The San Francisco call., 1899-10-09
MEN Of TRADE
TO CONFER ON
CIVIC PROGRESS
Require New Blood
in New Oakland.
oakland Omce San Francisco Gail

Z,
open conference for next Tuesday even
ing TO consider ways and means for se-
curing new industries for Oakland" The
idea so often referred to in these columns
that one enterprising merchant is worth
20 community a herd OF politicians X
now forcing Itself home TO those who
have The commercial interests of the city
at heart It Is now realized more than
ever before that the welfare of Oakland
has been retarded by selfish politicians
who have not hesitated to use every
means to further their own ambitions
This has at last become so notorious that
outside municipalities have noticed it. and
comparisons have been made which have
awakened local merchants. Nearly every
lhlng Ior me past twenty years has been
dominated oy politics. The letting Of a
contract no matter how small or how
IaFge' the enorts TO acquire water front
ana TO determlne its ownership; the loca-
tlon Oh a Postoff1ce Site ali manner Of
public improvements; and in fact the
whole business Of the municipality, BON
that which concerns the government IT.
SELF and also that which controls local
progress, has been handled by politicians
in their own interests.
On Tuesday evening It is expected that
some plain truths Will be told, and that
something more material and productive
Will be accomplished than the passing of
resolutions. Oakland has been made ride
ulous by resolutions. At the drop of the
hat resolutions can be framed and passed
regulating everything from the construc-
tiOn of the Nicaragua canal to the con-
duct Of affairs in the Philippine Islands.
This resolution business has been largely
the means by which politicians have
worked and have sought TO give an off,
Cial significance TO actions largely per
sonal This has not built factories nor
filed the city with workingmen and
their families, which are the only back
bone around which progressive city can
In q MESSAGE to the Council forty-fve
years ago Mayor Carpenter said: There
are, unfortunately, persons in every COM
munity not particularly distinguished for
enterprise or attention TO their own busi-
ness, who are always eager to agitate
and embroil under the hope that out of
the confusion there will come spoils."
If the Merchants Exchange at the COM
Ing conference compile list of those
people wbf come within the. meaning of
Horace Cazpentier's definition and takes
measures - suppress them, II Will nave
found one answer 10 its question Of
How 70 provide ways and means for Sc
curing new industries for Oakland"
A few days ago Gideon Davis decided
that it was time 10 give the city shak-
ing up. He notice Supervisor Mitchell
walking lansUdly down the street. think
ing Of the possibility Of another nOmina-
tion; he recoilected that since April l eX-
Mayor ". r. Thomas had been in Sc
clusion; he remembered that since the
Oakland Exposition Theo. Gier had not
been heard Of; and as his mind wandered
over these thoughts Gideon decided that
he would. just for the fun Of 1t, have all
these people and d great many more
chasing each other and waking up the
town before many days had passed.
Nor was there any difficulty in deYlSing
the means 10 set the town jumping. Cid
con remembered that in the summer of
last year the Montana troops came 70
Oakland and amused its citizens by shoot
ing blank cartridges and perspiring for
several hours on hot Fourth OF July on
the Piedmont nils. he took his cue from
this recollection, and forthwith sat down
and wrote an article that stirred up all
the patriotism and sense Of gratitude in
men should have a banquet; not only a
banquet, but should listen TO some
speeches and music and be reviewed;
Twenty-four hours later John Mitchell
had the same idea, and so had
eX-Mayor Thomas and John Brit
ton and Theo. Gier and Fred Sin
clair and many others, who had served
on committees incident to the sham bat
tie. Even this did not satisfy the intrepid
Davis; he wanted to see his friend Su-
perintendent McClymonds at work. So
the schools were aroused, and Nc
ClymOnds had TO send around circulars to
principals and teachers instructng them
lombard the visiting troops with fragrant
posies. The Red Cross is at work, and
will attend to the feeding of 2000 Volun-
teers The finance committee is kept
appointed day Oakland will be given over
20 a military celebration that Will be a
credit 10 the city.
"If only l can inflct on somebody the
duty Of composing an original poem Mr..
Davis was heard to say, as he boarded
a Piedmont car, my satisfaction will be
complete"
The failure to get a quorum at meet
ing of the committee of the whole last
Wednesday night was an insult to the
constituents of the Counclmen. The ex-
cuses given by some members possess far
more significance than is apparent at first
glance. 1t shows that there is to be no
compromise between those Councilmen
who dissent from the Mayors views and
the Mayor. This means that because of
personal grievances great Improvements
are to be blocked.
DO all the talking they Will, the fact
cannot be denied that eight votes are nee
essary 10 override any veto the Mayor
may issue, and any one conversant with
affairs knows that there will never be
eight votes IN this Council against any
thing that Mayor Snow may advise The
only inference is that nothing can De ac-
complished under this administration. un-
less some common sense be exhibited in
certain quarters. The merits Of individ-
ual propositions do not cut any figure in
the disposition of business. 1t is all dOmi-
mated b. politics, If the Mayor faVOrs 1t,
1t viii probably receive six votes if he
opposes it, il VIII receive six votes for
there can always be found one Yacillating
member In eleven.
The meeting last Wednesday was called
for the purpose of discussing the details
OF the bond issue. This subject has been
considered OF 50 much Importance by the
Associated Improvement Clubs that they
have given up to 1t one night for several
weeks past and have arrived at what they
believe 70 De d practical basis upon which
10 call Il bond election. These delegates,
intelligeaty representing every section Of
the city, and being presumably entirely
free from politics may therefore consider
themselves Tebuffed by the Council put
ting personal issues before public necessi-
ties. The fact thar the meeting was called
off because some Of the members posi-
lively refused 10 attend ii the Mayor
were u be present. is no idle guess, for
two Councilmen personally told me that
such was fact This ridiculous child s
play must cease, OF else some Of the
Councilmcn VIII be awakened by the
echoes OF Indignation meetings or other
means which civic bodies take 70 express
their dissatisfaction
The demand Of two Of the library tr,is-
tees that Mr.. Hewlett's book be forbidden
place on the shelves does not appear to
nc to be wise or to be based on intelli-
gent reasons. The story Is one Of marked
ability, both IN conception and in ex-
,,r.se{or1 and op0or1i-,a- "a ,yelI t,eo.,,ot