The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-26
SOUND SLOGAN
FOR PROGRESS
Ministers Urge the People
to Vote for the Proposed
Municipal Bonding Plan
CROWD INSPECTS SITE
Central Park Tract Under
Scrutiny by Hundreds of
CitiZens-Parade Planned
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
1O16 RroadwaU Sent 25

i
1016 Broadway, Sept. 25
From two of the principal pulpits of
Oakland discourses were delivered to-
day urging, as a means of civic i'm
provement, the support by the citizens
of Oakland of the proposed bond issue.
At the First Baptist Church the pas
tor, the Rev. H. ]. Vosburgh, raised
his voice in eloquent appeal. This
| clergyman had returned recently from
an extended tour of the East. He il
Illustrated his remarks with experiences
of his trip, citing what had been ac-
complshed elsewhere to further the
progress of communities.
DR.. Vosburgh is enthusiastic in his
eulogy of Oakland as a city for home
folk, in comparison with cities in the
East visited by him. He devoted his
address this evening to discussion or
The Science of Voting" dealing at
length with the power and privileges
enjoyed by the American voter and the
responsibilities that are coincident with
the suffrage he enjoys.
Political duties were described by the
minister as calling for great wisdom
and discretion in their discharge. From
consideration of the important polit-
ical issues to be decided at the coming
State and national elections, DR.. VoS-
burgh diverged to a plea to voters-to
alto rally enthusiastically and with
one accord in support of the project to
beautify and improve Oakland by vot-
ing bonds and thus securing money
with which to make of the city a place
to be proud, a city of which none need
be ashamed.
DR.. Vosburgh said in this connection:
For some time a spirit of progress has been
at work among us. This spirit has found its
eliminating expression in the proposed bond
issue: The scheme OF Improvements thus con
templated is wise and comprehensive, thor
oughly in harmony with the highest civic
ideals now prevalent among the leading think
ers of the world, admirably adapted to the
present needs Of our city and finely calculated
TO enhance our reputation and elevate our total
character as a progressive municipality. In
adding TO the beauty of the city this scheme
reaches the highest point of civic wisdom and
idealism and it is not surprising that it should
yield immediate cash dividend.
In providing for a hrst-class polytechnic
high school 1t meets one of the most urgent
needs of modern city. The number Of small
parks and Fairgrounds is provision that is
at the same time humane, artistic and educa-
tional If the citizens of Oakland could have
gone with me this summer through the over
crowded, sweltering sections of some our great
cities not a single dissenting vote would be
cast against these propositions. The whole
plan naturally eliminates in the Central Park,
which is admirably located for the needs Of
Oakland at the present time and the immediate
future.
That there should be some honest difference
such large plans are under consideration. Per-
hap5 1t is charitable for to recall that
many good people are deficient in constructive
Imagination and that they more skillful
in negative criticism than in positive leader
ship. 1t is certainly remarkable that the citi-
zens to whom look for light and leading
upon large questions nearly unanimous in
heartily supporting the proposed plan Of i'm
proVement.
Voting for the bonds does not commit us to
! any given estimate of values; it simply in
structs the representatives of the city as to
! the procedure they may lawfully take. For
one. l am absolutely certain that our present
officials worthy of complete confidence and
that they will jealously guard the interests Of
the city. The issuance OF the bonds viii be
| the longest step forward we have ever taken
and will be the beginning of an era of progress
| that will not end until Oakland shall have
leading cities Of the entire Union.
The Rev Ernest E. Baker, pastor of
| the First Presbyterian Church, gave
his views, strongly favorable to the
bonds. in a discourse on The Model
City" DR.. Baker said:
Oakland should be model city Nature has
made IT easily possible to bring about this
| result physically Money and honesty COM
bined with taste and ability are all that we
| require. II the citizens are assured OF the
honesty ard ability of the officers in charge
| of public affairs they will doubtless vote in
favor of bonds. The present city government
enjoys the confidence OF the community This
seems peculiarly favorable time TO begin to
make Oakland model city.
! Parks and boulevards are essential factors
! in every modern city They are worth all they
cost in enhancing the beauty, healthfulness and
| comfort of the community Well paved streets
valuable assets to-day in every city that
would attract additional inhabitants. Dayton
| Ohio, was started on an era of prosperity and
! profess oy general movement 10 pave the
streets. and II row merits the name OF The
| Gem City. Every time ] return to my former
home am impressed with its cleanliness and
| air OF refinement. No one there would willingly
return TO the former condition Of muddy streets
| and unkept yards and alleys.
1t pays TO improve the sanitary service of
city. Given beautiful site with good sewers
and clean streets, large public parks. commo-
| dous school buildings constructed according to
| the approved experience cf other cities and
| you have a place where people will delight
| TO dwell civic pride will be generated Homes
| will be buided wherein good citizens will be
| trained for the public veal Churches will ba
| maintained and the moral tone of the entire
| community Will be raised higher. AS a citizen
| as well clergyman | would rejoice to see
| Oakland take this step forward.
! Thousands visited the Central Park
tract to-day, free tickets having been
issued in large quantities by the Pro-
| gress Federation for this purpose. In
| tense interest in the various features
of the tract has been reused by the
controversy concerning it's merits as a
! site for the largest park of Oakland,
| and in the park could be seen to-day
groups of citizens discussing earnestly
the points involved in the controversy.
| The rains have freshened the vegeta-
| ton of the tract, and it presented an
| attractive appearance.
All we ask said John T. Bell. chair
ma of the press committee of the Pro-
grAs Federation, SIS that in the next
twenty-four hours every citizen who
/ can will inspect the Central Park tract,
see for himself what it is and then vote
as his judgment directs"
Tomorrow the final blows will be
struck by the campaign committee in
the effort to arouse the voters to that
pitch of enthusiasm which inspires men
to not only vote themselves, but be-
come PROSECUTING missionaries.
Three MONDAY meetings are to be
held at the West Oakland railroad
yards tomorrow, one at 1915 O'Clock
| and two at 1890.
It's a pleasure to talk to the railroad
men, said Secretary Stearns of the