The San Francisco call., 1899-10-11
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

"A AYOR PHELAN commends his party Tor
nominating him, which is an exhibition OF or
binary gratitude. He seems to be in self
satisfied state mind about IT, because OF his OPINION
that he is so much better than his party that he asks
only its nomination. intending to get outside votes TO,
elect him To do this he found it necessary Tor his
party TO do the ostrich act and hide its head in the
sand He said in his Metropolitan Hall speech last
August, I'VE must get control OF the convention
I'VE" did not mean that the Democratic party must
control free convention, in which every man would
have show and fair play but that the Mayor
and his friends must control it. Well, we succeeded
and after the Democratic convention Mr.. Phelan
proceeded to force it to pretend that it was not
Democratic convention. 1t compelled to put Oft
the lion skin OF national organization and appear IN
the hide of an ass grown tired OF thstes for food and
seeking better pasture This change OF individual
ity this hiding from itself, this appearance in a mask
produced one OF the most violent and turbulent as
semblages ever seen in this city. A conventcle led
on the sandots by Dennis Kearney in his high and
mighty days was a Quaker meeting compared to It.
At times the violence rose such pitch that Phelan
or his managers had to send for the police and all
Of the force that could be spared from the patrols
present to prevent riot and bloodshed in Mayor
Phean's fountain Of good government! With the
temporary chairman barricaded behind the stage
while an enraged delegate stood on the platform cali
ING him liar and daring him to come out and take
a licking; with the convention exulting in ecstacy
Of riot and disorder there was presented forecast
of the style of government which will result from the
Mayor getting control of the convention.
The reading and thinking people need no informa-
ton upon the style of good government supplied by
Mr. Phelans party.
When Greater New York came under its char
ter eve" got control OF the convention there and
cured the city government The result has been 50
nauseang that the city has retched and strained ever
since in effort to throw up her new charter, and
her boroughs greater boundaries and all
Chicago enlarged her borders, greatened herself
and widened her phylactery. 1--WE" got control Of
the convention there and naugurated a Democratic
city government as did New York. The effect has
followed cause in Chicago. From Democratic testi-
mony it is established that the municipal government
has risen no higher than its source and it bites like
a blister every public and private interest it can
reach In New York Van Wyck, in Chicago Carter
Harrison posed better than their party to secure
votes outside the party, just as Mr.. Phelan poses
here, but when elected their obligations to the
pit out of which they were digged and thence came
the inspiration of their administration.
II we controlled the late Democratic municipal
convention and exhibited in it reformed party just
Republicans and independent citizens have plain
course before them. Horace Davis has served in
every position creditaby and usefully and ceany.
He inherited no fortune but all he has to his
own exertions His life has been upright, moral and
OF good example It has been in no sense double
life and is undehled. His public career is known to
his fellow citizens, and every hour OF his private life
may be revealed with stain transgression upon
it. In the last analysis mans character is deter
mined by what chance may reveal Fortunate is he
who goes among fearless of the keenest search.
The Republicans may well rejoice that such a man
heads their ticket Upon his personal and political
soundness, his public spirit, his sympathy with all
men who like himself, must begin in the winning OF
their own fortunes they build their policy upon
rock The ticket which he heads is worthy OF the
man who leads it. He has uttered personalities
has ascribed false motives, has not blurred the
issue with an exhibition Of debauched ambition.
Representing the best and simplest in the private
and public life of California, he may we'll rely upon the
conviction that majority OF the people of this city
have careers, habits and character in common with
him.