The San Francisco call., 1898-03-11
SAN JOSE
 F0R GOOD
 GOVERNMENT A Charter Club Meet ing to Open the
 Campaign. Speakers Urge the Ne cessity for a Union
 of Forces. There Must Be No Weakeninu From Now On at Any Point.
DANGER OF BOSS RULE.
A Movement That May Yet Become as Wide as the Nation
 Itself
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, March 10.-At the open meeting of the New Charter Club to- night the campaign for the election of April II was informally opened All regular business was dispensed with and the evening devoted to short ad- dresses by some of the representative men of San Jose. The remarks were characterized by earnestness, dignity and determination. There was no abuse of individuals, but strong condemna- ton was pronounced on the corrupt methods that have been ingrafted on the local government through the machinations of boodlers, corruption ists, bosses and ringsters.
 In the course of the proceedings the chairman announced that the club now had a membership of more than four hundred, and the list was being mate rially increased each day.
 Judge J. R. Lewis was the first speak CT. He began as follows: "I think the time for talking is not now. I think the time this evening is for action. The quicker we act the better" Continu- ing he said: we have presented a ticket to the citizens of San Jose in the interests of good government. This ticket was selected only after very careful canvass. I am confident that the greater mass of the people will in .dorse and vote for it. The appointing board is, in my opinion, the most im- portant thing to look after
 He paid a tribute to $. E. Smith, the new Charter Clubs candidate for Mayor, and also in a general way set forth the qualifications of the other candidates of the Charter Club.
 This club he added, should come out now, and let the people know what it is doing. We want to take the az gressive. We know the gang is fright ened- We don't hear anything Of par ties. The point 1 wish to suggest is that we hold grand public meeting every newspape in San Jose is op- posed to us We must hold these meet ings in order to educate the people, for our local papers cannot be depended upon to help us. At this meeting we lshould place the issues squarely before lthe people. They are sick of the pres ent government and certainly want a change"
 s. G. Tompkins said the most thoughtful and prominent writers on good government in the best magazines of the country attributed prevalent cor ruption in politics to the present sys- tenn of boss rule, and urged the import ance of freeing San Jose from this ne farious influence. The New Charter Club. he said, was organized for this purpose. He continued:
 The way to accomplish this is for every individual who has good government at heart to do his share and vote for the Charter Club ticket from top to bottom. Applause II this Is done we will win; if not I fear for the re- suit I know every man on the ticket and every one Is worthy of your support l have learned that the other side is dili- fAo ell n r. ter Club and it's nominees. We should be equally diligent in furthering our cause. Let every member constitute himseif a committee of one to secure the success of this movement.
 M. O'Brien, the candidate for Coun- cilman from the Third Ward, said:
 This is a movement that we have been waiting for for ten of fifteen years. This Is the first opportunity the people have had of electing the right kind or men to office.
 w. G. Alexander urged united action "If the election were to be held to- day" he said we would be successful I have no doubt. But unless we stand together between now and April II we cannot be sure what the result will De. He suggested that friends and neigh bors be talked to in the proper way. In conclusion he remarked: T recog- nize that this is an important crisis In the history of San Jose
 F. Brown. in the course or his re- marks, said:
 know that in the past the people of San lose had only a choice between the devil and the deep sea, because the same hand manipulated all the conventions. It may be true that the other side mas put righfIy claim the credit due for this. But I shall vote for every man on our lIcheI and take no chances. The men whom oui opponents put up may be good men Dul +bey ronst suffer as did old dog Tray from the association he Kept
 O. O. Felkner spoke as follows;
 We have reached time when. the law abiding, decent people are called upon lo l decide who is to run the government. t od the city-whether the peopie oL .ne W bosses. For years it has been run oy lne gang. by the ,oodlers and the corruP- eonists Whenever municipality pc comes corrupt from top to bottom as thls has done it signalizes the downfal oi our government This condition , IS ii91 G local It exists in other cites. nai i4 but the initiative of a movement tnae | viii [ beIieye. sweep all over the State and all over the country. It VIII ieau, hope, to the restoration Of pure govern
 We cannot have a schoolteacher ap- pointed without them being cofltrlpu, r . tor to the corruptionists IuilI N+ o aven pledge to support their cause. NoL ,e,nSll SSSi can a water-cart driver secure eInplS9yo nent without some contribution or pleose to the bosses.
 J. R. Patton. who entered the haii with number of friends at this Junc,, ture, on being called upon, addressed the gathering as follows:
 have just come from q meeting Iov b., night and the expression there maoe py the men composing that meeting gave me new heart and new courage ana a new thought respecting the momentous work before us in the coming campalsli' H. There were men in that meeting repre- senting other organizations. some or them I have met night after night Tn the last three or four weeks considering, ad, vising. planning, suggesting ways ana means in order that this campaign may De carried on in proper spirit ana 10 proper end.
 One thing I wish particularly to urge IL in that every man must interview