The San Francisco call., 1896-04-20
Rev. Donald M. Ross Speaks of
the Duty of the Members
of the A. P. A.
SHOULD ATTEND TO POLITICS.
Common Cause Should Be Made
Against the Vicious Bosses
and Politicians.

a.
pie. The fact that there was no charge for
admission and that Rev. Donald NJ. Ross
was the speaker of the day served, no
doubt, as factors in filling the house.
In opening the meeting Chairman Quit
zow said: "We have been at work during
the past week endeavoring to get men who
represent our principles sent to the Repub-
lican State Convention to be held at Sacra-
mento, and I am pleased to state that I
believe we have been successful
~ am satisfied that we shall have a
strong representation in this convention,
which is to be held to name the delegates
TO the National Convention at st. Louis,
and am sure we shall have a great inf1u-
ence in the nomination of the candidate
for the next Presidential election.
Il will say that the people on the other
side are not satisfied with our work They
say that after we get through with the
Catholics we shall turn our attention to
the Jews. [ want to say that that is not
so. If there is any Jew that wants to join
our organization let him come forward and
he will see how heartily he will be received
as mem ber."
Rev. Donald M. Ross, in speaking on
The Duty of an A. P. A. said
"A thermometer is not more than six
inches long, but it indicates the weather
for miles around. 1 am glad to see so
many here to-day, for they, acting like the
thermometer. represent not only their
own sentiments, but the sentiment of
thousands and thousands in San Fran
cisco and other parts of the State.
I'VE have great responsibilities on rs
They say we are actuated by bigotry. But
do you think that millions of people in
the United States could be brought to-
gether under one constitution actuated
simply by bigotry? The men who saw
this are dignifed and so is the owl, and
the one knows just as much of our move.
ment as the other. Not man in America
who is true patriot would give a cent for
persecution. The IDEA that brings them
together is the same as that which inspired
men during the revolution. 1t Is not
cent for persecution, but millions for de-
fense, and it is case of defense now
with US.
"The three or four millions of men who
have banded themselves to keep the poll
: ticians busy, do not care for the politi-
cians-the bosses. We do not even know
who the bosses are, but we are against the
evil of bossism as a principle and method
of government.
THE first, chief, and only duty of an
A. z. a. is his duty to his country. When
you shift this duty to the politician and to
party you fail in your duty. You have
no right to shift the responsibility of gov
eminent in this way. The duty to gov
ernment cannot rightly and justly be laid
aside by any man. Each vote is as strong
as any that is cast. People blame bosses
for wrong government, but do nothing to
prevent the bosses from getting control.
When the political thieves rob your treas
ury you have only yourself to blame.
This condition of political corruption
is easy to correct. 1t requires simply a
little activity on the part of the individual
citizen. Let the men who are corrupt un-
derstand that when next they come before
the country for election they will be al
lowed to fail without any effort being
made to pick them up or relieve them,
and you will soon see a change in the ad-
ministration of government.
"The business man refuses to go into
politics because it will take too much of
his valua bic time, yet he will uncomplain-
inglv pay excessive taxes while the poll
tical crooks pay not cent. He may some
times protest ard swear little when he
goes to the Tax Collectors Office to pay his
taxes. but there it ends"
The speaker referred to the high rate of
taxes last year and the utter absence OF
any permanent improvement in the City
to show for imposing this financial burden
on the citizen. He asserted that the cor
rupt political Office holders consumed the
taxes. Continuing he said
I'VE owe a duty to the City of San Fran
cisco that will properly protect this yearly
income OF 81 ,000, 900 from taxes. This sum
ought to make our City very paradise,
but it don't. People are not attracted to
live in this City. They go to Los Angeles
or some other city where there is some
thing in the shape of public improve
ments to attract them. The people of San
Francisco should see that this large
amount is used for public Improvements
well-paved streets among other things.
There is no need for increased taxation if
the money is properly expended. As the
matter, however, stands to-day there are
many in the public service who fail to re-
ceive their salaries from the City regularly.
This is because the politicians are allowed
to absorb the taxes by their peculiar and
corrupt methods of administration.
"The people ought to rise in Indignation
over the way in which these frauds carry
on our city government. The men of the
A. P. A. and all good citizens should see
to it that these corruptionists are thrown
out. I think that the A. P. a. has a
duty to perform that no other organization
can fulfill. We must see that these men
are turned out. Some people may accuse
Us of prosecution in trying to turn them
out. but any persecution of a criminal
might just as fairly be termed persecution.
What we want to do Is to make the men
who are public servants work as if they
were private servants. This the a. P. A.
can do by seeing that their votes go only
for good public servants.
'lt may take US little time to get things
Strengthened out but If we show the proper
courage and persistence we shall eventu-
ally and thoroughly accomplish this great
work of reforming our City government,
and the broader State and National gov
ernments. There are business men and
Dw@t cfne. ~