
when they have added decade or two to
theirages it may be necessary, perhaps, to
round them up again and send them to
the penitentiary, but the spanking would
Just about meet the needs for this occa-
sion. When | was voungster | had the
same craving for candy which these little
fellows have land which was seldom graft
ted), and also desire TO see big city,
and when. at the age of 10, | was taken to
Quincy, H., with its teeming, swarming
population of 20, 600 and " as given whole
half-dollar with which to buy candy there
was not a happier boy in fourteen counties
than l was. And then, too was some
thing OF a thief myself at the same tender
age.
possessed l stole from Bill King, a school
mate, and suffered an agony of remorse
for three days, when my crime was de-
tected, and l jovfully endured two fog
cings. one at home and the other at school.
I hope that Judge Wood viii release these
embryo malefactors this time, and If
they will hunt me up l viii gladly provide
funds sufficient to pay their way. over to
San Francisco and out to Golden Gate
Park and return, with a margin large
enough TO buy all the candy they can eat
during the day"
AS Judge Wood will render his decision
tomorrow morning, Mr.. Bell may be
called on TO make good his promise.
Oakland can always be relied upon
to reach the extreme in any matter of gen.
eral interest. Whether it be in the pro-
duction of juvenile criminals or juvenile
elopers or in any form of scandal or mys-
terry, this hatchery of the unexpected"
always goes one better than her neighbors.
The latest extremity to be reached is that
OF the power of the press. Editor ketcham
OF the High School Egis is the offender,
and his suspension is OF more than pass
ing interest. 1t is a second edition OF the
troubles that fell upon the management of
Josh a few months ago. 1t is certainly
right that the High School should have a
magaZine. for the good that it may do by
being circulated over the country is mani
testify great. 1t is certainly wrong that
the -editor-a mere lad-should be able to
use his position for the purpose of showing
any personal i'll feeling he may haveagainst
all or anv of the faculty.
If the Egis were the personal property
OF ketcham he could do with 1t as he
pleased and no one could interfere. But
as it is, the paper is owned by stockholders
and the editor is supposed to have the
honor OF the school so much at heart that
he would scorn to do anything to belittle
It in-the eyes of the world. II every dis
satisfied pupil is to have the privilege of
carrying on personal lights in the editor
iaI columns of the Kgis against the fac
uty there must at once be an end of all
discipline and efficiency. Ketcham used
his power wrongly and is now suffering
the consequences. That is his case.
On the other hand, it would have been
far more praiseworthy if the lad had been
told outright that his manner of editing the
paper was distasteful TO the faculty and
that he should adopt different policy.
The claim made by Professor McChesney
that ketcham was not standing high
enough in studies is not altogether correct.
as several pupils have come to the front
who declare that their marks are lower
than Ketcham s. tits this indirect method
OF dealing that has brought several little
troubles on the high school. There Will
probably be some radical changes at the
next election OF teachers in June, as more
than one school director believes there is
room. for i'm provement in the faculty.
The Chinese lottery dealers have en-
tered into a tug-of-war with the Police
Department. For. a long time the attor-
neys for the Chinese have been making ef-
forts to defend their clients by impugning
the motives of witnesses, demanding Jury
trials and finally attacking the constitu-
tionality of the court. Considerable in
genuity has been shown in these defenses,
but they have all been nullifed, and now
nothing Is left for the Chinese to do but to
pay their fines or go to jail. They have
. Announced that they will go to Jail rather
! th9, n pay fines, and have also expressed
belief that the City Council will soon tire
of paving $40 to special detective for each
conviction, and that the warfare against
lotteries will therefore die. The assump-
ton of the lottery men is bad argument
and worse logic.
II is. true sthat while they had Officer
Banks in their pay it did require special
detective TO insure successful raid. But
Banks has hownsto the woods to escape all
sorts of charges, and it is believed that the
other officers are more honest and are do
ing their duty. As matter of fact, very
few convictions against Chinese have been
obtained by men who have to be specially
paid nearly all the convictions being Sc
cnred by the regular officers. This is one
reason why the Chinese argue badly. The
City Council is hardly likely to COM
promise Its dignity by refusing to pay
$50 for convection under one of its own
ordinances. That is exeerabte logic. Again,
tie dealers who are arrested are in many
instances men OF wealth. and occasionally
an emissary of "Big jim" from San Fran
cisco is caught. For the sake OF a hundred
dollars these men are not likely to 90 TO
jail For every one of this class that is
convicted the cost of several other cases
VIII lie paid, and as the rich class are in
the majority the future for the Chinese
lottery dealers is not very roseate, unless
there is change in the office OF Chief of
Police. l.. w. b.
SECOND WARD REPUBLICANS.
The Three Clubs viii Probably Be
Merged Into One.
OAKLAND, CAL, March 29.-Over 100
Republicans of the Se.nd Ward attended
meeting at Milton Hall Saturday even
Ing, called by Fred A. Campbell. president
OF the "0ld" Second Ward Republican
Club. Mr.. Campbell acted as chairman.
IN 80 ! IL 1.