The San Francisco call., 1906-10-15
CITIZENS CONSIDER
PLAN Of ACTION.
Committee of Safety May
Proceed Without Casting
Out the Friends Of Ruef
ABSENCE OF HARMONY

l.
ABSENCE OF HARMONY
The promoters of Saturdays mass
meeting spent yesterday in conferences
in an endeavor to figure out how mat
ters stood. There was a general tax
ing of stock to ascertain how far the
influence of Ruef had nullifed the pur-
poses for which organization was at
tempted. 1t was agreed by all con-
cerned that Ruef had men on the in
side, and in this connection there was
talk of asking E. r. Lilienthal to with
draw. However, there is a large ele-
ment which has been calling for har-
mony at any cost, and rather than risk
complete Reorganization this faction
desires to go ahead irrespective of the
factional strife within.
plan was launched yesterday which
calls for the algamation of the COM
mittee of safety with secret commit
tee which has for its object a full
search for the causes of the prevail
ing lawlessness, even though it lead to
a close scrutiny of the municipal Of
fees. Should this plan be followed out
clash with the administration would
appear inevitable, as Acting Mayor
Gallagher has declared with some force
that he would oppose any citizens
movement which did not cooperate
with the constituted authorities. CAL
lagher is so determined on this point
that he is preparing the means of re-
sistance.
DOBLE STATES POSITION.
The committee of safety, to be COM
posed of 100 citizens, will be made up
of two delegates each from some twen
ty associations. commercial, labor, civic
and religious. The balance will be
supplied by appointments to be made
by William A. Doble, who presided at
Saturdays meeting. Doble resents the
insinuation that his = appointments
would be perfectly satisfactory to
Ruef. He says that he was as much
surprised as any one when Ruef and
his following swooped down on Union
Square and took possession of the mass
meeting. Doble declares that he con-
sented to act as chairman of the meet
ing simply for the purpose of giving
the movement an impetus. 1t is his
intention as soon as the full commit
tee has been selected to delegate the
leadership to others.
JACOBS MAKES PROTEST..
Isador Jacobs takes much the same
view of the situation as DobIe. Jacobs
made known his position in the follow
ing letter which he sent to The Call
yesterday:
Having noted your article in Sundays
issue, in which my name appears as re-
fecting on the movement for the ap-
pointment of citizens committee of
100, l feel that the article was written
without consideration of the facts. In
aspersing the motives of the meeting
you cast reflection on the Potrero Com
mercial Association, which is one of
the most prominent organizations in
the city, determined to bring about a
better condition of affairs by united
effort.
AS to the meeting Saturday. Mr.. Ruef
did not capture it. Out of the large
number present over two-thirds were
in sympathy with the movement The
other one-third was composed Of ,df-
ferent elements, some of whom had
gone to the meeting with the object of
creating a disturbance and thereby pre-
venting action. Before the meeting
detectives had reported that the mu
nicipal gang in a body, headed by Ruef
and Acting Mayor Gallagher, was on
! the way to the meeting with the pur
pose of creating disturbance.
MUST ERADICATE CAUSES.
! The committee met, and after con-
sultation with prominent people pres
ent, including several ministers, de-
cided that if discussion was started the
purposes of the meeting would be de-
| feated, as 1t is a well known fact that
! one man determined to create trouble
would make more noise than ten re-
spectacle men. 1t was therefore de-
| cfded that there should be no speeches,
! but that the business should be carried
| through and adjourn, as neither reso-
| lutionS nor speeches were needed, as
| the time for action had conc.
! 1t was not the intention to slight the
labor organizations, and they We're to
have been called into consultation be-
| fore the meeting, but the large attend
| ance made this impossible. am sat
/ isfied that the committee when ap-
| pointed by Mr.. Doble will have the con-
! fidence of the community, and 1t be-
hooves the press to unite in sustaining
| the work that will bring about salts
| factory results for the future benefit of
| our city and State. 1t is our opinion
| that the only way to accomplish results
dation. If that is corrupt the. whole
body polite suffers, and the evils can
| not be eradicated until the causes are
| eradicated and destroyed.
HARRISON AT THE HELM.
William Greer Harrison was notified
! yesterday of his selection as chairman
of the executive committee Of the COM
mittee of safety. Harrison accepted
and has already begun to plan a line
| of action. Harrison will cooperate
with the secret committee which is
said to be free from administration in
| fiuence.
! Detectives will be put to work, the
| Federal Government will be asked to
turn over the information its agents
have gathered, and method of pro-
cedure not unlike that which generally
falls to a grand jury will be inaugu-
rated.
There has been some trouble in the
formation of the committee OF safety
The business and the church repre-
| sentatives who have been approached
have signified their willingness tc
serve; but there is a feeling among the