Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-29
SAN FRANcIsCo's SHAME.


Great moral calamlties are more to be
dreaded than great physical caiamities.
Last April San Francisco had a great
physical calamity. First the city was
shaken to its very foundations by a
CONFUSION OF nature The ruin started
by the earthquake was completed by
fire. 1t was a terrible disaster, one Of
the worst ever recorded. The sym
patty and aid OF the world went out 70
the stricken city. and all felt that the
people Of San Francisco were near and
dear to them. The mighty uphcayal
and great holocaust were the one
touch Of nature that made the whole
world kin The San Franciscans, with
ihdomitable viii and heroic energy be-
gan to rebuild their city Their pluck
and spirit were the admiration Of all
America felt proud OF San Francisco.
All this was the result OF great phys
ical calamity.
Now great moral calamity has be-
fallen the city, but no sympathy goes
out TO H. lI~e the city must stand or
fall by Itself; its redemption Is In the
hands Of its own people. a reign OF
crime by thugs aud murderers is about
to be succeeded By reign OF crime by
interruptions officials. The acting
mayor, at the behest OF a boss, has I'M
dertaken to seize the Office OF the dis
trlct attorney, to put into the hands his
own willing tools, TO do his own bad
bidding Under color OF law lawlessness
is to be made supreme. The decent
people OF California are fast becoming
disgusted to a point beyond endurance.
Addressing the Los Angeles high school
on the outrage, Benjamin Ide Wheeler.
president OF the University of Calfor-
mia, said: III we have many more bad
men In San Francisco, we may have 70
get rid of some OF them by means Of
tho scaffold."
Following this In personal discus
sion, President Wheeler is quoted as
saying;
iPerhaps outsiders do not realize
how desperate ana bold the conspira-
tors have become. Nearly all self
respecting men In the city are behind
Heney, yet he may be overwhelmed
Those who are opposed TO him IRE vim
dlctive, desperate, and no one knows
how strong. A coterie Of men myself
included. supplied him with what
money he needs to push the lnvestiga-
tlon. People who never took an Inter-
est In politics are being driven to II by
the recent outbreak the like OF which
has not been seen since the days OF the
last vigilance committee Ruef's bold
grab at the district attorneys ONCE
~ practical admission Of guilt. Men,
women. children In all the bay cities
are holly against him. Public feeling
Is wrought to such a pitch that, should
violence be done any OF the reform
chiefs, ] do not believe public indlgna-
ton would stop short OF death to the
perpetrators. Honey is a brave man.
He well knows every time he walks
into the courtroom that he takes his
life into his hands. We stand by him"
These words from the lips of the
head Of a great Institution OF learning
must cause conservative and radical
men alike TO reflect. 1t is not impossible.
though most improbable, that San
Francisco may see a revival Of vigil
lante days, What confession OF the
failure Of Self government that would
bel
The people OF San Francisco owe 1t
to themselves, their state their coun-
try. to rescue their city from the hands
into which It has fallen to re-establlsh
Its reputation, to make law and de-
oency supreme, to crush out lawless-
ness and to make evil doors, In or out
of Office, hunt their holes and hide
their heads for very shame.