The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-15
TO WAR AGAINST
CORRUPTION AND
GANG METHODS
Object of the Good Government
League Of Santa Clara
County.

sition in our schools ought to be suf-
ficient proof that the person who re-
sorts to this method of supplanting
more worthy rivals is not fit to be a
teacher of the young. The machine
politicians method Of selecting teach
erS is corrupting and un-American In
itself, not to mention the demoraliZing
influence Of incompetent teachers with
low moral standards. Our schools
must be kept pure and thoroughly
American above all things. If they
are not so, it is better for the children
and the community that they close I'M
til they can be purified
Mr.. Hayes, are you at liberty to
state anything in regard to the plans
of the league for the immediate fu-
ture?"
I'VE are all loyal Republicans. and
are working for the objects above
stated as Republicans. When the
proper time comes We shall demand on
behalf of the Republican voters of
Santa Clara County opportunity for
full and fair expression Of Republican
sentiment in the selection Of all dele
gates to Republican conventions, to the
end that every Republican may have
a voice in shaping the policy of the
party in this county, and in the nomi-
nation of it's candidates In short, we
shall demand fair deal within the
Republican party in this county, and
most emphatically intend to have it."
But suppose you fall to get this fair
deal, what them"
In the language Of the immortal
Lincoln, we never cross a bridge until
We come to 1t.
Il suppose your league contains mem
bers who are candidates for the vari-
Gus offices to be filled in this county
this fall?"
mo, sir" Mr.. Hayes answered en-
phatically. ION the contrary. our doc
trine is that the office should seek the
man, and not the man the Office.
know that 1 am speaking the senti-
ments of most, If not all, Of our mem
bers when l say that they are not can
didates for any office, and they would
regard it as a hardship If the circum-
stances We're such that duty compelled
them to accept nomination to any
office. We are organized not for spoils,
but solely In the interest Of good gov
eminent and to do all that we can to
purify the political atmosphere of Santa
Clara County"
1T is reported, Mr.. Hayes, that you
are to be a candidate for one Of the
offices to be filed at this falls election.
Is not that correct?"
mo, sir. Please say for me as en-
phatically as you possibly can that I
am not candidate for anything, and
under no circumstances would I ac-
cept a nomination to any office, how
ever exalted. Were l inclined to do
so, which, 1 repeat, I am not, my po-
sition in this league, and the active
work I have done in furthering it's in
terests would make it impossible for
me to do SO and keep any OF my self
respect. / do not know of anything
more contemplate than an office-seeker
wearing the cloak of political reformer
in order to advance his own interests.
No, sir, the only political ambition I
have at present Is to see the public
business of Santa Clara County in the
hands of the purest, most capable and
businesslike set of public officials that
were ever elected in any county. I
want to see the politics of Santa Clara
County in keeping with it's beautiful
climate and location, and the high in
telligence, morality and patriotism Of
It's people"
What Is the present membership of
the league. Mr.. Hayes
About 1900, and rapidly growing"
Are you at liberty to state what
the conditions of membership are?"
1--WE do not welcome office-seekers
and machine politicians very warmly;
indeed, our aim is to keep these all out
We do, however. want every Repub-
lican voter who has no AK to grind to
join with us in an earnest effort to cor
rect the present abuses here and to
purify the political atmosphere of
Santa Clara County"