The San Francisco call., 1905-01-04
HONOR FOR MEN WHO
HAVE MADE HISTORY
Statues to Be Placed in Capitol
SELECTION OF SUBJECTS DISCUSSED

Prominent citizens of California
reered eagerly at the past yesterday in
an attempt to decide who among pio-
neers are entitled to be considered the
. two most eminent Californians. Events
long past, fraught with picturesqueness
and with significance, again became
real for students of the glowing pages
of California history.
Junipero Sierra again established mis-
sons and Portala sought the bay of
san Francisco. Huntington was a gi-
gantic living intellect at the head of
the first railway to traverse the Sier-
ras and span the North American con-
tinent. Stanford once more, lAmenting
<he death OF his son, founded the glo-
rious institution of learning at Palo
Alto that bears his name, assisted by
his wife. James Marshall picked up
from the Coloma millrace the nuggets
destined to bring the hardy and bril-
liant men of all the American States
and many other lands to the Sierran
river channels in search of fortunes.
Sutter determined the reality of gold
in the Marshall nuggets.
With crack of pistol shots and the
hum Of angry voices once more the
Vigilantes, headed by William I. Cole
man, assembled. They hanged Casey
and revenged the death of James King
of William anew. Senator Broderfck
and William NJ. Gwin, his colleague IN
the United States Senate from Califor-
MIA, were remembered. The fiery elo-
quence of Baker, early Californian,
who fell for his country at Balls Blum,
once again made music in the ears of
those who in the earlier days eagerly
listened TO his words while all the land
was disturbed by the angry debates
bot afn1x- 6a1 hl
civil struggle The rattle of guns was
mingled with the ringing of the mission
bells. History, the wonderfully roman
tic history of California, was in review.
Two Californians who have passed
from life will be given lasting fame in
the rotunda of the National Capitol at
Washington, D. c. The law entities
each State of the Union TO have two
statues of bronze or marble in the huge
Federal building. The California Legis-
lature at the present session will de-
eide which two of its citizens shall be
so immOrtalized. 1t is of interest to all
dweIlers in this State that the best pos
sible choice shall be made.
JUDGE BEATTY'S OPINION.
Chief Justice Beatty when he was
asked for an opinion yesterday desig-
mating the two men whose services en-
titled them to be considered pre-
the request embodied the necessity for
Immediately placing In critical review
the events of two centuries in this
State. He removed his glasses and
with a quizzical look said:
The case is taken under advisement
for ninety days"
Chief Justice Beatty's first choice is
. Colonel Baker. He was a patriot in
peace. He proved his devotion to his
country by laying down his life for it.
In part Justice Beatty said:
1 have never heard the equal of Baker for
eIcQuence. His literary taste was exquisite.
lie distinguished for eloquence and
scholarship. for gallantry and patriotism. 1t
is true that he went from California to Oregon
and was elected United States Senator from
Oregon 1t is also true that he a citizen
. war But he has been claimed and is claimed
NV C,alfforrIs He was handsome man and
his statue would look we'll
Padre Junipero Sierra was pioneer. He
might be commemorated If il is possible to
get an authentic picture Of him as guide
for statue. But even If there is no authentic
splrit of the man and the significance of the
occasion. could do much toward making a
satisfactory portraiture. Sierra and Baker
would do very we'll
Attorney sE. S. Pillsbury was asked
TO make his selection of two Califor-
mans who have performed the most
eminent service for the State. "Ah, .
said Pillsbury that is a very large
question 1 would not care to commit
myself offhand. 1 will say that Pro-
fessor Joseph LIE Conte is worth con-
sidering, and Baker deserving. I am
going East tomorrow and have not the
time that / would require to think the
matter over carefully and fully"
Even more impressed with the inter
. eSting inquiry was Attorney Horace G.
Platt. He listened attentively to q
statement relative to the historical duty
that is about to devolve upon the Cali
fornia Legislature and promised to con.
slider the matter, but he could not make
any answer at once.
EX-MAYOR PONDS CHOICE.
E. B. Pond, formerly Mayor, of Sar
Francisco, president of the San Fran
cisco Savings Union and connected
widely with many interests in Califor
MIA, was also interested intensely, bu
found that there had been so many his
torical persons in this State deserving
of fame that he was unable to choos'
at once.
Padre Sierra and James Marshall wer,
the choice of ex-Congressman s. ID
Woods. California could not have hat
its present history in the absence O.
either said Mr.. Woods.
Henry Payot introduced the name O
William c. Broderick. United State.
Senator from California. He also IA
. vored William T. Coleman becaus,
Coleman was the president of tht
vigilance committee that hanged Casey
for the murder of James King of VIII
liam, the earliest editor of the Sar
Francisco Bulletin.
Coleman and King" said Payot
''strove nobly to purify the atmosphere
Of public life in San Francisco, and
their example was salutary for all Cal
ifornia They were makers of history
Congressman julius Kahn sai(
promptly and without hesitation tina
Junipero Sierra and the Rev. STAR
=. King were his choices Sierra was tn,
pioneer of civilization for California
Where he placed missions there arr
thriving California towns and cities to
day. and their names commemorate hi!
deeds and sagacity. Starr King by hi.
eloquence saved California TO the I'm
ion."
j. A. Filcher, California commissions
to the ST Louis EXPOSITION, said tha