The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24

best on the road"
The tip was appreciated, but superfuous.
had already forgotten all my stock of old
English roadside murder tales.
After supper 1 sat in front of the big
open CRATE and felt comfortable in body
mind and soul
Have cigar, mister?" and the host
held an open box in front of me.
l was surprised. for this was contrary ~
my previous training. You know the rnle
at the railway stations. You paw for all
you get; you pay double city prices and
you get inferior goods for the MONEY
Travellers are the fair game of railway sta
ton innkeepers. That is a maxim and a
truism.
But was even more surprised when I
found the cigar smoked freely, tasted
pleasantly and gave forth a not unpleas-
ing aroma. Just then one of the drnm-
mers departing for his train stopped over
and whispered to me, ''Mac and his wife
are too good for this business: I believa
they'd give you half their earnings if Won
asked for it." And 1 was ready to believe
this.
Half an hour later the papers arrived on
the train from San Francisco. Mrs. Mac
brought them in and pointed out to Mr..
Mac the article which told OF Superinten-
dent Weaver of the Almshouse having re-
quested DR.. Williamson to change his vote
so that the politicians might at last gain
their coveted prize and their spoils of pat
ronage.
Poor man." said Mrs. Mac az suppose
he is tired of the long struggle"
And then l ventured into the converse
ton, because was interested bit in this
piece of news.
1T was that man who is responsible for
the legislative act that requires three
fourths vote to remove the superintendent
of a county institution" said Mrs Mac
and she pointed to the only other man in
the room beside myself.
[ was interested "reminiscences fol-
lowed, and presently 1 became possessed
of what seemed to be a very neat little ro-
nance.
1t is not at all exciting, this romance,
but IL presents strange and unusual con-
trast. Not that of power, influence, popu-
larity among men and usefulness in pub
lie affairs, faded into dull poverty and
hapless obscurity, for that is common
enough. But here was man and woman
who once had high ambitions; these am
billions are gone now, but in their stead
have come peace and cheerfulness and char
ity. Mr.. Mclaughlin has been a success
full man, for at last success is only
the relative attainment of ones present
ambitions. ]. F. Mclaughlin was once a
power in San Francisco politics. A few
years ago when Clerk Russell of the Board
or Supervisors was asked what superin-
tendent had run the Industrial School
now the Branch County Jail-with the
greatest economy and most satisfaction to
the public he replied at once, -. +. Nc
Laughlin is the man."
And this is the mlId-mannered, white
haired little gentleman who runs the tiny
Goshen Hotel. His am billions now are to
please his guests and these ambitions are
more completely realized than were those
of Stanford.
Mclaughlin f1ourished during Stanford's
greatest period of popularity. He was a
pressing stump speaker ana a valued Wis
itor at all political meetings. That is how
he came to be superintendent of one of the
largest county institutions. He remained
at the head of the Industrial School for
eight years, longer period than any of
his predecessors had enjoyed.
To his honesty he owed his downfall
with the politicians. He lost favor with
them as we'll as with certain large and in
f1uential contractors because he would not
stoop to their conceptions of a public trust
]. B. Stetson and Mr. Gibbs, the wealthy
hardware merchant, were on the Board of
Supervisors when the politicians first be-
gan to hate Mclaughlin and try to GUST
him. At one of the committee meetings
SO an old newspaper clipping records.
B. Stetson testified that he had heard Nc
Laughlln denounced by certain ward poll
ticians because ne had turned s19. 900 into
the City treasury that should have gone
to "the gang" One of the big clothing
merchants who was not contractor,
though he had sought for the contract and
failed to secure it, being also an honest
man, testified at the same time that Nc
Laughlin had refused to accept present
from him of suit of clothes. This was in
1881. A year later Mclaughlin was no
longer at the head of the Industrial School