The record-union., 1897-01-17
What is Talked About
in San francisco.
Reflections the Passing Of Shcrrdge Grand Jury and
the Public Schoo1s-Abuses at Golden Gate Park-How
the Peoples Money Has Been Wasted-WM Theodore
Durrant Ever be Executed2

passing of Shortridge is not regarded IN
this city as final by any means. 1t is
not total eclipse of a star OF destiny,
but merely a temporary observation
from which the planet will emerge more
resplendent than ever to cleave the
depth of night and old chaos like the
headlight of an airship.
1t has been given out by the friends OF
Mr.. Shortridge that his recent candi-
dacy for the United States Senate was
not SO serious as his brother Charles
tried to make the people believe. They
claim that Sam was only trying 1t on
the dog'-a phrase borrowed from the
slang of the theatrical world, and sig
nifying that he was experimenting with
his popularity to ascertain how FAR II
would stretch. The elasticity or the
esteem in which he is held by his fel-
qowmen within the scope of his politi-
cal acquaintance assures him or an ui-
innate rebound that will land him in
the seat he so ardently covets. 1t was
a grand stand play" that has won the
applause of the ''clapper-claw1ng
groundlings,'' and an effort that must
blossom to an honorable fruition when
successor to Senator White is re-
quired to represent the commonwealth
of California with dignity pedastaled
on ability"
The ambition of Samuel M. Shortridge
may never be satisfed-sa tiated is a
better word-with minor dignities.
These are thrust upon men-the honors
that Shortridge Graves are achieved.
He is like Sempronious in this respect
he commands success. AS boy orator
pointing with pride when he was not
viewing with alarm he longed TO
utter his eloQuence in a big round voice
where the startled nation might hear
Almost from his cradle he has yearned
to stand where Clay, and Webster, and
Calhoun, and Randolph, and Marshall
stood, awaking the same echoes from
the same historic walls and recalling
the lost oratory that 'made and pre-
served us as a nation" And he prom
| ised himself as a boy, long after the
Casabianca period of his youthful elo-
quence-far along in the Spartacus days
when his admimng friends and relatives
did we'll to call him chief-that he would
one day restore to Senatorial debate the
art persuasive of Cicero and the splen-
did invective of DemostheneS.
memnon, so there Will be charlatans
subsequent to Shortridge. Preceding
the advent of Shortridge charlantry had
attained an imposing historical impor-
tance. Cornelius Agrippa had achieved
splendor that dazzled the understand
ing of his contemporaries; Simon Magus
had befooled the Roman Populists with
a legerdemain that would not procure
for him a plea line on the show bill of
modern dime museum; Pythagoras
had returned from Egypt with his mys-
teries and his theory of magic numbers;
Zoroaster had lighted the fires of an en-
during superstition in the temples of Per-
sia; Moha mined had proselyted the ia
bleS of the Koran with the eloquence of
the sword throughout Arabia even to the
confines of Ormus and Ind; Cagliostro
had found the philosophers stone and
the elixir of life-all these had traversed
the stage of a worlds theater compel
ling the plaudits of a wondering multi
tude before the coming of Shortridge.
There have been pretenders aside
from Shortridge-'a Strologers, prophets,
alchemists, usurpers of authority, false
teachers and fakrs. In the fierce glare
of history Shortridge casts a shadow
as thin and wavering as the penumbra
of a comet threading the vast desert of
Orions far-stretching constellation In
the presence of his historical prototypes
he is pigmy in the presence of giants
but that comparison is not taught in the
political grammar of a Shortridge, nor
is 1t consonant with the overweening
conceit of Shortridge understanding
Gamahel is a memory and at no other
feet can this "favorte son" humble
himself-it is doubtful if he would have
abased himself even in the presence of
the Great Teacher; certain it is that if
compelled for time to listen to the
wisdom of the Wise Man he would have
spared no effort to usurp the sacred
seat.
The Grand Jury, assisted by Mayor
Phelan, has made a remarkable discov-
cry. 1t has ascertained from the rec
ords of the School Department that PA
teachers have been added to the pay
roll during the past ten years, and that
in the same period the attendance in
creased only SS3. The added fact that
the cost of this increased teaching force
aggregates over 100000 is also a
basis Of criticism by the Grand Jury
and a subject of considerable worri-
ment to the Mayor. These representa-
tives of good government and civic re-
form do not thoroughly understand the
necessity of employing a teacher for
four pupils and paying for the service
an average of 81 600 a year.
1t is proposed to investigate this Eek
travagance," and there is not the least
nd M tha
Mayor sre sincere in their intention.
They will probe the evil they have
found and they will recommend salu-
tary reforms" That any action they
may undertake will prove effective or
even assist in removing this burden
from the taxpayers is extremely prob
lematic Perhaps the best way out
of the difficulty which confronts the
new administration would be to wait
until the population of San Francisco
increases sufficiently to furnish school
attendance adequate to the teaching
force. Unless the next census shows
more encouraging estimate of in
creased population and consequent at
tendance in the public schools than was
shown by the record of the last decade,
ii will be a long time before these
teachers cease to enjoy the ease and
emolument of two hundred educational
SinecureS.
1t is possible, also, that the same po-
litical manipulation that forced these
unnecessary school teachers upon the
bounty of the taxpayers of San Fran
cisco will operate to keep the supply
full to the limit. There are political
pedagogues without number and the
name of the Normal School graduate