The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-27


Considering all the circumstances, as
a conscientious public servant, 1 came
to the deliberate conclusion that II the
Board of Supervisors should take the
home away from those humane and
philanthropic women, who had spent
the best years of their lives in perfect
ing 1t, and had expended upward of
500, 900 in keeping up the improvements,
and hand 1t over to another society
which had made application for 1t, and
which society was without experience
in the management of such a difficult
business and had done nothing what
ever in creating it, the act, to my mind.
would be nothing less than q species or
robbery; the Board would be fairly
open to the charge of bigotry and every
fair-minded man and woman in the
community would be justly arrayed
against them.
These were the Just considerations
which moved me to support Supervisor
Lackmanns motion-not my motion, as
claimed by Father Yorke-to renew
the lease to the Ladies' Seamen's Relief
Society, and 1 so stated them before
voting, although Father Yorke has re-
peatedly asserted that II did not dare
to tell the reason for my vote" For
instance, in his Oakland speech the
Rev. Father says:
II had to leave the city during the
time the convention was going on, but
/ left word at the Monitor office that
any kind of letter at all that he might
send should be printed and put before
the public to set him right with his own
people. DR.. Clinton refused to give any
explanation If his vote. Dr. Clinton did
not dare to tell the reason why he had
voted to turn over municipal property
to a sectarian institution"
I did not consider 1t necessary to
write ANY kind of a letter at all'' to
Father Yorke in the further explana-
ton of my vote. My course in the mat
ter was fully understood by the reading
public-it was plain and above board,
and I had nothing to explain to the
reverend gentleman, my own people"
or any one else.
Of those voting for the motion seven
were co-religionistS of Father Yorke.
and their act was ratified by the Mayor,
himself of the same faith. Now, l do
not believe there is man or woman
in this whole city so narrow minded,
so unreasonable as to believe for mo-
ment that these eight men were as
Father Yorke charges, 'Judases who
betrayed the sacred cause of religious
liberty by voting to deliver the poor
Catholic sailors to bigoted sectarian
society"
ligious liberty are as dear to me as
they are to Father Yorke, and I yield
to no. one in my respect and love for
the constitution of our common coun-
try, which guarantees to every citizen
equal civil and religious rights. | love
fair play with the same intensity Of
feeling that / hate injustice.
When Apaism was rampant in this
city q few years ago was among the
very first to publicly denounce 1t. With
voice, pen and purse, as far as my linn
tied means permitted, / fought 1t; and
Father Yorke in his glorious and sue
cessful battle against 1t had no more
earnest supporter than l.
My whole life has been protest
against bigotry. When scarcely out Of
my boyhood, in the land of my birth,
I did not hesitate when called upon to
obey the call of duty and prove my
devotion to the eternal principles of
civil and religious liberty.
In conclusion, submit that the fore
going affidavits and transcripts from
official records completely refute the
charges Illuminated against me by the
Rev. Father Yorke.
To the prejudice he created against
me during the closing days of the late
campaign l frankly attribute my de-
feat at the polls.
The reverend gentleman proved him
self a chivalrous enemy.
He accomplished his purpose, and I
would not, If 1 could, deny him the
qualification which he undoubtedly
feels at the result
His charges. although susceptible of
refutation were to him "a God enough
| Morgan" during the few days of popu-
lar excitement Immediately preceding
| the election, but, so far as I am con-
cerned, the episode is now ended.
rH nf Of
| fellow citizens refused to believe the
allegations of Father Yorke is sufficient
yindication of my course as a public
servant. That this army of freemen
upheld by their suffrages the principle
which was involved in my candidacy is
| adequate satisfaction to me as 1 retire
to the enjoyment of private life.
did not receive justice from Father
Yorke.
I confidently look for 1t in the
opinions of my fellow citisens, without
regard to creed or party, when they