The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-14
Scurrilous Language Of Coast
Society Comes to Oakland
Via London.
Pastor Whitaker Makes Another
Onslaught on Church Fairs
and Bazaars.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,

ical candidates for city offices present
strange con trast TO the class of citizens
upon whom these honors were bestowed
many years ago.
During the past few weeks many names
have been presented through various chan
nels OF men whose absence would be a
benefit to the community. and while there
is little ope of their aspirations ever
being passed upon by the body OF voters,
they work an incalculabIe evil. The asso-
ciaIion OF their names with any ONCE in
the gilt of the people acts as a deterrent to
men who are honorabIy fitted TO discharge
official duties, but who refuse to have their
names mentioned in any such connection
because of the cloud thrown over such an
aspiration by the character of the political
place hunter.
little while ago, when an old building
was torn down, in the cornerstone was
found paper containing a "Citizen's
Ticket" OF many years ago. Every name
on 1t was that of a solid, honorable citi-
zen, and IL is almost unnecessary to. say
that it was elected. There was leading
lawyer, who was afterward Justice of
the supreme Court; another man who
became Mayor, and four or five highly
respected citizens, who have since proved
that their claim, even at that early date,
to be considered fit for Office, had sure
foundation.
Ii such a ticket be placed before the
people OF Oakland at the coming election
1t will undoubtedly meet with the same
success. For several years Oaklanders
have been berating themselves for their
lack of public spirit and they will still
have cause to do so so long as few men
who have nothing to lose and everythin=
10 gain by the success of their schemes
are able to dictate who shall I'LL the re-
sponsible positions in this city.
Rev. Robert Whitaker of East Oakland
still keeps up through the organ of his
church. the Pacific Baptist, his war on
church fairs and bazaars. In the latest
number he takes up the article published
in ] HE CALL some weeks ago and reviews
the interviews of which it consisted at
some length. He says be does not ques-
ton the honesty and intelligence of many
who apologize for such things, but he de-
clares they speak from The standpoint o:
Interested witnesses. He says, 1--WE still
abide in the opinion that church fairs and
baZaars as commonly carried on are
earthly, sensual and deYilish."
Wnf.e he does not deny that fairs and
baZaars may possibly be conducted as
means OF grace, Editor Whitaker does not
consider they have any part in the true
church practice. He instances a case in
Philadel phia and says ne has been assured
that in this instance there is an organIza-
ton of evangelistic forces that make fairs
and bazaars really revivals in " hieh hun
dreds are converted. He then makes a
free offer OF a whole page advertisement
10 any fair or bazaar held on this coast
which will accomplish any such results.
That Mr. Whitaker does not believe in
any such theory is evidenced by his re-
mark, "Our experience is that church fairs
aud bazaars are about as likely tc convert
people as a horserace,or an industrial ex-
position. The best thing that can be said
for them is that they make money"
There is now little doubt but that Oak
land will have representative Republican
government elected next March. The
Non-partisan element, most of whom are
Republicans, have shown desire to unite
with the regular party provided that suf-
fcient representation $ given them. The
Non-partisans at neither of their previous
conventions have elected their delegates at
primaries, ana the plan of selection by APP
pointment will be carried out in this cam
paign. The Republicans are not anxious
to undertake the expense OF holding pri-
mary elections for delegates for the city
follow the example set by the Non-parti-
sans. With inclination to unity from both
sides, 1t is very likely that but one strong
Republican ticket will be placed before
the people, Should this plan be followed,
there is no doubt of its success al the polls,
for Oakland was never more truly Repub-
lican than al this time.
Under these conditions there will prob
ably be only two tickets in the field. The
other one will be com bination OF all the
lesser parties and will probably not be
known as erther Democratic or Populist.
but as a silver ticket. An effort will I'M
doubtedly be made to have it appear that
the latter ticket is that of The working
men. bus this will be difficult matter in
the face of the evidence put forward by the
workingmen of their allegiance 10 Repub-
qicanism in the memorable parade OF No
yember 3.
a copy of q London newspaper was re-
ceived in Oakland this week, which con-
tains one of those stupid, misleading arti-
Giles of the condition of society on the
Pacific Coast that work so much unjust
harm to this locality in foreign cities.
Some one signing himselfG. w Stevens
has forwarded long article to the London
Mail, and his initial sentence IS typical or
the remainder. He says: "San francisco
is the Pacific COaSt-the metropolis OF an
empire, roughly dozen times the size OF
England; here, so rumor says, Western
freedom from restraint takes special
form. 1t is said to be the one city OF
America where you can maintain semi
official wife without the least prejudice 10
your position in society. Many OF the fair
maidens of San Francisco, remarks the
local guide book genially, have memories
of gallant times at the Cliff House that lie
buried in their hearts as their greatest Sc
crets. The history of many q midnight
revel there viii forever lie buried in OBJ
livion."
To a resident on the Pacific Slope who
is not ACCUSE omed to the general interest
and confidence placed by the average
British reader in letters from foreign cor
respondents the language OF Mr.. Stevens
cannot possibly convey as Objectionable a
moral as TO the readers of The Mail. II
Mr.. Stevens were the only offender his
remarks might be passed by without COM
ment. But he only represents one of
large mum Der of Unreliable touring "cor-
respondents" who are periodically
flooding British journalism with mis-
representations of the state of So
ciety on the Pacific Coast. Such
fs.xI - Il.