The San Francisco call., 1898-10-13
JIM REa'S GHOST SONG.

I M REA of Santa Clara, commonly known as ol the boss oi San Jose, has been giving eyi- V dence III the of Jarman against Rea for slander He has made use of the occasion as an in dian brave makes oi the ceremony of the ghost dance, to chant the song of his deeds and his virtues to taun his friends with over-candid words and to hurl bully defiance at his foes.
 Req Is not poet, his song comes not in rhyme or rhythm, but he displays such exuberance ot pic uresque words and trumpeting phrases in the flow of his swearful prose as to prove he possesses a true dthyraInbic fecundty. No one can listen to his ghost dance song the witness stand or even read it. without being aware that Jim needs only higher aspiration o soul and better education to have been quite troubadour.
 The reports of the proceedings of the trial tell that in giving his testimony "Jimsy his loving friends fauiarly call him. 'was very loquacious," and after time his loquacity far the court was obliged to admonish the witness to confine him self to answering questions" The reports do not tell us the effect of the courts action, 1t necessary they should. It goes without saying that no admonition ever had any other effect Jimsy than that oi stirring him up and making him little
 veler and little ugler than before.
 When asked in what capacity he took 1t upon him self 10 run" the Common Council he chanted his ghost song in this wise "As citizen of San Jose, to protect the public treasury from the inroads oi scoundres and that honest and efficient people are in public places. l in my life received one quarter oi dollar from any whatever for the appointment of any one, for the advocacy of any measure before a public body, and a man that does, in my opinion, Is unfit to be American citizen
 little later the brave went on to tell o certain job that had been put through the Common Council. out o which Ii appears of the Councilmen got rake-off. He was then asked why he had posed that inquity and prevented it. Whereupon he sang in a minor key: "Oh 1t was not great wrong.
 did not consider 1t to De great wrong. It only to the amount of few hundred dollars. consid- cred wrong in the sense that 1t was being done but did not consider that from my position and the position of my friends who in this community it would justify in creating public scandal which 1 would get the worst of in some way or other.
 Then having this belittling way made light oi the small steal and cast pale shadow of suspicion on his friends he resumed his louder and sang his own praise again while those shocked and astounded friends listened in anazement "I in politics" chanted MT. Req, "and whenever I locate who ie receiving money either as public official or out side of public office for his political influence, mark him about all the way from $ per cent to zero, and when politics come up again I turn his picture to the wall and proceed accordingly"
 And now the people of Santa Clara County are longing for look in Jin's private picture gallery that they may learn just how many of the portraits of his friends hanging face outward to gladden. his honest soul when he looks upon them.