The San Francisco call., 1899-07-25
TWO CLASSES OF CITIZENS

n O YOU care for good government IN San Fran
| cisco? To that question every business man.
- every property owner and every taxpayer VIII
promptly respond: "Of course l do. SO far all are
agreed but beyond that point differences appear and
the general body of citizens divides into two classes
The one class seeks to assure good government by
taking an interest in politics during municipal CAM
paigns the other class negect every duty and shlrkS
every responsibility OF that kind, but when the cam
paign is over proceeds to manifest great concern
for the public welfare by complaining, protesting and
denouncing everything that goes wrong and every
body connected with ii.
In the terse language of the streets members OF one
class are called workers" and those OF the other
are called 'rkckers." In communities where workers
prevail there is always a fairly honest and efficient
administration OF public affairs, but where the kick
ers predominant there is endless corruption, obbery,
confusion and wranghng.
There are too many OF the kicker class in San Fran
cisco Too many men of good position in the bust
ness world and in social and club life who content
themselves with wordy and windy denunciatons OF
bad politics. instead of making any serious and earn
est effort to remedy the evil and bring about the cleo
ton OF trustworthy officials.
These men find it easier and peasanter to neglect
their political duties than to attend to them. They
have always some excuse There is work to do in the
office the shop, there is engagement at the club
or the theater there is book to read, friend to
or perhaps a mere inclination for dawdling, play
ing pedro Anything will serve to them aside
from the ward meetings the primaries, the work OF
the canvass any other duty to which the response
bilities OF citizenship call them.
The kicers become indferentto politics soon
election approaches. They may have been vehement
all through the year, but soon the time comes
when work is expected OF them they lose interest in
the city When urged to arouse themselves they grow
positively antagonstic. They nfrequently refuse
even to read anything about politics They delight
in jibing good men who show zeal in public affairs
They stay in their places of business when no work
requires them, they hang around the clubs or their
homes for hours in ideness, and sometimes be
heard boasting they too respectable" to take
part in political campaigns.
Having neglected to attend to politics when by
attention they might bring about the election of good
men to office, they find very that they neglected
their own interests when they evaded their duty to
the community Bad politics makes itself felt in their
business in their homes in the schools their children
attend in the along which they pass and in the
taxes levied upon their property Then they arouse
again and for another year fill the city with the noise
OF their conplainings.
Every business man, property owner and taxpayer
cares for good government in San Francisco The
issue before each OF them TO determine now is
whether they VIII manifest that care as worker or
as a kicker. There is chance to elect good admin
istration to inaugurate the municipal government
under the charter The Republican party has
prepared the way II the good citizens OF San Fran
cisco share the political work imposed by the respon-
sibites OF our republican institutions we can have as
good government any in the world. II they prefer
private business pedro games to politics they will
have none but themselves to blame if municipal
affairs pass under the control OF Buckley of Rainey
and the Examiner.