The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-23
MAY CHOOSE
HONESTY OR
CORRUPTION
Issue Clearly Defined
for the Voters Of
San Jose.
On One Side Reform; On
the Other Gang
Domination.
Rea and His Men Forced to
Make Their Fight in the
Open.
FACE CERTAIN DEFEAT.
widespread Revolt Against the Ring
That Has MisgOVerned the
City
FACE CERTAIN DEFEAT.
widespread Revolt Against the Ring
That Has MisgoVerned the
City.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, Marcn zz.-r rom now un-
til the 18th of April there will be car
ried on in this city one Of the most
determined and exciting campaigns
ever engaged in between the forces
that stand for good and economical
government and those which seek to
maintain boss rule with all its atten-
dant evils to persons and to property.
with the naming by the boss of the
men to whom he will give his support
the issue has been clearly and unmis-
takably announced. 1t is now known
as an incontrovertibe fact that Jim"
Rea and Andy" Mckenzie are the
men who are responsible for the can
didacy of the twenty-five men who
are masQuerading under the Realm
spired designation of business mems
ticket"
There is no man in this community
endowed with moral perception and
even ordinary intelligence who is not
ready to admit that the rule Of the
gang has debauched public morals, has
been responsible for criminal eXtrava
gance in the conduct of public bust
ness, brought about an extortionate
tax rate, driven honest and incorrupt-
ible men out of business, prevented
heavy investments in city real estate
and local enterprises, kept away home
seekers not only from the city but
from the entire fruitful section COM
prised within the limits of Santa Clara
County-has, in fact, exercised reign
Of corruption and terror that has an
nually grown worse and worse.
The means by which this growing in
fluence has been acquired are of the
most insidious and nefariouS charac-
ter. Those whose aid was sought were
promised and in many instances given
light and remunerative political en-
ployment or lucrative SinecureS, or
profitable contracts were awarded
their friends and relatives These
recompenses for political work were
paid with the extortionate taxes levied
upon the property-owner.
In cases where a man refused to be-
come Subservient to the boss and his
gang his ruin was sought in all kinds
of detestable ways. Vile and SIAN
derous reports were clandestinely put
in circulation, he was placed under
boycott and every measure taken to
prevent him gaining an honest liveli-
hood in the community.
Thus by corrupting the weaker and
terrorizing the stronger the gang was
enabled to continuously widen it's in
f1uence and strengthen its power.
IhOSe WnOm II COulQ neither
nor terrorize it ruined or sought to
ruin.
For nearly twenty years this state of
affairs has been maintained, and each
year has seen the tentacles of the cor
ruptionistS reaching further and fur
Their, increasing in number and grow
ing In strength, until to-day nearly
every public office in the city of San
Jose and county of Santa Clara is
filled with a creature of the gang"
Should the people in their revolt
against corruption and extravaganza
elect here and there an honest man, he
is duped or coerced into filling the sub
ordinate positions in his office with
graduates of the Rea- Mackenzie school
of practical politics
It is the bosses and members of this
corrupt ring who are responsible for
the men on the Business Mems
Ticket
While the taxpayers are fully aware
of the perniciouS methods of the gang
it always in the past has been a mat
ter of impossibilty TO discover the
gangs brand on the candidates aspir-
ing to office. The nominations were
made by the party conventions and the
complicated method by which such Sc
lections were made served to delude
the voters as to who was behind the
respective candidates. This year no
such deluSion exists. Made bold by
past success the boss showed his hand
in this campaign in such an audacious
manner that the veriest novice can dis
Germ the strings radiating from his per-
son to each and every candidate on the
Business Mems Ticket"
The present revolt against bossisn,
and corruption is too widespread and
determined. In the past there have
been spasmodic efforts to depose the
nO hJrf n n onpi
anG strength of the pres
ent movement was ever attained So
great has bee the success of the re-
form campaign up to this writing. that
the boss has felt compelled to take the
field himself. He is one of the most
active of the gang canvassers.
With the elo on of the New Charter
Club candidates to office will dawn
new era for San Jose Taxes will be the
lowest commensurate with good and
economical government, every honest
man will have an equal chance to earn
a living, every business man and con-
tractor will be oiven fair opportunity
to furnish supplies, materials and labor
for public needs, every honest claim
will be paid promptly, no dishonest
claim will be allowed, no scandals will
be possible in connection with public
affairs, capital will seek investment.
home-seekers will be attracted. and
every KIM OIL DuSlueSS anu enterprise
will receive a stimulus that will bring
about a veritable boom. Last but not
least. San Jose will achieve a reputa-
ton as a well-governed citv that will
be source of pride to every resident
within her confines, and be the proud
boast Of every San Josean who has oc-
casion to go a road.
The city campaign was formally opened
tonight by a large and enthusiastic
meeting under the auspices of the Now
Charter Club, in a large tent at Ninth
and Reed streets. Sanford E. Smith
the candidate for Mayor, presided. d.
dresses were delivered by the following
candidates: j. p Jarman, S. E. Smith
w. E. Crossman, j. P. Southeimer.