The San Francisco call., 1899-11-08
ONCE MORE MAYOR PHELAN.

y nee more sufficient number OF Republicans
have cast their votes for Phean and one OF
- two Of his colleagues on the Democratic
ticket to elect them to Office. This is the third time
that Mayor Phelan has profted by that vote, and it
is an evidence OF the confidence with which he is
regarded in certain circles
The Call opposed Mayor Phelan and the whole
Democratic ticket because it believed that upon every
consideration the Republican ticket would provide
The city with better administration. Now that the
contest is over and the vote discloses that majority
q the citizens desire Phelan to have another term
OF Office The Call has no further partisan opposition
to make 1t will recognize him the chief executive
Of the municipality and viii support him in all he
may do Tor the welfare OF the community and in the
interests OF progress, economy and reform.
Up to this time Mr.. Phelan's official career has
not been productive OF any advantage to the com
munity. His failure TO accomplish anything has been
attributed by himself and By his friends to the resric
tons put upon the city government by the consolda-
ton act, For years he has made the plea that with
charter giving larger powers he would do much
to promote municipal advancement That plea re
peated day after day through the years has had its
effect and long before the campaign began sent-
nent in favor OF giving him term OF Office under
the charter had been eaborately cultivated. We
are now TO see what viii be the outcome. An effort
to carry out the provisions OF the charter fairly
and honestly and with an eye single to the public
good will be sustained by The Call but any attempt
use the powers OF the Mayoralty either to supply
patronage to the Democratic bosses or TO advance
=;
allies will be promptly exposed and condemned.
To the Honorable Horace Davis the Republicans
of the city owe political debt Of than ordinary
extent He entered the campaign as a matter OF civic
duty His reputation, established by years OF distn
guished service the community, both in public and
in private life, already high, but It has been in
creased by the IN which, under trying circu
stances, he conducted the campaign He was met at
the outset by deiectons in the ranks Of his party
and some OF these were made under circumstances
which were singuarly exasperating. Spies were set
upon his tracks and every action OF his life was noted
by men eager to discover something which malice
could distort into wrong. He was caricatured and
lampooned grossly and extensively. All this he bore
with serenity and kept on his way with the Uniform
dignity and courtesy which are the distinguishing
marks Of a true gentleman and an honest man.
His defeat IS due to no fault OF his Even
those who voted against him will bear testimony to
his high character and his worth He would have
laid the foundations OF government under the new
charter upon right principles and would have es-
tabshed precedents OF immense value in shaping the
policies Of future Mayors It is to be regretted that
he has been defeated, but the regret is not his
part, but on that OF his fellow-ctzens
In conclusion it is but just point out that Phelan
and his organs repeatedly declared during the cam
pagn that national parties had nothing to do with
the issue, and that his success would not mean
Democratic victory. We shall now see whether they
will be true to that declaration after the contest is
over and it is no longer necessary to delude Repub-
lican voters.