The San Francisco call., 1896-06-08
Need Of More Truth in Exploit
ing Municipal Fl
nanceS.
DAGGETT DowNED FITZGERALD
Probable That the Silver Question
Figured in the Recent Demo-
cratic Fight.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, !
908 Broadway, June Z.

VNO OlOa0Mdg3 uno fs J
Much has been written during the past
week about Oakland as prolific field for
cranks and freaks. 1t has been stated that
the San Francisco newspapers are far too
ready to attach Importance to unusual in
cidents or people and that it is likely to
cause outsiders to think that this city is an
aggregation of sixty thousand cranks per-
forming in three rings, but all constituting
one great circus. Such an assumption,
both as regards the alleged fact and its eff
feet, is absurd and untrue. 1t shows
gross misconception of the existing differ
ence between a local and meuopolita
journal OF course prophet is without
honor in his own country and consequently
a crank or freak-which term by the way
would have been applied to Galileo and
Harvey had they lived in Oakland-is n OF
always considered legitimate subject for
story in a suburban paper. Another
great point to be considered is this: The
chief feature of freak story in modern
journalism is q well-drawn picture of the
oddity and without it the story falls fat.
As none of the local papers do anything
in the way of illustrating, it is somewhat
suggestive of the acrid fruit of the vine
HAASA my obNOA44PS " 6AfC o0S6SShAOAo "
papers that traverse the continent. It is
certainly as much the duty of e modern
newspaper to chronicle the unusual affairs
of every day life as to report the humdrum
affairs of society, ana anybody who op-
poses such course is certainly lacking in
knowledge of the elements of the profess
sion.
Regarding the insinuation that the out
side world will think Oakland is a city of
cranks, there is not the least foundation
for such a deduction. The same news
papers that give to the public an illus
trated story of freak also treat all other
important and more serious news with the
same completeness and ability. ANY inn
portant political or social event that oc-
ours on this side of the bay is invariably
made a feature of by the San Francisco
papers and illustrated with a degree of
taste and thought unknown in the news
paper world few years ago. A desire to
return to the silurian order of things is
not typical of the people of this city, and
the writer of the articles referred to is at
least a generation behind the times.
The Democratic primary was a great
surprise to the average citizen OF Alameda
County. Previous to month ago it was
not thought that there were enough Demo
Gratis left to create such a battle royal as
was witnessed last Friday. The earnest
ness with which the various leaders
worked, and the almost inconceivaole de-
sire for supremacy in the Democratic
party in this county has caused old politi-
clans to think. They cannot bring them
selves to believe that the comparatively
small place filed by Alameda County in
the field of State Democratic politics is
the cause of so much bitterness between
the prominent men who figured in the
fight. Neither can they altogether believe
that the feeling that originated in the
Stockton convention half a generation ago
is responsible for it. There Is feeling
that the silver question played strong
sub rosa part in the fight, and the presence
of such noted gold man as Daggett
added materially to Fitzgerald's defeat.
This feature OF the fight does not seem to
have been referred to throughout the bit
ter contest.
George w. Baker, chairman of the State
Bimetallic League, is a resident of Oak
land, and Frank J. Moffitt, who engineered
Laymance's fight, was chairman of the
Alameda delegation to the silver conven-
ton held at Metropolitan Temple last
year. These facts may or may not have
had any bearing on the issue, but when
the framing of a platform at Sacramento
comes up it will probably be found that
underneath the surface of Alamedas 9
great fight the money question was quite
active.
There is no doubt that the presence of
Daggett in the contest robbed Fitzgerald
OF many votes. After the events of Friday
it would be worse than folly for the Mint
man TO deny that he was interested in
downing Foote. Employees from Fifth
street who reside here were seen at several
poIling-pIaces, and many were also here
who were not known. With Daggett de-
feated, the prospect of local alliance be-
tween Democrats and silver men is much
increased.
Oakland's worst enemies at this time
are her municipal officials. The question
now being agitated by the Mayor, the
Council and the Board Of Education is one
of the greatest Importance, and one the
truthful facts of which are awaited by
the public. Any sacrifice that could have
been made would have been better than
to close the High School two weeks earlier
than usual and to close the very popular
free reading-room for the entire month of
June. The knowledge that such things
have occurred because of an alleged lack of
funds is the very worst advertisement that
could have gone forth. ALI kinds of ex-
plantations will be made, but the fact is
patent to any conservative mind that
there is a political object in both meas
ures of retrenc hment.
There is also much that is clearly false
being given on by all parties-the Mayor,
the Board of Education and the Library
Trustees. Mr.. Davie is publishing figures
showing that the High School costs
about 40 per cent more than any other
high school in the land He also prints
figures declaring that the same is true of
the Free Library. His statements are
eontradicted, and the controversy is gem
eraI. Now, the truth cannot be difficult
to learn, and both sides owe it to the pub
- hot ic ri -ln Sc