The San Francisco call., 1901-10-21
ASA R, WELLS
FIRST SPEECH
CAUSES ALARM
His Latest Utterances
Inspire Fears Of
Defeat.
Failure to Outline Policy Is
Made the Basis for
Criticism.
auiescent Attitude Toward Live Is
sues Causes Speculation as to Pol
icy He Will Follow Regard
ing Local Questions.

The remarkable speech delivered by Asa
R. Wells at Metropolitan Temple Satur-
day evening was generally discussed in
Tolitical and business circles yesterday.
The profundity Of thought II displayec.
its wonderful depth Of reasoning, its
lucidity and forceful logic have combinca
10 stamp Mr.. Wells as a campaign orator
whose talents would put the blush OF
envy upon the brazen cheek of a dime
museum soieler
The Republican nominees who heard
Mr. Wells pay a tribute 10 the malodorous
solid nine" and to the present Board Of
Supervisors, whose big surplus he re-
garded as an excellent campaign docu-
ment, are wondering if the gentleman who
aspires TO the MayOralty was not seized
with that species of stage fright which
in the classic language of Richard Mans
field makes one feel like the deuce Of
spades with the spots rubbed off"
On no other hypothesis can they ex-
plain Mr.. Wells irruptiOn of prattle and
inanities, the conspicuous merit of which
was its utter absence of anything like
a thought worthy Of imagination of a
bronze statue His declaration that he
had served time at the City Fall was
generally regarded as a wft1cism, but it
loses its force under the burden of the
depressing conviction that the time was
not spent TO advantage.
Mr.. Wells speech was a gem of its
kind, but the quality was nothing that
the most ObseQuious koWtowing political
parasite would care to brag about. That
il was worthy Of MI. Wells, all agree;
but that it was worthy of a man who has
been in the public harness for three years,
imbibipg knowledge of municipal affairs
with which to fOrtify himself for the dis
charge Of the manifold duties of Mayor,
no sane man is willing TO admit. In his
first public discussion of the local cam
Paign issues the gentleman proved be-
yond question his thorough untitness for
The distng nguished office to which his vault
ing ambition aspires.
Wells Attitude Quiescent.
It is generally conceded that Mr.. Wells
outlined by mis- silence his Quiescent atti-
tuGe toward the burning issues of the
campaign Whether he intends to reduce
the price Of gas and water to consumers,
franchise reVertS TO the city on its eXpira-
ton are secrets hidden In his breast
Whether it is his intention If elected
Mayor to increase the public school facili-
ties or carry to completion many needed
public improvements, which include the
construction Of sewers and the paving of
streets, is left exclusively TO the imagi-
nation of the dear public whose votes he
sOlicits. What he thinks of the extrava-
CANT Board Of Public Works and of the
Civil Service Commission, in relation to
which his hired shouters are clamoring
for reform. he studiously keeps to him
self
W nat MS aLUIU0e II elected VIII be
toward the granting of franchises to rail-
way corporations in accordance with
charter provisions Mr.. Wells alone knows,
If, indeed he ever gave that important
subject a passing thought While his hear
ers were awaiting with anxiety for his
views upon these weighty subjects now
occupying the attention Of all citizens Mr..
Wells delivered himself Of platitudes.
Instead of discussing topics of general
interest he told how he worked four years
at $40 month and was nevertheless en-
abled to show a surplus at the end of that
period In his next breath he stultiies his
own party by furnishing his need Of praise
for the present Board of Supervisors the
majority Of which is Democratic, because
Of its surplus at the close of the past
fiscal year.
He condemned his official course as Au
ditOr for permitting the Supervisors to
spend $l2,00,000 after the ante-election
promise Of the members to run the affairs
of the city at cost not to exceed 81, ,OO0-
UVJ 2 year Ihen by way of variety he
paradoXically alluded to the Mayor as
being harmless unless he was surrounded
by Supervisors who operated harmonious
ly with him. He concluded finally with
the statement that if he is given Board
OF supervisors Of the same political faith
as himself "he thinks he could do as
well" And so he proceeds in a discourse
which is hopelessly devoid of sense or rea-
son until thanks are cordially expressed
suffering audience and his fellow nomi-
nees to the very marrow
Candidates Are Disappointed.
Several Of the Republican candidates ex-
pressed their disappointment quite openly
yesterday In some instances the fear
was expressed that Mr.. Wells candfdacy
seriously menaced the success of the
ticket. One candidate for Supervisor stat
ed that if Mr.. Wells was allowed to make
another speech the Republican ticket was
hopelessly lost 1t is unlikely that Man
ager CoDb VIII allow his employer to make
any other address during the Campaign
ana an assurance to that effect will be
Of the Republican nominees
II mas developed that the Republican
SuperVlsorial nominees We're pledged To q
definite course of action toward the rail-
way, gas and water companies through
the. agency Of Jerry Burke, a Democra fic
politician in the service of Mr.. Herrin Of
the Southern Pacific COMPANY Refoua Ua
the men selected by Kelly and the yarie
Gus corporations were given their noroina- :
tions each was made to understand that
ms olnclaI course relative to the fixing of
gas and water rates and the eranfjne ~