The San Francisco call., 1896-10-23
ARE NOT IN POLITICS.
Several Real Estate Firms Re.
pudiate the New Asso-
citation.
The Use of Their Names as Officers
Was Entirely Unau-
thor d.

Not all the real estate Iirms OF the City
have joined the "Real Estate Agents and
Property-owners' Association. In fact
the leading firms in that line have not
only not done so. but yesterday they laid
siege to newspaper offices begging that
the public be informed that they repudi-
ate the whole affair.
i. ]. Harmes of Madison g. Burke, ac-
co1ding to the reports given out the day
before had been elected to the office OF
first vice president of the new organiza-
ton.
II had nothing to do with it and the
whole thing was entirely unauthorized"
said Mr.. Harmes yesterday. readjusling
his hot collar. 81 was not at the meeting,
was not even informed that it was to take
place. Do you sec that stack of election
cards on my desk? Why, it seems to me
every spieler for every candidate running
for office has been here asking me to have
the association indorse his man. As IN
derstand it, from what | have learned to-
day, the candidates to be indorsed by the
association are required to put up $40
each. 1t looks to me like a nere piece
club and this firm wants nothing to do
with it, and further than that, it is very
much disgusted at having its name used
in any snch connection.
Il went to see Mr.. Speck, who, besides
electing me vice president, ected him
self president, and asked him what he
meant by it. He readily confessed, OF
course, that it was an unwarranted as
sumption on his part. So l wrote out the
following and had him sign il:
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct %, 1896.
In justice to MIR. J. I. Harmes of the firm of
Madison & Burke and Mr. G. III. Umbsen of the
firm of Umbsen & Co., will state that the
mention OF their names by me in the morning
papers of to-day in connection with the
called Real Estate Protective Association a s
officers or members or in any connection
therewitn was wholly unauthorized.
A. NJ SPEcK
"Mr. Um bsen was with me equally in
dignant--in fact Umb called on me the
first thing in the morning 10 learn what it
meant, and when he learned that ] knew
nothing about it proposed that We go and
see Speck.
"The whole thing is unwarranted, as
say. Speck called on me some DAYS ago
and asked if | would take part in move
ment looking to the association of real
estate men with view OF protecting the
interests of their clients. l said | was
willing to do anything That would benefit
our clients, and that | would attend any
meeting having that purpose in view. I
said, however, that nothing must be pub
lished in the newspapers about it.
wanted 10 learn what the proposed meas
ures were and how they were to be accom-
plished first of all. The next thing |
heard of the matter was the publication
this morning. Mr.. Speck's written state
ment that the use of my name was un-
authorized explains that
George II. Umbsen & Co. made SINH
larry indignant statement.
The following communication from Won
Rhein d Co. explains itself:
Editor San Francisco Catr-DEAR SIR In this
mornings paper find a notice that II num-
Der of real estate firms have formed society
and that one of tho objects of this organiza-
lion is given by them in the following words:
"The real estate firms of this City, realizing
that the majority of the citizens OF this CITY
are unable 10 judge of the qualifications and
merits of the various candidates for office. who
are now seeking our suffrages, have deemed 1t
for the benefit of the public at large, and tax
payers in general, tnat they should us. every
available means in their power to inves tigale
the various aspirants for office and report their
qualifications 10 the public in general and the
taxpayers, and to that end an organization
has been formed of all the prominent renl
estate firms of this City" |
The firm of o. F. Won Rhein & Co. does not