The San Francisco call., 1905-05-25
Declarations Evoke
Applause From
Auditors.
Governor Alludes to
Vigilance Com
mittee.
Symmes Calls Upon
Citizens to Do
Their Duty.

discussion last evening of THE Import
ance of the Primary Election" The
speakers were President Frank ]. Symmes
Of the Merchants Association, Governor
Pardee. Senator c. Nj. Belshaw Henry
Weinstock and James H Barry They
sat at table with Andrea Sbarboro.
John McNaught, T. P. Andrews. c. w.
Hornick, r. A. Crothers, A. A. Watkins
and James D. Phelan, facing the ban
oueters who sat at nine other tables.
ABOUT $50 persons were present On a
stage sat musicians.
Great applause was given to Governor
Pardee when he arose to speak. Through
out the evening applause followed the
various speeches and interrupted them.
The names of Fairfax Wheelan and Will
liam T. Coleman received the compl-
ment OF prolonged cheers when they
were mentioned. A perfect storm of ap-
plause followed the closing sentence in
Governor Pardee's address:
May your efforts continue to meet
with success until every treasonous
knave who seeks to corrupt an election
fills a felon's cell. where he belongs
The color scheme and the menu cards
were red. Roses graced the tables. Con-
gressman Hepburn of Iowa was expected
to be a guest, but word was received
yesterday that he will not arrive in this
city for some days.
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
President Symmes introduced the sew
eral speakers Mr.. Symmes also spoke
regarding the work of the Merchants AS
sociation during the past year, referring
to criminal prosecutions and civil actions
instituted in the interest of good govern
ment.
Mr.. Symmes traced the progress of the
Merchants Association; told of the sue
"a hod off al 70 nh
tain legislation at the last session of the
California Legislature. and caused ap-
plause when he said that two of the bills
that the association presented to the
Legislature and that were not signed by
Governor Pardee-the juror bills-would
appear again with the Merchants Asso-
citation behind them. The greatest ap-
plause was given to Mr.. Symmes when
he said with emphasis:
"Our fair city calls aloud to us to save
her from debauch, and never since the
days of 81. when called upon to help
save the country from a national disrup-
ton, has our duty been more strongly
emphasized. If we love our country, as
we do, we should love every part of it,
and stand equally to fight for her protec-
ton as well against the enemy from
within as against the far more honor
able enemy from without
Mr.. Symmes referred to the Sutter
street and Geary street roads and the
questions relating to their reconstruc-
ton. He said that the Merchants Asso-
citation had taken the ground that the
construction of any street railway in
San Francisco should be considered as
part Of an entire system that should be
adequate for the future. In few years
an underground road would be needed on
Market street and on other thorough
fares. That was one consideration The
association had invited an eminent en-
gineer, William Bartlett Parsons, to come
to San Francisco and make some esti-
mates concerning the cost OF an under
ground street railway system. Under
ground lines should be considered now.
GOVERNOR PARDEE's ADDRESS.
Mr.. Symmes then introduced Gov
ernor Pardee.
Governor Pardee began by recalling the
fate of Greece and Rome, where destruc-
ton followed general corruption, and dis
cussed whether the like was in store for
the United States. At the very root of
the matter, he declared, lies the govern
ment of cities, where, it is said, graft
and plunder are so prevalent that even
honest men have ceased to wonder at
it." Continuing he said:
And yet our people have it in their
hands to root out this evil. and. if they
will, restore that honesty in public af
fairs Of which we all were once so proud.
San Francisco, in 1856. was as corrupt as
any city ever was. To James King of
William and William T. Coleman, my
native city is much beholden. And in
her annals, in spite of adverse criticism,
the Vigilance Committee, in which my
father was enrolled, viii always hold
place of well-earned prominence"
Governor Pardee spoke of the glory of
the founders of the United States; of the
history of this country, including the
bloody days of the Civil War. Short
would be the shrift," he declared, 'of him
who dared to betray our country to
foreign foe" He said:
Benedict Arnold name is not for
gotten. Yet, we permit ourselves to be
betrayed in times of peace. PloddIng
along in the counting-room and shop, our
people permit themselves 70 be misgov-
erned, apparently forgetful of the fate
Of Greece and Rome and seemingly deaf
to the warnings Of the past.
1T is a crime, aohorred of all men, to
betray ones country in a time of war.
1t is q crime to betray ones public trust
in time of peace. 1t is a crime to corrupt
the ballot-box, either at general or a
primary election. But, while death is the
penalty for him who betrays his country
to the enemy, only Imprisonment for a
comparatively short time awaits him who,
caught. tried, convicted. commits the
equally great crime of betraying his fell
low citizens at the ballot-box, that urn
in which repose, under free government
such as ours, our happiness, our property
our liberty, our very lives.
IF death be proper punishment for
him who betrays us I'm time of war, why
should not the same punishment be meted
out TO him who, committing an equalay
great, IL not a greater. crime. snealxingy
strikes US in the back and deals q cow
ards blow at ali We hold most dear.
while, exercising the great privilege OF an
American citizen, he corrupts the very
fountain head whence flow our boasted
guarantees of life. liberty and the pursuit
or happ.nessg
ar3s.<.i- 80. ~. ,,;,.4,,.. 4. -.