The San Francisco call., 1901-10-26
May BE A GOOD VIoLINIST,
BUT A VERY POOR MAYOR
Schnaitz's Disposition Amiable-His
WI Is Good, but he Lacks
PoUe7. of Fxec11+ion

Schnitz. the labor candidate I have
no -. IF disparagenaent to utter. From no
cue, ave I heard any imputation upon his
1iea racter. 1t was at one time my good
for+,- o-o have some acquaintance with his
Tc-se I found him a of amiable dispo-
sition wholly devoted to his art. He was in
truth an excellent musician, and played on
the violin with exquisite taste ana great skill.
Many a time have 1 been charmed with the
stand inheriting his fathers amiable disposi-
tiOn and natural talent for musie, has followed
IN his footsteps. From childhood up he has de-
voted himself wholly 10 the pursuit Of the same
profession. Like his father he has achieved
pleasing violinist and skillful leader Of orches-
tras.
But, workingmen Of San Francisco you
propose TO take him from a station which by
Inheritance, inclination and training he is fitted
TO MI with credit ana without the slightest
preparatory study and without a days expe-
rience in that direction 10 make him the chief
magistrate Of city Of $50 900 inhabitants. You
purpose 10 place in his hand the management
Of a vast and complicated machine. with the
construction and operation Of which he has not
the sllgntest acquaintance You intend 10 con
fde ID him the conservation of the vast bust
ness commercial and financial interests of this
metropolis. knowing that he has never had the
slightest business experience, the most remote
acQua intance with commerce. nor even the
most elementary knowledge OF the complicated
science Of finance. You propose TO do this when
y say it without the slightest disparagement
or Urkadness-the very qualities which have
choice -Hturallv and inevitably unfit him for
1se eask 80 (which you would now assign him.
Nothi-ig is more notorious than
that the qualities of the artists
temperament which have insured
Nj. Schmitz's success as a musician
are the very ones which unfit a man
for The practical transaction or maa-
agenent of business. The two men
tai conditions are absolutely antago-
nistic. Did any one of you ever hea-
Of a great musician, painter or sculp
ter who was at the same time a great
man of affairsP
It is no answer 10 all this to say that Mr..
Schmitz is an honest man. This qualification
ne one more cheerfuIly comedies than I. But,
agency It is not a generative force 1t may
keep man straight in the course in which he
Is moving. II does not carry him forward in
that course. II is the regulator upon the en-
gine. It is not the steam whose mysterious
power sets the machinery in motion. II is the
the rocks or shoals. It is not the breath of the
storm which fills its sails and carries il across
the main Honesty is an excellent quality in
all undertakings and under all circums tances
But L would be fatal mistake to assume that
and by itself Il feeds capacitates a man
and complicated stations Of life. 1t is an ex-
cellent quality in a military commander. But
does il follow that every honest man is compe-
tent to be placed at the head OF regiment tc
lead q brigade into action or army corps in
battle2 It is also excellent quality in a
honest man is competent to sail the Iowa or