The San Francisco call., 1899-07-20
MUNICIPAL POLITICS.

T is quite certain that during the whole history CT
San Francisco, even including the stirring times
which followed the Vigilance Committee OF 1880
there has never been period when solid and con-
scrvativc Republicans, representing intelligence, IN
dustrv and wealth honestly acquired had the oppor-
,1nity for patriotic and effective service to their party
and to the community that is afforded by the ap-
proaching municipal campaign
This surely ought to be a Republican year. The
fusion Democracy without principle character, de
ieated in 1905 and intimately allied through the EN-
anner with the most corrupt elements in local poll
tics has not even party cry lett through which 1t
could successfully appeal for popular support In that
organization there IS scarcely pretense OF nde
pendence lett Mayor Phelan, who has been eulo-
gized to the skies as rcormer, upon practical issues
has repeatedly fallen down. The apparent, perhaps
the simulated controversy within the fusion ranks IS
not between the machine one side and intelligent
respectabiliy the other, but involves only the as
tendency OF Lawrence and Rainey or OF the ancient
boss, Buckley, without any apPreclabe difference IN
possible results
On the other hand, yielding to public opinion and
to the demands OF the Republican press, the Cen
trail Committee OF the Republican party withdrew its
application for blanket ticket, and primary cleo
ton is now to be held, based upon precinct repre-
sentation within the legislative subdivisions OF the
municipality This plan corresponds to the spirit as
well as to the letter OF the primary election law, and
fully meets with the popular demand But the deeper
question: which theory can eyade, has still to be
met Who are to be the candidates when the primary
is held2 II the best Republicans shirk their duties
and their responsibilities, then the Republican
municipal convention will be failure. If, on the
other hand representative men, clear from all COM
rcitv in corrupt monopoly politics, known for Their
conservative intelligence for their independence and
for their integrity, are placed upon the primary
tickets. successful convention is assured
But even though, as The Call trusts and believes,
the Republican municipal convention OF this year
should he the best recorded in local history that
alone will not be sufficient to insure success at the
polls The chief element in the practical reform now
apparently in progress is that men to whom office
holding di,tastefu and sacrifice must consent to
become candidates. No ought to be nominated
Tor office to whom the emoluments the inducing
charm The aborer is worthy OF his hire, but that
numerous class that has lived and fattened poll
tics With no other visible means OF support has been
the principal element in the degradation of American
municipalities.
1t is essential therefore, that when frst-cass con-
ventOn BIAS been selected seCOnd-Cass candidate be
proposed much less nominated Business men, who
have some regard for their own interests which are
identical in many respects with the interests OF the
public must actually realize the necessity OF recog
nzing civil Obligations 1t is often duty to accept
an Office even at serious personal inconvenience and
though it involves some diminuton OF income and
some pecuniary loss. 1t is possible for local Re
publican ticket be framed in San Francisco so per
feet from top to bottom to be mpregnabe. That
is the kind OF ticket that is demanded especially this
year, when the charter is about to take effect
The Call expresses the sincere hope that the quality
OF the material before the municipal convention may
be lowered by reiusals OF prominent and unassa
able Republicans to stand for Office,
The remaining important point in the municipal
convention is the selection of Central Committee to
which the management of the contest will be confded
This selection is part OF the ordinary business OF
municipal convention but it is usually sighted It is
precisely this fact that the obrusion of corruption
lists, or mere boss or monopoly agents, is due, and
even though in other respects the respectabty and
the strength OF party has been vndicated it is sunk
in popular estimation by the impurities and by the
weaknesses OF its governing authority. Against this
tendency to failure it is essential to throw out
invulnerable safeguards Let there be absolute cor
respondence in the delegates the convention in the
nominees and in the Centra Committee as standing
upon the higher levels OF Republican politics and
voicing the strong forces of the community and sue
cess at the polls will be assured and there will be
clean and an efficient Republican administration Of
the municipal government under the charter
The Call Will endeavor to combine and to harmonic
the efforts of all good citizens for the improvement
of local conditions and drive bosses and corrup-
tioniss of every description into the obscurty from
which they ought to have emerged The des-
tiny Of San Francisco is too great and her material
and commercial supremacy too close to justify the
further toleraon Of boss OF monopoly domination