The San Francisco call., 1896-08-10
The Grand Jury May Be Ad-
vised to Indict It for
Perjury.
LOCAL POLITICAL CONTRAST.
Republicans and Pcpulists March and
Talk, but Create Different
Impressions.
oAkIASD oFr.eEs FRAseIsoo o4LI.ll

Even in the days when rabid reform
movements have forced that element in
politics known as sthe pulp or "the
push" 70 hide its head, no one in Alameds
County has ever boasted that "the ma
chine was dead. Whenever an official
displeased any sect he was at once de-
clared 70 be s handle or crank or some
other part OF the abstract political ma
chine. The machine politicians n Oak
land have done pretty much as they
pleased for many years, but the machine
that has developed during the past week
possesses more ability TO do harm, to
make false charges and TO shield guilty
persons than the old-time political organi-
cations ever dared TO attempt in their
most arrogant days.
There is no doubt that the new machine
is warmly welcomed By s select few. but
It's actions are highly unsatisfactory TO the
rest Of the county. By the representa-
tions OF the new machine indictments
have been issued by Grand Juries and
Withdrawn, and when any money disap-
pears from the county funds il win be i'm
possible ID trace the responsibility for the
theft so long as the new machine can be
depended upon to slip cog or two and
battle Justice.
About year ago It was discovered that
some money had been stolen from the
county. The Auditor was indicted nine
times by the Grand Jury on various
charges sud after several faree-comedies
in court and the rehearsal Of few scts
before smother Grand Jury Il was given
out that the Tax Collector was the man
under suspicion. He did not rest easy
under the impGtatIon and was threaten
ing all kinds of revelations when another
discovery was made He was not guilty
at all; the shortage attributed to HIM did
not exist and the whole trouble was caused
hy q little mechanical device that was
used in adding figures. One OF the wheels
had gone a cog TOO fast and had added 6
comfortable sum 70 the total that it should
not have done.
As the proceedings of the Grand jury
room are private it Is not known by what
manner of legal advice the Jurors have
been misguided, bat enough money has
been spentin exporting 10 have discovered
the guilty parties twenty times over. The
next proceeding, if the farce is to be kept
up on the same lines as have been fol-
lowed for the past year, would Be to advise
the Grand Jury TO indict the mechanical
adding machine for perjury. Such a
course would be q mild surprise TO the
great uninitlated compared with other
events in this majestic farce.
Short as has been the time since Bryan
was nominated, there is marked
dfminution in the size OF mis- boom in Ala
media County. There we're far more
people arguing daily around the bulletin
boards two weeks ago than were in last
nights parade The two demonstrations
last night we're an object lesson. The Re-
publicsus and Populists turned out, and
each ratified It's respective National plat
form. The Populists looked well and held
q vell-attended meeting. But there was
one thing noticeable about their speeches.
They were smart enough, but they
sounded like the bleatings Of sheep hunt
ing 3 shepherd. They acknowledged their
need Of something that would bring about
3 renewal of prosperous times, but their
banner is nothing but g hope. Sheriff G.
B. White, an earnest speaker and one to
whom it is pleasure for any intelligent
man 20 listen, could not alter the tone OF
the meeting hard as he strove to. His
best and promising periods were but
hopes. Let's make q change and trust to
chance for the rest seemed to be the
utmost that could be said for the princf-
pies that were advocated.
Vastly different was the appearance of
that Republican body and the ring of its
speeches. With them hope had long since
fed and they marched and acted like men
progressing toward 8 certainty. The long
line OF veterans in the Army and Navy
League did not swing their feet as though
they were following blind hope. They
did not need q transparency or q banner,
the sight Of them was enough. The same
is true Of the younger element, the ALI
anee. Confidence and certainty were por.
trayed in their demeanor.
The City Hail politicians are already
Iaving their wires and building their
fences for the campaign next spring. The
tax levy viii be decided next year purely
as regards its value as q prestige-makiDg
element Last year she fight over the levy
was between the Mayor and the council.
This year it viii be between the taxpayers
who want tax levy and the non-taxpayers
who want 20 work for the City and would
ike the officials 10 have as much as pos
sibIe 10 spend. Whichever element controls
the most votes viii guide the levy-n akers.
The absurd controversy now being car
risd on regarding the Police and Fire
departments not being IN politics would
never have been started mad Commissioner
Wilson as mucn experience in politics as
lie has in engineering. It wonld be inter
es.Ing 10 know when either department
has been out Of politics This does not
mean that every patrclman is $ worker, 2
but it does mean that ali the changes are
dominated By politics and that merit is
totally disreeardec. s. w. B.