The San Francisco call., 1896-10-23
Kisses REIGN
At THE TEMPLE.
A Stormy Audience Hears
a Debate on the
Charter.
A. P. Van DuZer Fights Hard
for a Chance to Make
a Speech.
PROS AND CONS PRESENTED.
Two Speeches For and Two Against
the New Organic Law for
the City.
PROS AND CONS PRESENTED

lll-bred and unfair audiences ever assem-
bled in San Francisco gathered at Metro
politan Hall last night to hear a debate
on, the merits and dement's of the new
charter.
Some of the speakers were Missed down,
all were interrupted by questions, cat
calls and boisterous laughter, and hun
dreds of lovers of fair play, after waiting
beyond endurance for order, departed in
disgust. During the entire proceedings
Chairman Will S. Green, with feeble
voice and timid manner, was wholly un-
able to restore order, his weak voice fail
ing to be heard more than twenty feet
from the platform He finally gasped
that the conduct of hundreds was dis
graceful. He threatened to call the police
and to adjourn the meeting, but the
storms OF misses continued, as it a den OF
snakes id been disturbed by intruders.
Finally good order was restored, and the
debate continued without further disturb
ance.
The speakers were H. N. Clement and
A. P. Van Duzer for the charter and
Colonel O'Byrne and Editor Macarthur of
the Coast Seamen's Journal against it.
Mr.. Clement was the first speaker. Each
of the contestants was limited to half an
hour.
Mr.. Clement began by stating that the
laws of San Francisco were in confused
condition, depending largely on 400
Supreme Court decisions, rendered during
forty years Of litigation.
"The laws are not systematic, f" he said,
''but are a crazy patchwork all through.
The question, however, is not whether
this charter is perfect, but whether it is
not far better than the present law"
Speaking of the advantages of the news
rtA r1a11 l. IL AE-4. q
orderly code of laws, dividing the func-
tions of Supervisors, creating board of
public works and doing other good work.
1t creates board of public works. wipes
out ward lines, provides for acquiring
public utilities. provides for home rule
and civil service, establishes non-parti-
san government and limits taxation"
The speaker criticized many features of
the present law in detail, dwelling par
ticularly on the fact that the Governor has
too much power, and that he ought not to
be allowed to appoint so many officers as
he now does. He spoke of the civil
service section of the now charter, and
finally held that the new instrument
would strike deadly blow at bossism.
Editor Macarthur stepped onto the plat
form with him amid cheers. He began by
saying:
"The freeholders are bl ind to their own
interests, but, like all true parents. they
are dogeedlv for their own kind, even for
giving their children who are inflicted
with gross defects.
Il represent the workingmen, and they
stand for the average intelligence and
honesty of the land, and we oppose this
charter. Cheers This instrument has
many defects, but the most vital one is
that it cannot be amended without the
most circuitous and inexpeditious work.
Its advocates already admit many of its
faults, which are enough to damn it. In
some things it is fair, but in most it is
very deliberately subversive of the rights
of the people. Under the new provisions
we could never change it, never get it
amended. Of course there are many
points in it that are all right, but as a
| whole it is for the rich, Tor corporations"
Continuing the speaker said:
"Article VIII. chapter 2, section 5, pro-
v1des that the Board of Police Commits
special service on benalf of any person.
firm or corporation, the same to be paid
by the persons receiving the SER
vice. Plainly put, this is incipient
Pinkertonism. The underlying princi-
pie of that institution is special
privilege; it means that the services Of
the authorities are at the disposal OF any
one who is able and willing to pay for
them. The well-known record of Pinker-
tonism shows that institution to be
dangerous menace 10 the peace of
any community. The men who
engage in that work are notori-
ouslv desperate and unprincipled; they
depend for their living upon crime, riot
and disorder, and they are as ready to
create it as to suppress it. The Pinker-
tons are spies and incendiarles, and their
real significance is not the protection of
property or the detection of crime. but the
defeat of the public will by precipitating
riot. The lives and property OF all citizens
are equally entitled to the protection OF
the properly constituted authorities. but
no man by reason of his wealth should be
able to purchase the special guardianship
of the law. Pinkertonism is universally
recognized as one of the most execrable
institutions of modern development. 1t
has been specially leg1slated against by
many communities and should be rebuked
by the citizens of San Francisco"
The speakers views throughout were
heartily cheered.
Chairman Will S. Green followed in an
attempt to introduce A. P. Van Duzer, but
the audience laughed, applauded and
hissed by turn, until Mr. Van Duzer had
to begin without the intended introduc.
tion.
II compliment Colonel o. Byrne, who is
to follow me-" he said, "for he is an elo-
quent, thoughtful and honest man.
II1lSSeS anu tnCCio.l 41C OppOScS tuc
charter and favor it, so we come to give
you both Sides
At this juncture the cheering was so
great that Colonel O'Byrne arose and i'm
plored the audience to hear his opponent
fairly, but the yells continued, interspersed
with Kisses.
GAS between this charter and the pres
ent boss rule there can be no comparison,
vet all kinds of ridiculous objections are
made to it. You hear people say that the
street railroads would have too much
power. / simply answer by re-
ferring to the murder of little
child by the railroad company
Just the other day. Why? Because there
is no power in this Government to compel
these railway companies to put tenders on
their cars. Why? Because political
bosses prevent it. Great anG prolonged
hisses.l / will not be hissed down.
have been through the war [aughter1 and
this conduct on your part is a better argu-
ment than / can make for the provision
for a chaingang for culprlts. ("
The speaker then decanted on the hon
| esty of the Mayors of the City. "All for
TWENTY-FIVE years have been honest men,
have they not? The four men now up
~