The San Francisco call., 1896-06-28

such to take the reins into its own hands, or
else acknowledge the incompetency of the
general body OF men who compose it to govern
themselves, and make over in perpetuity to
the few who are now running the institution,
so to speak, the power to act for indefinite
time to come and be content to drift with aim
less purpose, and so fairly earn that which
now seems generally to prevail in the public
mind-public indifference for the name of
pioneer, if not public contempt at its mention.
parsimonious policy seems to prevail in
the present board, and they fear to make
proper investments of the funds of the society
looking toward placing it in the front rank
OF the leading clubs, associations or soeieties of
our City.
While not advocating extravagant expendi-
lures, we submit to you that it is sound
business policy to place our society upon such
Gn advanced basis that it will lead our mem
bers to gather oftener and in greater numbers
than they now do at our hall.
we submit that reasonable percentage of
the magnificent endowment made to this So
ciety by James Lick should be so apportioned
and expended that old pioneers shall receive
substantial benefit from it while living, in en-
larged comforts, attractions, social opportuni-
ties and entertainment in the Pioneer build
ing, than the gloomy forbdding and unat-
tractive conditions which now prevail
Willing as we are that the young men who
are to succeed us shall be so well endowed as
TO make them proud of and grateful for their
inheritance, we consider at the same time the
welfare, happiness and pleasure of the old
men, now far down toward the foot of the hill
OF life, an object paramount to this and in
keeping with the wishes and intentions of
James Lick, to whose benefcence we in fact
owe our existence as an association.
The present dreary loneliness reminds us
that there is but little that interests our large
society sufficiently to bring them to its own
apartments.
shall hereafter inclose to members and ask you
to see that it is elected at the poll on the COM
ing 7th of July, pledging our candidates to the
following advanced platform:
nj 1nli hot n In
1t does not propose to belittle by the nigQardly
plan so characteristic of the present board of
directors, does not on the other hand propose
to spend our funds extravagantly, but by max
ing our rooms attractive and offering pleas
ant place for meeting for our members, old and
young will actually increase our revenue and
make US an ''up-to-date" institution.
Second-A liberal policy to be pursued
relative TO the relief offered our members. We
pledge ourselves to do what we can to help
those OF our members who really need it, ana
to do this In such manner that no old
pioneer shall feel a sense of shame and humili-
alton when he comes TO the relief committee
for needed aid in his closing days; but rather
that he asks, as he has a perfect right to ask,
substantial aid from the common inheritance
that was left and exists for the good OF us all
that is not to De doled out by the unsympa-
thetic and implying hand OF rich men
to whom fortune has been kind that it has
placed them beyond the conception of what
real want is, and beyond the pale of consider
atlon Tor those who feel the relentless sting OF
old pioneers must not be compelled to CO. hat
in hand, ITO the powers that be- to beg in
humble supplication for relief, but on making
known their need shall be graciously and
kindly made to share portion of the common
wealth of the association, and be made also to
feel no sense OF moral or social degradation in
doing so.
Too often in the past favoritism has charac-
terlzed our benefactions, and not few have
had their last moments saddened by cold dis
regard on the part of those who should have
relieved and comforted them.
We are assured that 1t is the almost unani-
nous sentiment OF our junior members that
they have no desire to accept the magnificent
bequest this society will leave to James Licks
generosity at the expense OF denying while liy-
ing reasonable amount of help to a senior
member or decent burial at death.
We by no means mean to convey the idea
tnat we intend to waste our resources; but it
must be patent to many that some improve
ment is possible in the system of relief which
now prevails and has caused SO much dissatis-
faction among our members, and that improve
meut we propose now 10 accomplish.
Third-We believe that there is as much for
the pioneer TO do in 1896 as half q century ago,