The San Francisco call., 1899-08-15


- mud upon General Shafter for using 6
the terms ''skuikers'' and ''rif-raf"
IN the same sentence with "volunteeTs.'
Now it has itself blOssomed out in quoting
ITS own managing editor to the extent OF
q verbatim report, with the terms ''des-
pcrate characters and 'ldlers,' both ap-
piled directly TO those of the volunteers
who have shown 4 reluctance TO leave this
hospitahle State after having been assured
that they we're welcome.
Among those who extended the greeting
there was none farther to the front than
the Examiner. SO far ahead Of its COM
pctitors was 1t that 1t exhausted its vel
come before the first volunteer hove IN
sight; there was no steam whistle along
the water front that blew Z louder blast
than did the Examiner with ink and
paper; there Was less wind in the cheer
that rang from the ferry building to irwin
Peaks than there was i'll the puff the EN-
aminer gave itself while devoting a few
lines TO the returning soldiers; there Was
no type too large, no column too long no
time 100 Inappropriate; 1t was everywhere
and 10 itself, everything, and from the
advent OF the first TO the coming OF the
last the Examiner has posed as the friend
Of whoever would forget himself LOT
moment and talk TO one OF Its men. II re-
manned for the privacy Of meeting now
ever IL show the true drift OF the Exam
hardly have come out If 1t mad not been
thought that the words OF ITS Managing
editor, spoken At Il time Whtll lhe polICy
Of the paper "aS fer moment loSt SlSht
If were worth emOaiming in the next
morning : issue.
The railroad company does not
want idle, desperate men running
around this city, and the citizens OF
San Francisco do not want them"
l-,,,c NgJl Jll-DT
managing editor gave TO the coIIIHltteS
on the reception VI volunteers, and Iuiled
by the spell of his voice the paper printed
Il In the morning. II would nave Dceh
much better. falling 10 persuade the nlau-
aging editor 10 hold his tongue, 10 nave
overlooked this burst of eloquence' out
the Examiner had at that moment ~ ak
grinding upon the good viii uf the LABOR
unions Of this city, and to secure a pet
ter edge IL forgot all the good wind II ilaQ
shown the volunteers ana II pettaYfu
What business had the Examiner, to
raise the cry of desperate ana ldle
when half hour spent at the PresldlN
would have shown that the volunteers 10
not wish to stay there; that they have
positions of their own awaiting thclh'
that all they are hoping Tor IS Chancg 10
get home to their own people; that :hey
have no desire to rest under the Sndu1 OF
the Examiners columns and listen to its
CcaSeless babble: that they are a better
class OF men than the Examiner can dp-
Qreciatc. that they are not ANXIOUS 10
Examiners net for subscribers, nor IN
turning its grindstone?
Every one of the volunteer organiza-
tions that have 50 far been guests of the
city has brought with Il 4 record Wrested
from among the pestilcntial sWampS OF
strange land. Their men can tell tales
of bravery that recall the birth of the
nation they are 50 Loyalty supporting, and
The reports UpOn them show they have
done their duty nobly and well. can there
be conceived any better qualifications lot
citizenship? Because a man has given up
one position TO serve the flag does II
follow that he must forever be clasSed
by any irresponsible newspaper as
desperate or idle character? Be
cause the Examiner. thinks it secs de-
sire on the par. of a few TO hurry me
volunteers home with indecent haStc
does ii thereby secure the right to turn
loose its ink pipes ana spray everything
10 the same color as itsclf2 The desper-
alton Is all in the Examiner office: and
Judge the paper by the broad lines sup
posed TO underlie the profession, and the
idiencss win be found there, too.
The volunteers have had taste OF
Western welcome. 1t was free and heart
Ccit and until the Examiner showed itself.
Gutaiuted by self-inteTeSt or selhshneSs.
When the troops were told they We're well
come they believed it, and at this late day
ii IS poor business for the Examiner to
lene the city and say they were not. 1t
IS only the Examiner which says It, but
the howl of that paper is penetrating and
prolonged and from sheer WEAKNESS and
in the hope that ii Will cease many are
constrained to admit that they hear It.
With :hc newcomers however, It Is
different matter. They are met at the
Farallones with a request to denounce
their officers. That they afterward say
they were never interviewed makes but
little matter, for the Examiner will not
print their retracttJIs and the other pa
pers are too busy with the news to cor
rect the mistakes of their neighbcr. The
volunteers are pattrd upon the back all
the way Up Market street by the journal
istic faker; firecracIlcrs. cheap ones Sc
cured on advertising contracts. are eX-
plOded in ther honor; OVcrcoats are 1ur-
nished to them at the ratio OF eight TO a
regiment by some enc else and through
the Examiner. They are sm5thcred III
mass OF words-anG then the paper stngs
them like the serpent on the hearth.
II would not be 50 bad 4 they were not
guests The men are not in position u
raise their voices to condemn, for they
have been we'll treated here. There IL
nothing cuts so deeply as for the inTol-
untary guest, the stranger, 20 learn that
he Is not welcome. and unless some one
stops Il that is what the Examiner VIII
teach the volunteers, and 10 GolnE 80 Y
will besmirch the name Of this city, OF
which Il has been said. The latchstUnB
is always hanging free"
The percentage OF those who remain
u NJ rzrrcn eUy9 sc