The San Francisco call., 1899-10-10

Mayor by the Republican party last Thursday night
he accepted in temperate speech in which he SAID:
The position OF Mayor of San Francisco is at all
times one OF responsibility but this year it is more
responsible than ever. We have come to the parting
of the ways where the city shall cast off its swaddhng
clothes and come out into the grace and majesty OF
civic maturity Your platform sets forth the prln-
ciples upon which you ask and have right to expect
the support of the people accept the responsible
v imposed upon the nominee for Mayor by that plat
form. am in favor of and have had some experience
in the work OF municipal reform. had the honor to
preside over preliminary convention looking to the
framing OF the new charter, and l participated in sew
eraI ratification meetings believing that the charter
opened to US for municipal reform. | shall
endeavor if elected to carry out its provisions faith
fully and honestly
"We are not only municipal reformers, but are
Republicans We are not bound to do Our duty only
in our city and our State, but bound to defend
our greater home that stretches the continent
and is washed by two great oceans-our country.
This is not merely a local fight it is the advance
skirmsh of the great battle that will be fought over
the whole country year from now. When we come
out OF this fight with victory upon our banner we
shall be ready to bear part and strenuous one,
in the national fight.
Il ask you to go home and organize and consoli-
be ready for the fray. Remember that you not
fighting for your city alone for your State alone,
but you are fighting for your country"
Twenty-four hours later Hon James D. Phelan ap-
peared before the Democratic municipal convention
to accept its nomination for Mayor, and said
q noticed that last night the candidate OF the Re
publican party asserted that national issues must be
considered in this campaign. He appealed to his con-
yenton to come together and and fortify them
selves-for what? For the election next year. Gen
temen we are conducting the election next year
at this time. We are conducting the election this
year, and have told the people through our plat
form what we propose to do. (Applause)
with all respect to the intellect and experience
and the public service OF Mr. Horace Davis, say that
he is (it is hard word to use but I will say it)
traitor to the new government OF San Francisco; that
he is false to the charter when he utters such state
ment He is false to the charter when he endeavors
to influence the minds OF the people by Incorporating
national issues into municipal campaign, when that
instrument and the very spirit and letter OF that in
strument is designed to remove national consdera-
tions from municipal affairs.
"* During the last three years we have built
up an organization serve the city and county of
San Francisco in its municipal affairs. And now we
ask for an expression OF confidence. When party
has rendered distinguished public services, as the
Democratic organization has done and will to
greater extent do then can go before the people
and say that all our purposes are to serve all to give
better government and if we have been faithful in
small things may not in the State and national
sense be faithful also in great thngs?"
1t will be seen that Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Phelan in
their statement OF the State and national aspect OF the
campaign were in substantial accord Mr. Phelan did
not omit to state the prestige which municipal vic
tory will give his party in the State and national
campaign to come Mr. Davis reminded Republicans
Of their duty to their city their State and their
country.
Alter thinking it over Mr.. Phelan found himself
loser in the personal attack on Mr. Davis and from
orty-eight hours reflection addressed that gentle
letter in which he says Il used word, the
first that came to my lips which l at once regretted
and while expressive OF my idea it was too harsh
term apply to gentleman VINO has always been
courteous to me and whose character I have always
respected But when he used the term it was not
mpulsive but deliberate He not only debated it in
his mind but he uttered the result OF deliberation
when he said, 1T is hard word to USE but | will
use it..
In his letter OF apology which does not apologize,
he repeats the ofense if anything, in exaggerated
form. Referring to Mr. Davis call to duty in all
governmental affairs he says: III your contention
be true the charter has erred but we know that bad
municipal government in San Francisco has come
largely from the fact that unfit men have 1oated into
office under party pressure or under the shadow OF
greater and exciting issues than local interests
can present" This sentence OF his letter is inverted
and what begins should have ended it, as follows:
Therefore separate municipal elections consider
able cost have been ordered"
What fair minded men unfair minded men ca
pable OF understanding very plain English can ex-
tract from the speech Of Mr.. Davis the conclusion
that he opposes separate municipal elections? Yet
Mr.. Phelan accuses him of doing just that and this
accusation occurs in apology for calling his op-
ponent "a traitor" which he admits expresses his
ideal
Mr.. Phelan has sacrificed any reputation he may
have had for that sincerity and forthrghtness which
become gentleman to his political ambition He
used the word traitor to please the violent aggre-
CATION which he was addressing, and Withdrawing
that, substitutes false charge for harsh word and
goes deliberately on record under circumstance +,,+