The San Francisco call., 1898-02-03
THE INsoLENcE OF POODLE.

BSERVING persons can scarcely have failed | \ 7 to notice that what the bard of Avon called
 the insolence of power looms up conspicu ously in all the poodle exposures running Ali Los Angeles where newspaper and political ring has been unearthed working to take from the city valuable water right, the cohorts of reform have been met with counter charges abuse and realsifca- tion. At San Jose, where "gang politics has smirched the judicial ermine and brought reproach upon the government, cry for an investigation has l been met with an insolent swagger and demand to know what the people are going to do about it. At Oakland where two water corporations have formed combination to loot the public, exposure IS met with sullen silence In this cty-but here language falls and deduction grows sick at heart. The attl- tude of boodlers can be described with but one word-defance.
 story illustrative of the spirit which animates the political corruptonists now being exposed to view is told of the late Boss Tweed Soon after stealing himself rich Tweed ordered magnificent residence. Desiring something that would Hay over" the resi- dences ot the plebeians who had acquired their money honestly, he employed famous European artist to decorate his house Strolling through his paatia corridors day with this gentleman, he espied in niche fine statue of Mercury. "Whos that?" he asked The artist gave him the of the mythological god and briefly narrated the story of his birth and life "Yes" said Tweed, q under stand; but what did he do? Why is he entitled to statue?" Mercury" replied the artist, with some hesitation, represents the predatory dea he was the god of thieves" Thunder and lightning" roared the famous boss, "youve got him in the wrong place. Take him down from there and put him over the main entrance to the building"
 Yet history records that society finally swept this rascal to prison and kept him there until he died
 The insolent defiance with which the charges pre- ferred against certain members of the Board of Su- pervisors of this city have been met be hkened only to the celebrated remark of Tweeds-"So long as we count the votes, what you going to do about it?' Is 1t possible that the people of San Francisco are not going to do anything about the disclosures made with reference to the public pound, the sale of boxing permits, the street lenders and the other charges of rank corruption in the Board of Supervisors? There to be question of the guilt of the parties charged. Is the nsolence of power the defiance of boodle-to bowl down the moral storm that must be brewing?
 The Call does not share the popular disrust of the capacity of the law to bring all classes of criminals the dock. But 1t must be admitted that those pro- cesses slow and the results in political quite unsatisfactory. Burglars footpads and petty lar cenlsts arraigned, convicted and sentenced with certainty and dispatch. But political highwaymen and official garroters treated with singular ten derness and regard. Cannot somebody put some fire into the law this time? It is quite evident that official corruption to be brought end in this State the people must land some of the rascas now in public life in prison All scalawags dread the bas- tile and vote selling and buying will only when an example is made of some of those who seek office for the purpose of making money. As things are going it will not be long before Mercury will be the reignng god at every city or county building in the