The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-06
HAD BUT ONE PIECE
OF POLITICAL PIE
THE ALAMEDA TRUSTEES WERE
NEARLY BUNKOED.
A Politician Tries to Work Gold
Brick on Them in the Appoint
ment Of Police Officers.

ALAMEDA, Jan. 5.-Local politicians
and the circle in which they reVolve are
humming to-day over the unceremonious
manner in which the City trustees
turned down Frank Hackett, when they
went through the performance last even
ing of appointing four new members of
the Police Department. Hackett was not
even given the satisfaction of being men
toned although he had filed a petition
with several yards of signatures and had
stated with all earnestness that he had
four of the Trustees tied up to him ar
was as good as appointed before the city
Fathers held their meeting. And Hackett
was not joking when he made these state
ments. He has figured in politics in Ala
media even before he was able to vote,
and has been looked upon as a second
edition of Sam Rainey. He was active in
Supervisor Church's fight, and is cred
tied with carrying the end OF Alameda
that saved the Supervisors political life.
After this heroic act Hackett thought 1t
was time for him to look around for some
thing for himself, and he selected a com
Portable berth in the Police Department.
He felt 1t in his bones that all he would
have to do to secure the position was TO
ask for it, consequently his aStonlShment
last evening when he was not even men
toned can be better imagined than de-
scribed. AS a matter of fact Hackett dld
have the position promised TO I'm at one
stage of the contest. When the police oIh-
Ger bee began to buzz in his bonnet ne
sought Trustee Brick, who is chairman
of the Police Committee. Mr.. Brick was
nominated and elected for the office he
holds by what is known in local politics
as the Harmonic Hall party. Feeling that
he owed his party some consideration
when he suggested an appointment on
the police force, Mr.. Brick advised Hack
EFT that if he secured the Endorsement OF
the Harmonic Hall executive committee
he would recommend him for the position.
Hackett did as directed, and secured the
signatures of all the members on his petit
ton On the strength of this Brick prom
Used him the Job The other members of
the City Trustees agreed to abide by the
recommendation of the chairman of the
Police Committee. This was two weeks
ago. and had the appointment been made
AT that time Hackett would have come
out on top, but the Harmonic Hall people
heard that he had presented them with
gold brick, and Mr.. Brick delayed the
appointment until he could look into the
matter Hackett impressed the Harmonic
Hall people with the idea that he was one
their pie was only for the faithful, ana
CONSEQUENTLY they backed Aackett up.
Later it developed that the aSplrant Tor
police honors was not Harmonlelte by
any manner of means, but instead mao
been most violent and bitter in his hight
the last city election. This information
reached headquarters just in the nick or
time and Brick and his colleagues are
concentrating themselves that an arch
enemy did not get away with the only
piece of pie they had to deal out to the
J, %. Hadley received the appointment,
while Homer Faris, George Smith and
William WEYMOUTH were placed on the
force on probation ana without pay.