The San Francisco call., 1897-11-29
Eastern Investors Kept Away
by knowledge of Its
Condition.
TIME FOR A CHANGE is AT
HAND.
Politicians Who Thrive at the Pub.
lies Expense Should Be
Thrust Aside.
SPECIAL Dispatch to THE CALL

SAN JOSE, Nov 2S-Not the least of
the difficulties that has to be contenCed
with in any effort to break up the ring OF
boodlers that has for the past ten years
held this municipality within its grin is
the intense fear of its enmity. This feel
ing has now become SO strong that an
actual wall of terror had been created,
which. UP to the present time has SEEM
ingly been impregnable, but breach has
at last been made therein.
By reason of past experiences it has
been difficult to make the good and pub
lic-spirited citizens of San Jose com pre-
bend that the present crusade of The CALL
in behal of good and economical govern
ment is to be carried on until the desired
end is achieved, regardless of la Dor, time
or expense. That some, however, have
come to this conclusion is indicated by
their expressions OF opinion as set forth
in the interviews which are given here
with.
These citizens, men OF long residence,
OF high com merciaI standing, OF unques-
toned integrity, of public spirit; these
men, who are in closest touch with one of
the greatest interests of the city of San
jose, the county of Santa Clara, declare
as with one voice that San Jose is gang
ridden; that the gang is set OF boodlers;
that these facts are generally known and
acknowledge that the existing conGi-
lions have prevented San Jose from max
ing the progress that it should have made
with all its great advantages; that the
time has come when a change must be
made, and that The CALLS present cru.
sade has been inaugurated opportunely
and is being conducted along the proper
lines. The interviews follow:
William S. Clayton Of the firm Of James
4. CLAYTON & Co., real estate and insur-
ance. 81 West Santa Clara avenue-"I
think that it is very good idea that the
newspapers have begun a crusade against
the present government because it has
been open to many criticisms. If we
start in properly at the next election and
put up respectable people as councilme
and city officers and keep the offices re-
sIectable from the very start 1t will add
wonderfully to the permanent reputation
OF the city and will have a wonderfully
beneficial effect on outsider s. The great
objection on the part OF the people out
side of the limits OF San Jose to be made
a part OF Greater San Jose is on account oi
the corruption that exists in this city
among some of the city ficials, the reck-
less expenditure of public money and the
lack OF system in the expe ndilures that
has prevailed. do not think the outside
districts will ever vote to come inside the
city limits until there is better control
over public expenditures.
"As soon as it is brought to the notice
of visitors that We have a large corps OF
non'producers in the shape of politici ans
they Immediately know that there must
be some source from which this gang OBJ
tains living, and as individuals do not
contrl butte much to their support it is very
clear that it must be from the public iunds
that they derive their incomes. The pres
ent conditions are certainly not favorable
to inducing newcomers 10 ettIe, and they
do not appeal 10 the tourist to take up
his abode mere"
Guy II, Salisbury, real estate and 1nsur.
ance, Il North Second street:
There Is evidently a niger in the
fence SONS where. /, as one of the adyo-
Gates Of the new charter, do not believe it
IS IN al instrument"
Joseph H. Rucker OF Joseph H. Rucker
d Co., real estate and insurance North
IS a disgrace 10 the city, owing 10 the wav
that its members conduct themselves. |
fully realize hat the publication OF these
things IS injurious 10 San Jose, but II
their pub.ica ion will able us TO rid our
selves of them they certainly ought to be
published. l think that things are so cor
Tupt that something must be done 10
remedy the situation. l think much can
be done, especially in the city, 10 improve
ha oF
the Council are something l am ashamed
OF Tor the sake of the city. l cannot COM
pre- end how men can act as those msn
do, because think they should be ashamed
OF themselves.
IL think The CALLS work will do good,
no matter what It's motives are, because it
VIII at least check the present great ex-
Iravaga- c."
Mitchell Phillips, capitalist and large
property-owner: Il have no hesitation
IN saying that the best citizens of San
Jose are IN full sympathy with the cru
sade that The CALL has undertaken. One
or the features OF our city government
that most deserves censure is the undig-
n fed proceedings of the Council. Its
members show an utter disregard for de-
cency and have apparently become cal.
lous to public sentiment, owing to their
long continued exemption from inter-
ference. Their business methods are
also open TO the severest Grill
cism. Street contracts are let with
out competition, useless expenditures
are INDUCED in and general eXtravaganc ce
IS permitted Without apparent effort to
check It. fen years ago, before the advent
Of The present gang. San Jose was without
debt To-day Its bonded and floating in
debtedness is considerably more than a
quarter of million dollars"
{. Nj. Wooster of Wooster & Whitton.
real estate, loans and insuranc', West
Santa Clara street: "I believe there
should be no politics in the management
OF municipal affairs. 1t is evident that
The city government has been conducted
in the interest OF machine politics rather
than in the interest of the taxpayers. The
ev.I of the present condition is the result
mainly of the selection OF city officers