The San Francisco call., 1897-12-23
'HHH-n-R4M-HH-HHH-E

The foregoing peremptory declara-
ton of intentions will strike the COM
mercial and political world as a con-
firmation of the common rumor that
Chauncey st. John, leader of cotillons
and favorite at many a german, bears
a charmed life. 1t has been rumored
for some days that Chief Deputy E.
A Holmes was doomed to be returned
to the ranks as an inspector and that
the protests of the commercial world
against his removal would fall upon
deaf ears. Mr.. Spear confirms the
rumor and Mrs. Spear is delighted
with the choice.
When it became generally known
that st. John was the choice of the
new surveyor, and that Mrs. Spears
wishes in the matter weighed heavily
in the scales, a howl went forth from
the Federal building, as well as from
the ranks of many great commercial
firms that do business with the office
of Surveyor of the Port. The friends
of Holmes got in line and worked as
negroes at elections are supposed to
toll in the South.
But in spite Of the flood of letters
that were sent to Senator Perkins and
the new appointee, st. Johns suit
prospered at court. He pranced
through the lines of the opposition like
Irving's prince in the legends of
Alhambra, charging the enemy on the
enchanted steed of politics and wend-
ing his way to the political plum
while opposition watched the per
formance even as the spellbound
princes of old witnessed the feats of
mystic hOrsemen in the sky.
Great interest inheres in the fight
from the fact that it is commonly
rumored, on the authority of Senator
Perkins and other men well known in
national politics, that the new
deputy's fight has been won through
the intervention of Mrs. Spear, who
admires his manners, his knowledge
Of things known by the smart set and
all that These reasons, however, have
not appealed with SO much force to
the blunt business men whose duties
bring them in close contact with the
chief deputy surveyor. They cannot
see wherein the etiquette of the draw
ing-rooms and the manners of the elite
will aid a man whose duties are large
ly among sunburnt tars and brawny
sea dogs along the water front. But
the voice of the sea dog is hushed and
the plea Of the woman has won.
In spite of the scores of protests
that have been filed against the ap-
pOintment Of ST. John, his fight has
seemed 10 prosper from the outset,
though his abilities have been disput-
ed by Surveyors Tinnin, KiIburn and
English, who stand ready to tell the
new surveyor that he has selected a
path where thorns abound, and that
he will fall into the Slough Of Despond
if he allows st. John to undertake the
job of lighting the pathway of the
Surveyor of the Port.
Meantime, Mr. st. John is in Wash
ington, where he recently presented
to President Mckinley a handsome
gold cane
The friends of Holmes are grdtified
that Mr.. Spear has no charges to
make against their choice of whose
excellent services they speak in su-
perlative terms. Indeed, the new ap-
pointee highly commends Mr.. Holmes
as an efficient officer and a gentleman
of fine address
In all 1 have said about Mr. ST.
JOHN said he yesterday, 'I mean no
reflection. whatever on the character
or ability of the present chief deputy
surveyor. He is reported to be a most
competent man; but everybody wants
his own particular choice in such a
place as this, and I am no exception
to the rule. AS I must be largely