The San Francisco call., 1899-01-02
Only Two Have Had a
Majority.
DAVIE LEADS ALL OF THEM
TIME TO CONSIDER THOSE RE-
MARKS OF CUVELLIER.
Tohn A. Britton's Action Suggests
the Need Of a Guardian-A
Corporation With
Soul.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
nnO Ir-nn dr-nrr In,,

Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
90S Broadway, Jan. l.
A glance at the number of votes cast
for the candidates for Mayor since 1887
shows many instructive facts. Many men
who have been considered popular
polled very small comparative votes. DIR.
Pardee was elected by the smallest vote
cast for Mayor in the period named,
with but one exception, yet Pardee is
often spoken of as a candidate who swept
all before him. In 1898 Pardee was the
choice of 2726 voters, while J. L. Davie se-
cured 232S and r. NJ. Fitzgerald 2191. The
only vote for Mayor lower than that of
DR.. Pardee was that of c. d. Pierce Cd,
who was elected in 1888 with 1876 votes.
The highest vote ever received by any
candidate for Mayor was that of John
L. Davie on the Populist ticket in 1895,
when he got 45SS votes, against Nelson
(RD, who received 1881. over 100 more
than was necessary to elect Pardee two
years previously. NJ. c.. Chapman and
]. L. Davie were the only Mayors who
ever received a majority of all the votes
cast. In 1889 Chapman received 4317 votes
out of $500 cast. Mayor Thomas was
elected by 3061 out of about 9600-less tnan
one-third. The uncertainty of party
votes is shown by the Republican fig
ures, which were, in 1887, 276l; in 1883, 2309;
in 1859, 4S17; in 1888, 746; in 1895, 1881; in
zoos. 2S76 2146, 2l91 and 2249. Although twice
as many votes were cast in 1897 as
In 1877, the increase in the Democratic
vote is but 249.
Between the death of Patrick Donovan
In this city, the death of Timothy Hurley
at election time in this city, the crime of
Rosser in San Francisco and the argu-
ment of General Barnes, a very interest
Ing point arises. These four circum-
uto tcl q
ton which can apparently be an
swered negatively and affirmatively at
the same time. Hurley and another fel-
low got drunk and during the ensuing
melee Hurley was hurt and later died.
Donovan was drinking in saloon. Two
reputable witnesses testified under oath
that he was thrown out and struck the
sidewalk with his head, after which he
was lifted up and banged down again by
two men who came out of the saloon.
1nquests were held, and as the easiest
way of disposing of the question as to
whether any one was responsible or not,
a verdict was returned of accidental
death, thus eXonerating the saloon-keep-
ers from all responsibility.
When General Barnes made his argu-
ment on behalf of Rosser, the Tennessee
murderer, he contended that the murderer
was not responsible for what he might do
when under the influence of bad liquor,
but that the responsibility rested with
those who supplied him with the eXcita-
BILE stuff The jury believed him and ac-
quilted Rosser. On this side Of the bay
the saloon-keeper who had supplied Don
ovan with drink was acquitted of re-
sponsibility. Therefore no one is respon-
sible for the deaths that occur or muir
ders committed where vile liquor is the
original cause.
It would be interesting to know how
these arguments strike the relatives OF
Hilderbrand, OF Donovan and OF Hurley.
Now that the election of a new Board
of Education is not far away, the time
would seem to be opportune for.a discus
sion of the sensational circular read to
the board some months ago, by its au-
thor, Councilman Cuvellier. In his criti-
cism of the method of conducting the
schools Mr.. Cuvellier made some startling
statements. Among them were these;
The principals and teachers tell that
they know the work in the grammar grades is
not what it should be- but they say that the
work is laid out for them and they have to
carry il out. They say frankly that the great
trouble is that in the grammar grades there
are too many studies forced upon the chill
is so much work laid out for each grade. for
each term, and the class must be dragged
over it somehow-anyhow. For those pupils
who are very bright and can keep up, much
the better: for those children who just
plain, everyday Ghiidren ol average lntelligence
the class. WELL RI much the worse for them;
they have to drop behind and perhaps fall out
Of the ranks. II is case of the survival of
the flttest, and your honorable board is apply
ing this inexorable law of nature with absolute
heartless cruelty to the children of the Oak
land public schools where least OF all it should
be applied.
Excepting among the faculty of the High
School / find that in all quarters, among par
ents. children and teachers alike there is a
widespread and general feeling of dissatisfac-
tion with the manner in which our Oakland
public schools are conducted. and among the
parents this feeling Of dissatisfaction has al
most reached the point Of indignation.
There is great deal of truth in Mr.
CuvellierS argument, as nearly every
parent knows, and candidates for School
Directorships should be prepared to say
how they stand on such an important
question.
Mr.. Cuvellier's remarks regarding Su-
perintendent McClymonds are not new,
although, perhaps, they had never been
printed till he issued his circular He
says:
When ask the principals and teachers in
our public schools why-Snowing, as they do
that the course OF study in the grammar grades
is too much for the average pupil-why they
90 not go frankly to the city superintendent or
schools and to the Board OF Education and
give you the benefit OF their experience they
answer me that they do not dare to argue
ter than to go TO the Board of School Directors
with any criticisms OF the course OF study as
laid out by you. Gentlemen. this condition Of
intimidation is worthy of Russia, but ii is not
creditabe TO the city OF Oakland in these free
United States. yet where that sentiment is so
general. fear there must be some grounds
for il.
Among the members of your honorable board
/ find a disposition your part to Law the
blame on the shoulders OF Mr.. McClymonds
and to shift your share OF responsibility onto
that you know that the public schools of Oak
land are in some respects lacking in efficiency
that many children are being driven out Of
school from encouragement and because they
cannot keep up under the strain, but you ex-
cuse yourselves from making fight to remedy
this by saying that Mr.. McClymonds is a
''bulldozer that he Will not listen to reason
nor argument; that you are in the minority
and that he has the entire board hypnotized; :;
that you do not dare oppose him in any of his
ideas and that you just have to sit quietly
and let him have his own way in everything
although you are at times convinced that his
fD mt q u-a L..