The San Francisco call., 1898-03-07
OAKLAND MUST
 NOT FORGET  Water Rate Lessons of the Present and
 Past.
Political Balloons Are Now
 Being An1bitiouslY In- Hated.
If Consolidation Will Tend to Purify Politics It Will Be
 Popular.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call

Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
 sos Broadway, March 6.
 If Oakland were sincere, she would soon be great and important city. But her sincerity in the past has been evanescent, and the city's growth has been thereby impeded. One fact will both illustrate and prove this point at the same time. Eight years ago Oak land hooted and yelled at and hung in effigy several of her Councilmen. Among them were Brosnahan, Heit- man and Eah. Since that time Heit- man has not failed of reelection each two years; Brosnahan has enjoyed the same evidence of the voters good will, except once, when he did not seek cleo tion, and Earl was returned last spring 4 city does not change its population in eight years. and therefore the pre- sumption is natural that the same peo- pie who hooted and reviled effigies eight years ago are the same who returned' the originals of the efIigies to the Coun- cil and who hoOted and yelled last week and will do so again tomorrow night.
 Since it is apparent that nothing but lUe QIOpBlHS UedQ OI two Ol llS cVII1 Six can save the users Of water rom being robbed during the next year by the vote that will be taken tomorrow night, it is oppoTtune to call attention to the fact that the personnel of City Council is not perpetual. There is only one efficient way to right wrongs and that is at the ballot box. No doubt before next spring the same gang will come up when the box is rattled and the same influence will be used to elect them. It now remains to be seen whether Oaklands memory can retain events for one year-it has often failed to do so in the past. Really, MT. Woodward was not so perfectly reck less a few days ago when he said, with a nonchalant air: 'This affair will soon blow over and be forgotten"
 Will it?
 Unfortunately Oakland has but little faith in any good result coming from the investigation of Grand Jury. The present Grand Jury is more than usu- ally representative of the people and 1t is going about it's work with care and thOroughness. There is certainly a story to unfold, but even if the facts are discovered and some indictments found that will probably be the end of it. Indictments of officials by grand Jur1es have lost much of their terror in Alameda County. During the past few years there have been over a score of indictments found. but not in a single instance has a conviction been ob- tained. It would indeed be a surprise - to see aIf unTaitilfu1 official bay the penalty of his malfeasance.
 It is amusing to watch the tactics of the professional and off1ce-hoIding poli- ticians. Already the fall campaign is mapped out, all the offices are filled, 2 many combinations are made and State and county are scheduled to go hand in hand. Everybody who is fin" is slated for an office, and some of the prospective appointments of the Gov ernor whom the combination will elect are also filled. Everything is guaran- teed to work smoothly and only one element in the happy dream is doubt ful. That element is the people, and the people" of Alameda County is very dangerous element with which to speculate. At present the lion and the lambs of old are creeping into each others camp and lulling themselves into the sleep of fancied security, while imagining that they hear some metaphysical Home, Sweet Home" in the air How long it will last is a guess. The most strained efforts are being made to unite the State and . county issues and the two sets of aspir- ants are now engaged in batting each other on the back and saying pretty things one of the other.
 The center of interest now is the Republican County Central Commit tee, and right there a little snag ap- pears. One of the committee admits he is candidate for county office, and there is as yet no evidence that he is in the cOmbination-and he Is not alone.
 However, the balloon is barely off the ground as yet and there is no doubt that it will be literally punctured both from without and within before it has ascended very high.
 As soon as the excitement over the water rates has subsided the public interest will again revert to politics. and Alameda County was never more thoroughly in politics than it is at pres ent The ambition of the county to nominate a Republican Governor has drawn toward it more attention from the balance of the State than ever be- fore. and for the first time in six years it is very clear that some San Fran cisco Democratic politicians are earn estly taking a hand in trying to shape the destiny of the gubernatorial can didates The intrusion is, as might be supposed. not based on sincerity, and from the manner in which the scheme is being worked it is very apparent that it's object is to make impossible the nomination of either Pardee or Davis and to strengthen the cause or Mcguire by creating dissatisfaction in the Republican camp. The possible disaster is not fully realized as yet, but by degrees the cat is jumping out of the bag and there promises to be lively scattering before long. It is noticeable that many parts of the State are putting forth candidates, but always with the reservation that 1T Alameda can put forth a strong man and agree upon him he will probably receive the nomination for the head of the ticket. There is no more prospect of either man withdrawing than there was three months ago, and it now seems likely that they will both lead delegations to the State convention. As both men have money to burn the hosts are rejoicing at the prospect.
 Oakland is now earnestly considering the consolidation of city and county.
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