The San Francisco call., 1897-05-13
THE WRONG WAY.

In commenting upon the good results
accomplished by the united efforts of the
commercial and industrial bodies of the
City to bring about the speedy beginning
Of the work of construction on the new
Federal building THE CALL has frequently
pointed cut that this unity of effort is the
right way to achieve success. The E1-
dminer of yesterday offered an illustration
of the wrong way, which is worth study
ing as a contrast to the course advocated
and adopted by The CALL.
The Examiner headed its editorial "Our
Elusive Postoffice" and went on to say
The news from Washington is not of a
kind to encourage San Francisco with the
be,let that its new Postoffice building will
be on view in the near future" To main
tain this statement it argued that as the
Government is hard up for money and the
current deficit is likely to be about $33, 900.
Oo0 it would be the policy OF the admins
tration not to undertake any work OF
public improvement. 1t concluded with
the assertion: "If the San Francisco Post
office is to be excepted from this policy it
will require good deal of smooth talking
and very liberal use of Congressional
shoe leather about the Treasury Depart
ment."
1t goes without saying that if the senti-
ment of the Examiner finds much SYM
pathy among the people of San Francisco
the prophecy of no work on the Postoffice
building will accomplish itself. If we
make up our minds that we are not to
have the building it is certain we will not
gel it. If we decide that the notice to quit
served to tenants on the site of the pro-
posed structure means nothing and that
the promises of the officials at Washing
ton to let contracts for the work in time
to begin early in the coming fiscal year
are valueless, then it is quite likely that
those officials will feel no particular in
terest in the work and will accommodate
themselves to our indifference by being
equally indifferent and permitting the
whole thing to go over for another year.
Fortunately the people do not share the
sentiments of the Examiner, and are not
likely to adopt its tone of cynical dis belief
in the promises made at Washin gton, nor
is policy of half hidden opposition to the
enterprise. Under the lead of The CALL
some of the most Influential associations
of the City have engaged vigorously in
the task of urging on the work OF con-
structing the building, and they have
abundant reasons for confidence in the
promises that have been made by the
Washington officials. They are aware
that much has already been achieved by
their united efforts, and have assurances
that if an equal energy and harmony
among the people of San Francisco con-
tinue to be manifest We shall see those
promises fulfilled and the work on the
building begun early in the coming sum-
mer.
Too much has been already gained by
the right way of dealing with this prob
lem for any considerable number of people
to be tempted to turn again to the wrong
way. Despite the forebodings of the E1-
ami'ser the outlook is encouraging. We
shall see the work of construction begun
before long, and all that will be left for
the Examiner to do will be to carp, criti-
cize, condemn and whine that the build
ing is being put up IN the wrong place.
that the work is being done in the wrong
way, and that it won't be much of build
ing anyhow.