The San Francisco call., 1898-02-16

members of the ring will be summed as were the lepers of old. Its power will be effectively broken and forever gone. The prestige of victory, abso- lute and complete, will be carried by the representatives of the good-gov- ernment movement into the fall cam paign, with the probable result that the boss element will then be as thoroughly eliminated from county politics as it now promises to be from city affairs.
 There is no question as to the intense desire of the people at large to secure an entirely new personnel In the offices of the various city departments. but two dangers still menace the success that Is now within the grasp of the bet ter element. Individual ambitions may create dissensions within the ranks of the reformers, and the gang may by the cunning and insidious methods characteristic of the corrupt politician befuddle and delude the voters so as to split the strength of the good citizens and taxpayers, and thus permit the gang to elect one or more of it's can- didates.
 Every effort will of course be made by the gangsters to stir up strife in the meetings and during the discussions held by the members of the New Char ter Club. This will be attempted by playing on the personal ambitions and personal prejudices of the members. The officers and members will have to guard against this, and eternal vigil ance and self-restraint will be the price of harmony and success. Against the other danger, that of having the good government vote scattered, all those who really have the welfare of the city at heart can and will guard. There must be no alleged good government can didates in the field other than those nominated by the New Charter Club. All who run independently or on any other ticket than that of the New Char ter Club should be treated as members or tools of the gang.
 No pains will be spared by the nomi- mating committee of the club to place before the people for their suffrages only such men as have proved their worth and ability to fill the positions for which they may be named. Their work will be governed by the principle, so frequently and highly lauded but nevertheless persistently ignored. that the office should seek the man.
 As the matter now stands the nom- mating committee is to have the entire city ticket ready to submit to the club by the 24th inst. The club will prob ably lose little time In approving the work of it's committee, and the ticket will then be made public.
 The question has been frequently asked why the New Charter Club does not bring a suit to oust the Council and Mayor, instead of bringing man damus and injunction proceedings against them. More than one act has been committed by them that would make the foundation for such suit. It is argued that one proceeding to oust will do the whole business, and prevent multiplicity of suits.
 This question was answered to-day by Judge J. R. Lewis, the chairman of the legal committee, which has charge of all prosecutions and legal proceed ings on behalf of the club. Judge Lewis was formerly a resident of Seattle, at a time when the people of that city had to cope with not only a corrupt municipal legislative body, but with a harbor commission that was composed of a parcel of boodlers, and has had practical experience in these matters. He occupied the bench for about eight years in the State of Washington, but has now retired from practice, having come to reside in San Jose to enjoy life for the rest of his years.
 "I don't think anything can be gained" he said. "by proceedings to oust the members of the Common Council They would prove to be too long winded and would amount to noth- ing, as the defendants would in all probability take an appeal. should the Superior Court decide against them, just as did the Board of Supervisors of San Francisco. The old gang will not let go while there is any plunder in sight. It will stay in as long as possible. These proceedings in the way of mandamus and injunction will accomplish more effectively and promptly the object we seek-to put stop to the footing of the city treasury
 My idea is that these writs of man damus and injunction are ample to meet the situation without resorting to proceedings to oust. If the latter were brought they would be able to protract them until after their terms expired, and so nothing would in reality be ac- complished Our plan is to bring, one or the other of these writs that have already been invoked, and thus keep the Council in check"
 Councilman Noting is tired of his position as Councilman to the point of being willing to resign. He so ex- pressed himself. He remarked that if the other members and Mayor Koch would agree to follow his example he would at once vacate his office.
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