The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

PLY tn re are few people so debased that
this peculiar mode of Inc ecency would b.
suggested To their unclean minds TACT
rendering exposure comparatively easy.
In the mental ''rogues' gallery" which
every student of local events naturally &C
qulres, the picture or the criminal in this
instance has prominent place. Every
cartoonist in town is particularly familiar
with ii, doubtless.
II, when matters of life and death are
at issue there are rascals vile enough TO
perpetrate so cowardIy an act, is il any
wonder that sailors bound for a winter s
cruise so clad in shoddy garb2
And can there be marvel, if such rascals
escape unwhipped, that reputab bic people
ieel III at ease, deeming property insecure,
talr fame In danger of tarnsh, ana even
lie itself not properly safe uarded2 The
man responsible tor the circular is unfit
to associate with aught but Jail birds, on
whose moral plane he would find congen-
ial environ ment.
The circular was issued apparently by a
business organization. This organ ization
does not exist, never did, and nobody can
be found willing to be responsible for its
standing. A fac-simile OF the circular
is shown herewith.
In order to ascertain the source from
which the contemplate circular emanated
ares porter of The CALL went to the ch eff
of the Letter-carriers' Division of the post
office and asked If there were such an or
ganizauon as the "San Francisco Mer-
chants Committee on k,ohdiEe Outfit
ting" Mr.. lmbrie of the postal service
called several carriers and all OF them said
that there was no committee known by
that name.
The re porter then asked where a letter
addressed to SUCH a committee would be
delivered. The carriers re piled I'VE would
tn 10 lacL
ommittee, as it Is composed of merchants
of San Francisco who are interested in the
klondike trade"
d. NJ Carman, secretary of the Alaska
Trade Committee, was seen at his office
near the ferry. When a copy of the cir
cular was placed before him he remarked
that two hours earlier he had received
from George Liebes copy of the identi-
cal circular. 1t was sent TO the firm of
Kelly & Liebes and by Mr.. Liebes for
warded to the committee for investiga-
ton.
Secretary Carman, speaking of the mat
ter, SAID: Tine circular was not author
knowledge OF its existence until this
copy was received. 1t is not
Endorsed by this committee or any
member OF our organization. 1t
is so adroitly prepared, however that the
inference might be readily formed that
our com mIttee was responsible 1or it. l
shall make It my business to investigate
fully and ascertain if possible the source
from which the circular came. We re-
gard the whole thing as a contemplate
trick, in which the good name of our
committee is sought to be used 10 perpe-
trate fraud"
II. II. Sherwood, chairman OF the Alas
kan trade committee. was seen at his
residence last evening. When a copy OF
the circular was placed before him he read
1t carefully and without hest tation
asserted that the committee of merchants
OF which he was chairman had
nothing whatever TO do with the docu-
ment. He said: Il see that it is cum
ningly designed to deceive people and
lead merchants OF the city TO believe that
it emanated from our organization. We
cular originated, and the names of the
persons concerned in its circulation"
The inclosed slip referred 10 in the Cir
cular is a clipping from The CALL of No
VEN Der 81, which mentions that some
of the supplies for the Bears outfit had
been purchased in Seattle. AS q matter
of fact the articles bought in Seattle were
purchased to fill a requlsition made by
Captain Tuttle of the Bear the day before
the date set for the sailing of the vessel
There was no time to forward from this
city the supplies embraced in the last
requisition.
john D. Spreckels directed that the
supplies for the Bear should be procured
in San Francisco and all the goods ex-
Cepting the articles called for by Captain
futile on the eve OF the ships depart ure
were purchased here