The San Francisco call., 1899-07-02
THE PHELAN- EXAMINER SUMMER
SAULT.


that its suspicious of few OF our public men
have been confirmed, but that it failed to be-
lieve their self-righteous protestatons For example,
the Examiner and Mayor Phelan, in their fusion CO.
partnership of last year, almost frantic IN their
opposition to the Huntington monopoly. But time
and opportunity have placed them exactly where they
belong.
When the Examiner supporting Mayor Phelan
for e-election its Canadian Annex, though trimming
to catch the railroad wind and protesting Republican
opinions was equally strenuous in his advocacy and
presented all the symptoms OF subsidized personal
organ OF the candidate who talked constantly through
his hat When Mr. Huntington broke the railroad
pledge of abstinence from interference with politics,
and for months rallied every corrupt element in the
State to fasten Dan Burns upon the Federal Senate
the Examiner and its Canadian Annex helped the
scheme with all their might and main. The Call then
and repeatedly charged that there was a dellb-
ate conspiracy that originated with the Huntington
monopoly to turn this State over to the fusion
Democracy in 1900 and that hundred straws ind
Gated that the independence the intelligence and the
integrity of the Republican party, vindicated by the
Senatorial deadlock had driven Mr.. Huntington into
new alliance in which the nominal positions Of 1893
would be reversed.
Thiclening events point toward the speedy reaza-
ton of this prediction Mayor Phean fell down from
and electric monopoly and that issue the resolution
for which he was responsible destroyed the legal
status OF the public in the courts When the Market
Street Railway Company planned its cleanup OF
nearly all the rights the municipality had left in its
streets and in its connecting easements, The Call
promptly and by unanswerable facts and figures stood
by the honest half of the Board of Supervisors Mayor
Phelan was most bold and energetic in his denuncia
ton OF the outrage But again he has fallen down,
and this time he lies so prone that his utter prosra-
ton cannot be overlooked.
The northeastern part OF the city needed increased
street railway accommodations The Call in every
way facilitated the effort to secure them. 1t advo-
Gated the full investment of the Post street system
with its legitimate connections, including Montgomery
and Sansome streets with all the privileges and rights
essential to the demands OF trade commerce and
property as represented, for instance, by the Mer
chants Association. But it unCOmpromisngly Op-
posed the new franchise Grant avenue and Bush
street the real purpose of which the part OF the
Market street monopoly was and is to shut COM
petition.
On this basis the whole matter apparently set
tied But now the advocacy of this outrageous fran
chise is renewed and with Mayor Phelans expressed
consent His weak knees have again given way, and
although he is interested in property Grant
avenue, which fact alone on the high elevation he
has assumed occupy ought to have strengthened his
original determinations his surrender is directly the
benefit OF the street railway department Of the Hun
tington monopoly
Mayor Phelan still retains the support Of the Ex
anliner and its Canadian Annex. But he has also
distinctly acquired the right Of labored eulogy from
the regular newspaper attorney of the monopoly
which was published Friday under the heading
Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars"
That is exactly what has been done by Mr.. Phelan
Mr. Huntington is Caesar, and, far the Mayor
can handle the situation, to him the railroad
franchise has been duly rendered The change from
possible Brutus to Marc Antony, with the approba-
ton of the Examiner, its Canadian Annex and the
evening railroad sheet will attract general notice
Perhaps there are six Of the Supervisors who would
still prefer to range themselves with Brutus.