The San Francisco call., 1896-02-03
Rev. Father McSweeney Never
Objects to Meeting a
Reporter.
MAYOR DAvIE LIKE CLEVELAND
How Oakland's Women Writers Started
to Get Out Holiday
Newspaper.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL, |
o0S Broadway. Feb. 9. 1896.

viewed in the confessional box last night
for the first time in his life. When thus
engaged he is generally tie one that inter-
views. When tho reporter called at st.
Francis de Sales clergy-house the servant
said the priest was hearing confession and
could not be disturbed. As there was no
hope at the clergy-house the janitor was
approached, and he, too, refused to help
to bring priest and newspaper man to-
gether. He limited that if it were a mat
ter of death he might be prevailed upon to
break the unwritten law, but for any other
cause he could not be tempted. There was
no hope for it. The priests story was
necessary to authenticate a report of q
frustrated elopement of two bright young
ladies and the priest had to be seen. There
was line of penitents leading past the
confessional box and the stranger fell in
at the end. In due time the empty box
was reached and Father McSweeney
turned to hear what the suppliant might
say. His surprise may be imagined Wien
he discovered the identity of the stranger.
"Well, well" said the priest, but he cor
daily gave the desired information, and
when the penitent emerged from the con-
fessional box no one would have guessed
that it was the priest who had done the
confessing.
1t is again stated that the Populists are
trying to ousr Mayor Davie from office.
That is nothing new; they have been try
ing to do it for nearly a year. 1t is stated
that they are also obtaining affidavits
proving that his Honor did violate the
purity of elections law. That is a sur
prise in one way, but not in another. In
the first place the name of the Alameda
County official who is now in Office and
whose friends did not violate the purity
law is unknown. In the next place there
are hundreds of politicians" in Oakland
who would swear that the moon is a green
cheese, and for very small consideration.
Judas paltry thirty pieces would seem a
fancy price for many politicians on Broad
way and in West Oakland.
Mayor Davie is, in nearly every respect
in which these two men have come before
the public, a counterpart of President CIeye-
land. Botn rode into power in political
whirlWinC, and no sooner had each fairly
warmed up his official chair than he re-
allied that public opinion had turned a
complete somersault. There was a lot of
talk of impeaehing the President, and
there is a lot of talk of impeaching the
Mayor. Both movements will be found in
the end to have. been concluded in the
same manner. Whatever rules or preiu-
dices of political faith they have broken
or ignored, there are enough firm friends
in either case to prevent personal ignom-
my other than that of political nature.
1t is openly stated that the people elected
Davie and that he is now working in the
interests of the capitalists and bankers.
The assumption is untrue, and the best
proof of its falsity is the fact that those
who are most prominent in throwing out
the charge are those who, when a banker
filed the Mayors chair, thought the ad-
ministration perfect. The greatest ele-
ment in retarding the progress of Oak
land are the organized "jobs' forever
being put up by the hoade of men who al
ways smoke cigars and derive a comfort
able living from politics Under Pardee
and the reform movement of his time
these elements of disturbance were deci-
mated, but now they seem to be on the
increase again. These are the men who
are constantly demanding the ''ousting"
and ''impeachment' of public officials
whom they cannot use.
The ladies of Oakland are to issue the
Washington Birthday edition of the En-
quirer, and as it is the first venture of its
kind ever attempted in this city there is
much speculation as to the result. There
was meeting of the editresses two DAYS
ago and about ten ladies were present.
All were understood TO be pledged TO Sc.
crecy yet some of the doings of the fem
mine sanctum have leaked out and prove
that although there is an alameda County
Writer'S Association" this does not imply
that there is corps of newspaper-women
on this side of the bay. The conference
also developed the fact that there is more
than a trihe of vanity among certain
scribes of the gentler sex. The mysteries
of the "detail-book" were explored, and it
was somewhat of surprise TO the ladies
to learn that some one would have to visit
the prison and Jail; another must camp at
the receiving hospital; couple must at
tend the parade, but would have to ignore
the banquet SO as to get in 'early copy"
This was rather unromantic, and at this
stage of newspaper manufacturing one
LADY proposed that there should be a
modest little article on the Women
Writers of Oakland" This motion was
amended so as to read "the women report
the feathers to demi-volt on the top of in
dignant heads. Who were the writer's?
Who were the reporters? The question
could not be answered and Mrs. s. G. Bor-
land, the cool l-headed editor-in-chief, said
that the detail of writing mutual admi-
ration article would be held in abeyance,
but did not use this exact language. A
liberal estimate of the active woman re-
porters in Oakland who do not work across
the bay would be one and half.
In the earlier part of the week some phil
anthropists, who were more sympathetic
than practical, started movement for the
benefit of "a vetern journalist" of this
City. Everybody in Oakland knew that
although the poverty of the man was not
overstated the part relating to worthi-
ness had to be taken cum grano sails.
however, money began to come in and the
prospects for q good-sized fund were very
bright. A local editor temporarily handled
II, Inc 1und, and now he regrets it. Last
thursday night the beneficiary was found
s 4ofv