The San Francisco call., 1896-03-22
THE FIGHT FOR TITLES,
Mission Defense Union Held a
Rousing Meeting Last
Night.
Speeches Made by Supervisor Hobbs,
Auditor Broderick and Director
Henderson.

The Mission Defense Union, whose
motto is millions for defense but not
cent for biackmail," held largely at
tended meeting last night at Phoenix
Hall, President n Noit IN the chair.
The principal object of the meeting was
to discuss the question of protecting the
titles Of the property-owners from the
claims of the Noe heirs. and also to discuss
the proposition of purchasing the ground
of the abandoned Hebrew cemeteries
bounded by Nineteenth. Dolores, Twen-
tieth and Church streets for the purpose
of a public park.
incidentally the question of the Mission
High School was touched upon and that
desire of the people emphasized.
Rousing enthusiasm was manifested
from the dropping OF the presidents gavei
for order till the end of the last speech.
Among the speakers of the evening
were Supervisor Hobbs, School Director
Henderson and Auditor Broderick.
Resolutions submitted by John Bolger
were adopted, outlining the plan OF work
for the union and stating that the main
purpose ever before the members should be
10 protect and defend the titles of their
property against the fraudulent claims of
the Noe heirs.
Secretary A. P. Van Duzer, also attorney
for the club, stated he would move Mon
day to have the case set for trial at the
earliest possible day; also that there was
over $3.50 in the treasury and that the
mem bership had increased from 321 mem
bers last Saturday to 1853.
The committee appointed to confer
with the cemetery trustees reported
they had communicated with the trustees
of both Sheriff. Israel and Emanuel,
who had evinced willingness and pref
erence to sell the land at one deal rather
David Hughes of Ocean View was
elected a member of the executive COM
mittee.
Mr.. Van Duzer stated he wished it dis
tinctly understood that not one dollar of
the money contributed by members should
be used for any other purpose than for
fighting the Noe heirs. 1t was to be de-
ing to do with the improvement feature
of the club. He explained in reply to
question that the San Francisco Savings
Union had written notices to property
holders having mortgages simply to show
that that corporation would carry on the
fight if the property owners did not, and
that by an arrangement he had made the
Savings Union now referred all such cases
to him.
Supervisor J. K. c. Hobbs said he had
seen Attorney Creswel in regard to the
legality of the City's purchasing the GEM
etery land for use as park, but the at
torney was unable at present owing to a
rush of affairs, to investigate, but would
do so in few days.
.Where we live" said George Van Rey-
negom, .'is the most picturesque portion
of the City. We need park to further
beautifv it and high school for our chill
dren, and we should state unanimously
our desire to the Supervisors"
T. V. O'Brien advocated the transforma-
ton of the Spring Valley Lake Merced
land into public park to balance Golden
"I think we had better let the next gen.
Grafton deal with that park" said George
Walcomb.
.I am for park out here" said Mr..
Hobbs, "for the poor to use-not one so
far away that they must pay carfare to
reach it. | believe the City can buy the
cemetery ground without regard to the
one-twelfth act, and 1 pledge my vote for
any undertaking of this kind, but do not
propose to vote Tor park out near IngIe-
side."
Auditor BrodericlS said he saw no OBJ
lection to the City buying lot, and illegal
proceedings are necessary he promised to
put the amount into the estimate for taxes
for next year.
sentiments of the previous speaker. He
saw no trouble in getting a park if the
legal side of it was all right.
A. b. Mcguire of the Folsom street club
related the history of the movements for
improvement in the Mission and said all
the district had got for its taxes were the
hospital, almshouse, branch jai's and pest
house.
A committee was appointed. con-
sisting of John A. Lennon, George
Walcomb, Daniel Kelly, George Van
Reynegom and A. B. Mcguire, to
make arrangements for general mass
meeting, to be held in some large hall CEN
trallv located in the Mission, the meeting
to occur two weeks from last night.
A committee for the park proposition
was appointed, consisting of A. B. Ma
guire, A. T. Murphy, John DAILY and
George Walcomb.
Fire In Chinatown.
An alarm was sounded through box % at 8
,;,,n for n froi it,o