The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-24
THE MONUMENTAL BOODLER.

n n its behalf and on behalf OF its yellow
partner in New York the Mission Street
~ Booder says that in proposing to erect at the
peoples expense a monument to the dead sailors Of
the battle-ship Maine it is engaged in patriotic and
soul inspiring work Possibly the basis of the
Boodlers is correct, but to minds tes-
timony as to the nature of its monument movement
is irrelevant incompetent and immaterial! What the
public has burning desire to know is this: Who is
going to handle the monument funds after they are
contributed?
In the cases Of the dead fremen for the benefit OF
whose widows and children the people OF this city
raised $4,000 the Boodler still holds on to the coin.
One OF the benefciaries has been compelled to bring
suit for distribution which should have been made
long ago The Boodler explains that it has been
advised by attorney TO keep the money. Per-
haps this explanation is true-though IN the absence
OF affidavit by some reputable person in
cliAed to discredit it-but why should the BoodIer
follow any such advice? The money was not contri-
buted to be held by the Boodler in trust for any
body 1t raised for the immediate benefit OF the
widows and children OF the dead hremen. The
Boodler, it susceptible to any feeling OF shame
ought perceive that these widows and orphans are
in a fair way to die OF starvation it discovers
legal method OF disposing of the funds
With this before them we do not think the peo-
PIE OF this part OF the country at least will feel in
cined to give the Boodler much money toward a
monument for the martyred sailors OF the Maine
If the Boodler asked for contributions to enable it
to employ somebody to teach it how to be honest
and truthful the matter would bear different phase
As matter OF fact, however it is begging for money
with which to build monument. II it follows its
usual practice after getting the money it will keep it
and let the monument whistle
The marvellous feature Of he cases of dead
fren1en the monument and the Booders explana-
tons OF its tendency to pocket all the coin that falls
into its hands is the circumstance that the miserable
sheet still has idea that its preenses of decency
credited by the public. The fact that its pro-
prietor and chief editor are still outside Of Jail
TO have convinced the Booder that it may con-
tinue with impunity to impose on the people
Rarely are called upon to diagnose more amaz-
Ing case of moral obliquity.
Nearly four years ago the Boodler was convicted of
Matchmaking the Southern Pacific Company out OF
$4,000 The contract for editorial silence on basis
OF $1,000 month has been published and is still in
the possession OF c. P Huntington. Since 1904 the
sheet has been convicted of all sorts Of crimes We
have caught it in the act of stealing paper from
our press rooms; have convicted it Of lying and
taking, garbling and fasifyng kilograms; we
have proved that inaugurates charitable enterprises
for the purpose OF robbng the public, and, finally
we have shown that when contributions are en-
trusted to it for the benefit of widows and orphans
it refuses to reinquish the funds
How criminal, possessed of even the OPAQUE
morals of the Boodler, can still imagine that its
readers believe it honest passes our comprehension
Perhaps somebody will be found foolish enough to
entrust the Booder with money for monument
But we doubt it