The San Francisco call., 1896-10-28
JAMES D, PHELAN
ROUNDLY SCORED
He Is Declared to Be an
/. Egotist Without an
Equal.
Patrick ]. Reddy Ridicules His
Claims as Candi-
date.
HIS AUDIENCE WAS AMUSED.
This Occurred at Large Meeting OF
Citizens Called to Oppose the
New Charter.

v,
J. F. Sullivan. The principal speech of
the evening was made by Mr.. Reddy, who
waxed sarcastic at the expense of James
D. Phelan, and the audience laughed
d. heartily at the points he made.
Mr.. Reddy spoke of Mr.. Phelan's readl-
ness to take office under the charter, bad
as it is, as an indication of a fevered
understanding and immaturity. He ridi-
culed the idea that Phelan would be able
to accomplish more than his many prede-
cessors in the Office of Mayor, and said
that as an egotist he has no equal.
Phelan must be most wonderful man
if he can accomplish what he believes
he can. 'tPhelan said that he will
reform the system OF taxation" said Mr..
Reddy. perhaps he will do that in one
particular. He may put in his own prop
erty for taxation at its full cash value" !"
Mr.. Reddy also said that Mr.. Phelan
would not help the poor men by reducing
taxation, for that reduced revenue and
would reduce employment.
J. S, Bannerman called the meeting to
order and made few preliminary re-
marks mplimentry to Joseph L Dimond.
He incidentally made a hit at James D.
Phelan, saying that in this contest for the
mayoralty wealth has made itself felt" !"
A list of yice-Dresidents was read, after
which Patrick ]. Reddy was introduced.
Mr.. Reddy said that in few days the
people would be called upon to choose be-
tween the existing government and an
entirely new form of government which is
proposed by the new charter. The peo-
pie would ask themselves whether they
could not live under the consolidation act
until a board of freeholders could be found
who would be competent to frame
a charter which would be properly pre-
pared. There was no doubt that it was
possible to live under the consolidation
act for time.
: ''At the head and front of the pro-char-
ter forces stands Mr.. Phelan. He looks
we'll Notwithstanding the hideousness of
this act under which we live and the Mer-
chants Association OF this City, so far as
they are represented in this association,
have all done well under that consoIida-
tion act.
.'They continued to do well until by the
narrow-minded policy and the moral cow
ardice that has STAN ped their advocacy of
the proposed new charter they became in
competent to mind their own business.
They have stood and allowed themselves
d. TO be trampled under foot by the railroads
without protest, and now they try to Law
Whichever there is of want of prosperity
in this community lies at the door of the
Incompetent band of men who now come
forward and lay the blame upon the laws.
'Wby, the consolidation act is not to
blame. No form of government can pos
sibly aid these men, because, like the
new charter, they will have TO be amended
before they can be successful"
The speaker was here interrupted by
the entrance of Democratic club with a
brass band, at the close of which Joseph /.
Dimond stepped on the stage amid three
cheers proposed by Mr.. Reddy.
bad as this consolidation act is de-
clared to be-" continued the speaker, 1--WE
find that Mr.. Phelan is perfectly willing
to take Office under it. Laughter
''It is said that it has been so confounded
and so confused by amendments that no
one can tell what powers public officers
have. Then no one should undertake the
task. lApplause.I
"But it is SAID the only reason Mr.
Phelsn has to sacrifice himself for this
public office is that he thinks. even
under the consolidation act, he can do
something for this City which has never
been done by any man before him. This
seems to me 10 be the result of q fevered
imagination-the zeal of youth that
usually accompanies q man who is mex
perienced. Laughter and applause.l
"What he will or can do under this con-
soiidation act he has forgotten to explain
He has the most convenient way of for
getting things of any young gentlemen
ever saw. [Uproarious laughter. How
ever, despite all this he IS going to wipe
out all the luster of the great names
which / am about TO read to YOU" Mr..
Reddy read off a list of the Mayors of the
: City from Kalloch to Sutro.l
This young man, he continued, sis to
. in md do
dation act which none of these great chiefs
were able to accomplish. Laughter and
applause. This is q most wonderful
young man. As an egotist do not know
anybody that excels him-no, that even
comes within a mile or two of him. He is
simply out of sight. Uproarious applause,
mingled with laughter ana cries OF give it
to him.
''Mr. Phelan says that he will be able to
and will inaugurate a system of reform in
taxation. That is fine promise and By
putting In his own property at its full cash
value he will be able to do it. wild
cheering.
"he says that he will reduce taxation. I
have no doubt that he will be perfectly
willing TO do that. and so are nearly all
the men who possess vast property. Jap
plause. That is what the corporations
are trying to do now." Zimmerman here
arose and proposed three cheers for Di-
mond, given with will, while the band
struck up ''See, the Conquering Hero
Comes."l
NOW, Mr.. Phelan says that he is going
to reduce taxation. In other words, the
revenue which will go into the City's
treasury will be greatly reduced. Thereby
he is going to help his friends, the labor
ing men, out of their troubles.
Now, how does that strike your Will
he not reduce the chances of the laboring
men for employment? UnquestionabIy.
"How many are there of the laboring
men that rely upon their hands for liv-
ing In this City who are burdened by taxa
tionf You will not find one in thousand
who has $4,000. 1t seems to me that help
ing the poor man is out of the question in
this case. That is merely ore point
where Mr.. Phelan is going 20 serve the
people and Mr.. Phelan at the same time.
Applause.
Now, he says he is going to make public
improvements. Evidently he expects to
improve more rapidly than he has hereto
fore. But. 1 say, how can he, if he is
going to cramp the public revenue !?
Under such parsimonious administration
he would have no chance 10 make public
improvements of any kind, no matter how
good his will. His will seems as un-
bounded as his wealth.
IF there is tax upon property, the