The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-17
The Calls Charges Against Wright
Bring Forth a Committee
Of Inquiry.
1t Took but Ten Minutes to Arrange the Whole
Affair, Including Resolutions, Speeches and
the Appointment Of the Investigators

State that the aphorism of the lamented
Lincoln that this was government OF
people was either in process of being
changed or had been changed in Cali
tornta to government Of the news
papers, by the newspapers and for the
newspapers.
1t has come to such pass in this State
that one OF the necessary concomitants
or a public officer of q man holding any
public station, is that he shall be abused,
reviled and misrepresented by any news
paper whose proprietor or reporter he
may displease in never so small a manner.
tacks are best met by a dignified silence;
but when, as in the case now before US,
the honor not merely of member of this
body but of our chief executive is as
sailed, and when, as a necessary result,
shadow has been cast upon each and
every member Of this body and a shadow
also cast upon the fair fame of our
honored State, 1t is our duty, not merely
to those that have been assailed but to
those persons who have made the assault
TO investigate this matter from the bot
tom to the top, through the middle, in
every manner, so as to arrive at the
truth: In the language of great Ameri-
can l should for one express my views
that the motto Of this committee, if ap-
escape" (Applause) I care not where
the blow falls, whether it rolls in the
dust at my feet those of my friends and
associates; If any man, be he high or low,
be he member of this body or connected
with a newspaper, has been guilty. Of
crime, either in libeling a member of this
body or in being guilty of that which is
charged, let the guilty person be pun
And, speaking in behalf of those gem
tlemen in this body who have voted with
me in favor of one candidate for United
states Senator, l desire to say. in votcing
their sentiments, that we don't wish any
man appointed upon this committee who
has voted for the man Of our choice.
(Applause) And I announce in advance
That II L am appointed I shall certainly
decline. | want a committee composed Of
men who are not in any manner connected
with US, VINO are In any manner associ-
ated with US in political matters, so that
they will investigate this without fear or
favor, without regard to us. And speak
ing, II | may be permitted to saw in
behaIf OF the gentleman for whom I have
voted, am authorized by him to say that
he courts the fullest, the freest and the
widest investigation that the committee
of this House can give. I know also with
dates for this high position will indorse
his stand.
hope the resolution will be adopted and
adopted unanimously. It is due to US It
is due to our oaths, 1t is due to our coun-
try, 1t is due to the God who rules US and
who knows the ihnermost secrets of our
hearts that everything should be done by
US to have this matter fully investigated,
so that we may know where we are walk
we can guide ourselves right with the re-
suit of this investigation.
Mr.. Johnson was vociferously ap-
plauded by several of the members and
the joint ballot was brought on.