The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-27
MUST HAVE
COIN FOR THE
HIGH SCHOOL
It's Closing Will Not
Be Tolerated.
FRIENDS COSTLY NEGLECT
AN EVANGELIST MAKES A MIN
ISTER BLUSH.
Some of the Secrets of Running for
ofice-VaIue of Endeavor Con-
ventions to City Is Set
Forth.
FRIENDS COSTLY NEGLECT
AN EVANGELIST MAKES A MIN
ISTER BLUSH.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
QAa Rrnadwau Feb DC

Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
908 Broadway, Feb 26
The comparatively paltry sum of $4,000
IS needed to prevent Oaklands high
school from being closed for two months
of this term, and there is a possibility
that this sum may not be obtained by the
Board of Education. With a tax levy alb
normally high it is a browning infamy to
an eXtravagant administration that an i'm
mense fortune should have been appro-
priated to improve Lake Merritt and that
a trihe should threaten such q calamity
as would be the closing of the high school.
This is q serious matter, striking at the
very root of that which has long been
Oakland's greatest boast-her educational
facilities. No one with a particle of civic
pride would dream of having the report
go out all over the West that Oakland
had been forced to spoil one term in the
high school course and delay the progress
of its hundreds of pupils for an entire
half year for the sake of $4,000.
Yet there is apparently one Councilman
so completely tied up to certain interests
that he fails to see the matter in this
light, That man is Councilman Wood
ward. Although 1t is proposed to put
sums aggregating over 100000 into Lake
Merritt and Cemetery Creek, Mr.. Wood
ward actually grew dramatic in his eff
forts to convince his fellow Counclmen
that the schemes around the lake should
take precedence of education This view
is as farcical and illogical as certain wa
ter-rate arguments not yet forgotten by
the public. Next Monday night there
should be such a protest on the part of
parents presented to the City Council
against the closing of the high school
that will make such an Infamous action
impossible.
Postmaster Friend did not do something
q few weeks ago that he wished he had
ever since. About a month ago Mr..
Friend, who is we'll advanced in years,
went for long spin on his wheel. AS he
was passing corner friend Of his hailed
him and tried to persuade him to take out
an accident insurance policy. The Post
master said he was making such good
progress in cyclism that there was no
need for any such precautiOn. Mr.. Friend
rode two blocks and something went
wrong He does not quite know even now
how 1t happened, but he has just paid
steep surgeons bill for repairing two ribs.
The morning after the accident, while still
writhing in pain Mr.. Friend received a
huge bundle of correspondence. 1t was
from his friend, the accident insurance
man, and was a report of all the accidents
that had happened to the company's eli
ents and the generous way in which the
sufferers had been treated. All through
the report were big red marks, and these
all referred to accidents on bicycles The
Postmaster is now looking for that insur-
ance man, though whether have re-
protection Of his other ribs is not known.
In East Oakland a well-known evan
gelist from New Jersey, j. Whitcomb
Brougher, has been active for two weeks
Last Sunday the evangelist brought a
blush to the face OF the pastor of the
Tenth-avenue Baptist Church and also to
hundreds Of the attendants in a manner
they least expected. Mr. Brougher is up
to date. There are no cobwebs on his
frnn mot Ia 80
home the necessity of placing faith, even
where sight cannot aid it. To illustrate
this the evangelist quietly asked every
body how many people would believe HIM
Everybody, including the pastor and
church officers, raised his hand.
said That tbe Is very proper and pleasant
stamped the floor, shot out his right
hand with clenched fist and roared
HoW many of yoG besTe e if that h5nd
was an instant's silence, during which
the speaker looked at the Rev. C. NJ. Hill,
Superfntedent Plaw, Precepter Vesper
Professor Randall and a score Of other
leading lights
In response, to his query one little boy
held up his hand, while everybody else
thought the evangelist was a practiced
hand at getting off a bluff. Without chang
ing his dramatic, attitude the evangelist
opened his clenched fist and the 500
dropped to the floor Now he said
that money is going to take me back to
gregation how much faith an Oakland
audience puts In New Jersey evan
gelist."
The blushing scene followed.
1t is a matter of surprise to me that no
legislator has ever attempted to secure an
amendment to the Australian ballot law
providing against that clearly illegal sys-
tenn Of voting known as Pumping It is
this iniquitous practice that has often re-
suited in debauching the personnel Of
Oaklands City Council, and which bids
fair to do it again. 1 do not see any more
argument in favor of declaring a ballot
illegal because man stamps one cross
too many than if he refuse to stamp the
necessary number. This Of course only
refers to those sections of the ballot
marked Vote for two" or more candi-
dates. In Oakland everybody should vote
for four Councilmen at large. 1t has gem
orally been the practice for the vicious
element to combine on two unworthy can
dtdates and vote for them TO the exclu-
an extremity would prevent the election
of four Councilmen, .presuming it to be
TO plump for two. There are more cleo
lions in California requiring five officials
than any other kind. That is to say, ev-
vote to elect five Trustees. In districts
where the vote is very small a score of
''plumpers" can upset the will Of the ma
jority. There are some school districts in
Alameda County where fifty votes are not
cast at an election of Trustees. and so
long as a certain number Of officers is
necessary to complete a board it should
be Illegal to vote for less.
Since last week John L. Davie has made
the opening speech of his campaign. AS
anticipated by Mr.. Snow, Mr. Davie has
chosen the tax levy and a business adj
ministration of the city's affairs as the
basis of his campaign. Now that Mr..
Snow has declared that there can be no
other legal tax levy under the charter
than 81 which contention was made by
Mr.. Davie four years ago, there is no
thunder in this issue for either camp. 1t
is a little early yet to compare the state
ments Of the two leading candidates, for
Mr. Shows speech a week ago was made
before the Municipal League, and the
meeting although public was announced
as not being candidates meeting. Next
week the Republicans will open the war,
and Mr.. Snow will doubtless settle all
doubts as to where he stands on every
point. o,.,,
will gladly bid long farewell on April
has been. according to Mr.. Snow figures,
the worst conducted, most extravagani
and unprincipled that has ever disgraced