The San Francisco call., 1898-05-02
Debut of the Aspirant Who Would Give All
 to Charity.
Pinole's Ambition to Have the County Convention Meets
 With Opposition.
Work of the Grand Jury Likely to Be Productive of Sorle Pract-
 cal Results.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
 sos Broadway, May l.

sos Broadway, May l.
 The freakish element in politics is now coming to the front. The campaign began so early and threatened to become so dull on account of the election being such long way off that few who would be sacrificed have tried to relieve the monot- ony by being funny. One of these, while not new in politics, is always interesting. He has already announced that should he be selected by the voters to take care or the maimed and mysteriously dead of this county he will give all the emoluments of the office to the Associated Charities; Such talk never did deceive anybody and never will. Politics for glory only Is an unknown quantity in Alameda County, and is so far removed from the practical thing that no imagination on thls slde or the bay can even comprehend it seriously.
 The Associated Charities is very worthy body, does much good and is deserving of all the assistance that may be accorded it. But in spite of promises of politicians, nobody believes that 1t will receive the total amount of fees paid to the Coroner who shall be in office from 1899 to 1903.
 Apart from the palpable object of mak- ing such an announcement, it is not pop ular one. Neither the people of Alameda County nor the level-headed people of any other county want their public work done for charity and the practical con- clusion is that if men can be found who consider the burden of being Coroner such
  out any remuneration the salary had bet ter be abolished, so that candidates need not play to the gallery when seeking the nomination. Naturally. when such an offer is made the public mind asks, Why such generosity? And if the boast is merely a pap thrown out to benefit the thrower in another direction, then where Is the excuse of disinterested charity?
 Just across the border line of this county is Pinole. In that town they make gunpowder, and periodically the village is severely shaken by fatal explosions.
 In the little town there is an editor who is justly ambitious. He is anxious to boom Pinole, but not with the kind of boom that is usually associated with his town and which extends to all the cities around the bay. He is desirous that the next county convention for Contra Costa shall be held at Pinole. He pledges that the town can be conveniently reached and that candidates and delegates will find ample accommodation. This ambition has been ridiculed by Editor Montgomery of Martinez who says that he does not be- lieve enough food could be found in Pinole to entertain the delegates for whole day. The .Pinole man thus replies: We never entertained the idea for moment you would rustic around as soon as you landed and do nothing but eat all day, but come to PlnOle and we will take care of you.'
 And in another part of the paper is a little but very significant item of news. It states that in view of the fact that two powder works in different parts of the country have recently blown up or been blown up, Sheriff Veale has appointed five special Deputy. Sheriffs to guard the works at Pinole. This situation cannot help but create a favorable impression for holding county conventions at Pinole.
 Comparisons are odious, and the one I am about to make is particularly odious. However, it will not incur the displeasure of the citizens who have done their duty. and if it should incite those who have been remiss, to do better, it will have fulfilled a good purpose. A dispatch from Bakersfield says: ''The Chinese have raised $1000 for their part of the celebra- tion that will be held here when the Val ley road comes in. This class of our resi- dents seems to be actively interested in railroad competition, inasmuch as they paid big sum toward securing the right of way through the county"
 Some years ago-only the records can tell how many-Alameda and Contra Cos ta counties decided to construct use Berkeley hills. Many men have done splendid work in contributing by money, land or labor, or all three, but they have not met with anything like the encour- agement the project deserved, and the road from which so much benefit is pro- phesied and will accrue, is still an imag- mary affair. It is not known how many citizens of China reside in Bakersfield, or the amount of their wealth, but it is not to be supposed for a moment that it compares at all with the population and wealth of these two countries in the same proportion as 5000 compares with S40,000, which latter figure is the estimated cost of the entire road and tunnel.
 H. w. Lynch of Washington Township deserves something, though. perhaps, oth- CTS may deny his right to be the next Superintendent of Schools. MT. Lynch has made public an interesting little docu- ment which sets forth that there are many things required by County Super intendent. Such an official should be ac- quainted with the interior of the coun- ty, he should advance the interests of the country schools, should be thoroughly acquainted with and in sympathy with his work and should also possess many other needed accomplishments to fit him for the office. And this very patriotic letter, written no doubt in the interests of the public schools of this county, concludes, after recapitulation of the qualifications with this modest sentence:
 ''In view of the above suggestions, solicit your support at the coming prim- aries. H. w. LYNCH"
 Unfortunately for MT. Lynch there are hn %o