The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-18
Candidates Don't Rely
on Party Support.
NEW CHARTER AS AN ISSUE
PHELAN PROMISES A MILLEN-
MUM IF REELECTED.
Says. Taxes Scare People Away From
the City-other Candidates
Make Short Campaign
Speeches.

The Democrats held a mass-meeting in
Franklin Hall, on Fillmore street, last
night, the principal speakers being James
D. Phelan Franklin K. Lane and Bar
clay Henley.
The meeting was opened by Jasper Nc
Donald, chairman of Phelan's commit
tee of one hundred, who introduced Den
Eel Stone as chairman of the evening.
Mr.. Stone made a few opening remarks,
thanking the audience for it's presence,
and expressed the hope that the Forueth
District would do more for the Demo-
cratic party this year than 1t has done
in the past. He then introduced Sid
ney Van Wyck as the first speaker. Mr..
Van Wyck said a few kind words for the
new charter and expressed himself as
feeling confident that the district would
come out for Phelan. 1t supported the
new charter, he said, and as Phelan was
partial to the charter he was confident
that it would support Phelan.
Franklin K. Lane, Democratic candi-
date for City and County Attorney, was
next introduced. Mr.. Lane, like all the
speakers of the evening, spoke for the
new charter. He said that he was one
of the trainers of the document which he
considered good, though not perfect, and
that If elected he would interpret it &C
cording to its spirit; he understood 1t
thoroughly and would never strain point
the other issues Of the campaign and
placed an oratorical halo around the head
of the Democratic candidate for Mayor.
He did not expect Phelan to be elected
by the Democrats, and in fact, none of
the speakers did; he felt that Phelan had
been turned down by members of his own
party and banked on the Non-Partisan
vote-the men who throw aside party and
vote for principle. He admitted that the
good men were not all on one side, but
that 1t was not a question of party this
time, but of principle.
Mayor Phelan arrived shortly after the
conclusion of Mr.. Lanes speech and was
rendered an ovation by the crowd. He
stepped on the platform and thanked
them for the loyalty shown, remarking
that it was rather pleasant after the luke
WarmnesS shown by certain members of
the party of which he was proud to be
member. He then launched into a series
of encomiums on the new charter and
prophesied great things for the city as
soon as it is In force, pledging himself to
support 1t in every way. He next took a
| fall out of corporations in general and
| said some unpleasant things about the
! Chronicle and it's proprietor. He hoped
for the day when this city might shake
| off corporation rule, and promised to do
! all in his power to hasten it. Gas and
water are altogether too high and the
railroad has too much to say. New
York is bigger city than San Francisco,
yet the commodities are cheaper. Peo-
pie visit the city intending to make it
their place of residence, but when they
see the freight bill, the tax bill. the
water bill and the gas bill they are
frightened away. He promised if re-
elected to do all in his power to remedy
these evils, and was confident that the
other Democratic candidates would sup
port him. He relies not on his party. but
on the Non-Partisan vote for reelection.
Rhodes Borden, Theodore F. Bonnet,
Finlay Cook, John A. Brown, Louis F.
Byington, Barclay Henley, r. P. Doolan.
Hull McClaughry, James H. Kelly, Leon
ard Stone and John A. Wright were in
troduced in turn and made short
speeches. All took up the charter as an
issue and prayed for Non-Partfsan votes.