The San Francisco call., 1899-10-09
SORRY THAT HE SPOKE.
Mayor Phelan Apologies for His
Hasty Reference to Horace
Davis

AT the Democratic convention Friday
night Mayor Phelan, during the course OF
his address, referred to Horace Davis, the
Republican nominee, as traitor to the
city The Mayor states now that the
words, While expressing the idea that he
to convey, were more harsh thar
he thought at the moment, and he en-
deavOrs TO make amends for his haste ir
the following open letter addressed to Mr.
Davis:
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. s. 1899.
Mr.. Horace Davs-Dear Sir: Ny impulse
TO write You is so strong that l take this
opportunity TO say that in making an i'm
promptu address Friday night before the
convention l used a word-the first that
came to my lps-which l at once regretted;
too harsh term TO apply TO a gentleman
who has always been courteous to me and
whose character ] have always respected
l would, therefore, modify 1t and Will now
take public occasion to do 50, The intro
duction of rational politics in this cam
paign 1 hold is repugnant to the charter
one Of whose principal purposes is to give
adj our citizens, unm0ved by mere partisan
bias an opportunity OF passing upon the
dates
Therefore separate municipal elections
at considerable cost have been ordered. II
your contention be true. the charter has
erred but we know that bad municipal gov
ernment in San Francisco has come largely
from the fact that unfit men have hoated
into Office under party pressure or under
the shadow of greater and more exciting
issues than local interests can present. But
concer..ng the purpose OF the charter there
can be no dispute, because it further pro-
yides for the appointment of bipartisan
boards. neither party having the advantage,
and takes the clerkships out of the cate
CORY of patronage by introducing the merit
system of public employment under civil
service rules
1t has been often said and it is no doubt
true, that in appointing members of boards,
as under the charter, there is greater
danger of making enemies than of hold
ing friends. On the other hand l am free
to admit that by appointing good boards ir-
respective of party, as provided for. the ap-
pointing power may make friends of the
community and thus rehexively benefit the
organization for which he stands.
But l am sure as q citizen YOU would
vices in the home field: as a partisan
believe that questions of currency and tariffs
would be affected by local success at pure
ly municipal elections. Our people. you
enough to discriminate between local plat
form and a national platform, without re-
spect to individuals and will vote accord
ingly when the issues are made.
| therefore 4 citizen repret that you
should have made your statement that this
larger questions Of national policy. How
YOU could consistently with the charter
have arrived a that conclusion ] do not
know, and II your action deliberate l
believe You are wrong.
But you may have been as impulsive in
deed as /, when by an unhappy expression
l rather rudey characterized your position;
and for which you will please accept my
mature regrets.
I trust our otherwise friendly relations
may not in any way be prejudiced by what
has been said. Yours truly,
JAMES D. PHELAN.