The San Francisco call., 1899-10-24
.ELATEO OVER
THE DECISION
ON THE CHARTER
Great Republican Vote
Now Assured.

There was great rejoicing at Republi-
can headquarters last evening over the
news that the Supreme Court of the State
had sustained the new charter of San
Francisco. The chairman of the cam
paign committee remarked that the de-
cision would add 5000 names to the Repub-
lican roll of voters.
The decision of the court clears the
political atmosphere. All doubt as to the
validity of the charter has been removed.
Pending the decision a little coterie of
demagogues without known political
principles assumed some sort of proprie-
torship of the charter, but the court
knocks the last prop from under the pre-
tended ownership. The charter now be-
longs to the people. 1t is true that the
intelligence and patriotism of Repubi-
cans were invoked in the framing of the
charter; that Republican districts gave
the organic act the largest majorities, and
it is true likewise that the charter was
ratified by Republican Legislature
Nevertheless, it now belongs to the whole
people, bearing in this respect the same
relation to the community that the consti-
tuition of the United States bears to the
whole country.
AT the polls on November 7 the people
will elect officers to administer affairs of
government under the local constitution.
The party that succeeds at the polls will
be held responsible for the administration
of the city government. The Republicans
have put forward Horace Davis for the
honor OF serving as the first Mayor under
the new charter. The Democratic follow
ers of the Committee of One Hundred
have placed James d. Phelan in the field
for the MayOralty and the Peoples party
enters the municipal contest under the
leadership of DR.. Cleveland Democrats
are divided in their allegiance. Some es-
pouse the cause of Phelan and others sup
port Cleveland. The Republicans are
solid for Horace Davis. There was some
wavering before the decision of the court
was handed down, but now all Republi-
contest and will lend their energies to
elect Horace Davis and the entire Repub-
lican ticket.
The Democrats are divided now, but
trades may be made before election day
which will bring many of the wavering
into line. Phelan and McNab counted 50
lican support that they did not, in max
ing up the ticket, consult the delegates
elected to the Democratic convention, but
on the contrary prepared the ticket as
early as September Is. The Call on that
date published the ticket. Before the
convention adjourned Democratic aspir-
knew that they had been duped and be-
trayed. Many iesolute Democratic voters.
and especially those who rally around
the free silver standard of Bryan. believe
now that Democrats defeat in this
municipal contest would be better for the
party in the coming great campaign of
lJUU tHdH the success OF the McNa b.
Phelan dynasty. 1t is highly probable,
therefore, that DR.. Cleveland. the nomiree
of the Peoples party, will receive a large
Democratic vote.
Phelan is already hard at work in his
efforts to conciliate the straight-out Dem
ocrats. Before the primary election he
declined to attend meeting of the Demo-
cratic Central Club, on the ground that it
was a Buckley Democratic organization
Since he learned that the Republicans
were everywhere lining up for Horace
Davis he has consented to address the
Central Club.
The Republicans are conducting a Wig
orous, united and effective campaign If
the leaders succeed in bringing out a full
Republican vote. Horace Davis will Sc
cure handsome plurality for Mayor on
election day. The attendance at the great
Republican mass meeting at Metropolitan
Temple last Saturday night, and the sue
cess of the district meetings last night.
| indicate that the people are alive to the
Importance of the struggle
Tonight Horace Davis and other speak
ers will address the people of the Thirty
second Assembly District at the Potrero
Opera-house. Mr.. Davis will surely Sc
cure a great ovation from the working
men of that quarter of the city as he is
a toiler himself. He has worked his own
way forward in life, unaided by inherited
millions. He is in touch and sympathy
with his fellow workers and deserves the
support of honest toilers.
A joint meeting of the voters of the
Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Assembly
Districts will be had at Garibaldi Hall
other candidates will address that meet
ing