The San Francisco call., 1897-02-10
nOUR STATE MUST
Be INDICATED
Victoria's Message Pains
the State Board of
Trade.
The Legislature to Be Asked to
Puncture Colonization
Schemes.
Committee Appointed to Wait on the
Governor-President Filcher
Indignant.

The California State Board of Trade ia
on its mettle, and Queen Victoria of the
British Isles is the disturbing factor that
entered into its deliberate and caused
the whole trouble.
Not that the Queen was regarded in an
unworthy light, but some of her words
put the great Golden State in an unenvi.
able position and strictly on the deien.
sive. Gentlemen with colonlzing schemes
to fleece the unwary arc the direct causes
of the whole affair.
The board met in regular session yester.
day afternoon. President J. A. Filcher
was there with a mind sadly troubled.
The words of England's potentate bore
heavily on him, and he intended to relieve
the mental tension before that meeting
ad djourned.
The first question of importance to come
up was the consideration of a California
exhibit at the Ham burg Exposition. 1t
was decided that the board do all in its
power to secure for this State a creditable
exhibit.
Then President Filcher rose to the occa-
sion and made speech. He was indig-
nant and his words showed it.
"Gentlemen, he said, 'you will re-
member that some time ago an English
countrymen against the wildcat land
grabbing and colonization schemes by
which so many foreigners were duped in
this State.
''W ell, the matter was regarded 20 seri-
ously in England that the Queen took it
up and referred TO it in her last message
10 Parliament. This is something unpre-
cedented in International affairs. 1t can
not fail to injure the reputation of our
State and prevent the investment Of capi-
tai with US.
1--WE might as well handle the thing
without gloves. 1t is a burning disgrace
that such condition of affairs exists.
"Iake the Holland colonization scheme
near Merced for example. After those
men came here they had to blast the
ground IN order to plant anything.
"Ihe colonists were ruined. Their capi-
tai went for naught, while twenty miles
from them was the fairest agricultural
country on earth.
"Some even committed suicide in their
despair, and on that patch of desolate ter
ritory stand beautiful houses going TO
rack and ruin which will be sold for kind
ling wood-melancholy monuments to the
perhdy OF the unworthy schemers who
sold alkah land to a class of desirable
immigrants at high rates.
we must do something to clear the
State OF the taint attached TO her garments.
Millions OF dollars in advertising would
not induce any more HolIanders TO come
here and invest their capital. If things
are permitted 10 run on none but the less
desirable class of immigrants will come
here at ALL"
The matter was discussed with spirit bv
all the directors and ended in a committee
of five being appointed to wait upon the
Governor. The committee is composed of
". Ii. Mills, J. S. Emery, }. A F lcher,
Colonel Craigie Sharpe and Mrs. f.
Shields. The committee will endeavor TO
persuade the Governor TO make the matter
the subject of a special message to the
Leg islature. TO lead to the appointment of
an inspector TO pass on all colonizine
schemes in California before any capital
can be invested.