The San Francisco call., 1907-02-02
Board viii Not Yield to President
RHS CAN FIND NO
SIGNS Of RIOT
Writer Is Surprised That
Bleeding japanese Are
Not to Be Seen About
EAST IS AIISINFORMED

EASI is MlSlNEORMEl
Jacob A Riis. the distinguished
writer and lecturer now touring this
coast. who came expecting TO shudder
at the sight of bleeding japanese, is
agreeably surprised. He has Travelled
from Seattle to san Francisco through
the section in which the East believed
that riot q gainst the Oriental races is
rampant. and he has yet TO see the
Japanese against whom the least sign
<of. unfriendlfness is exhibited.
&: We have been laboring IN the East
under an entirely false view of the
situation, said Riis yesterday. When
I*reac he'd the coast / kept my eyes open
Tor the warlike attitude of the people
1 toward the japanese, but the riots
" were 50 slow in coming that my pa
te4ce was finally exha ueted at Port
land.
c,I asked a man there: Where is all
of this trouble with the japanese that
i hear so much about2
on. we have none Of that here:
all Of that is in san Francisco he an
swered.
$50 anticipated entertainment on
EtEe score or NkdS4lES OF the races WntH
should reach here he continued,
bur 50 far everything points TO the
fact that we OF the East have been
del uded into false opinions After 1eaY-
ing here / am going TO Los Angeles.
butit is nay intention to come back
10 san Francisco and give the question
Of the japanese further study"
Much Of this agitation has been
caused by politicians whose pocket
hooks are of more importance than
national questions" remarked by
stander.
well. some politicians viii do any
thing te gain votes" answered Riis
with smile.
OPPORTUNITY OF THE CITY
When I was here last continued
the lecturer. San Francisco was in her
glory. IT is saddening. indeed, TO see
her in her ruins, but ] suppose that /
VIII form a different view after I have
the opportunity TO 80 through the city
and see the operations Of that tre-
naendous energy that is rearing the city
anew san Francisco has a great op-
pertupity in her hands and she must
not neglect it
1t was with pleasure that I heard
that the Relief Corporation had decided
6. 10 eXpenG the balance of. the funds in
Its possession in the construction Of
permanent homes for the poor. No
more splendid use for this fund could
! he devised than that. Good, permanent
homes for the people mean prosperity.
All OF those that require il should be
given the opportunity to get under
roofs that they can call their own.
Temporary structures viii not do. Let
the homes that are built be worthy of
the name.
sSan Francisco should be very care
f1l fn. the reconstruction of the burned
portion Of the city. Now is her oppor-
tunity Let the ordinances affecting re-
construction within the fire limits be
strictly enforced; also let the streets
be laid out in accordance with the fu-
Iure needs of the city.
Not long ago a man of prominence.
who has long lived in Chicago said TO
me that il was about time that Chi
cago had another fire. After the great
condagration that laid that city in
ashes no advantage Of the opportunity
vsss taken and the city spFang up
along her old lines Now the people
regret that they did not take advan-
tage of the opportunity afforded.
PUT ASIDE SELFIsHNEss
"Selfshness of individuals should not
be allowed to influence the judgment
of those who have the future of the
city at heart. After the Chicago fire
limits. Many who felt they did not
care TO eXpend sufficient money TO con-
struct permanent buildings and want
ed the right to construct their dwell
-fngs Of wood called in a crowd on the
!. officials who were considering the pro-
posed extension Of the limits. Soon a
mob was clamoring without. Bricks
,, were hurled through the windows, and
tied to some of them were notes that
said: This is the kind of protest that
we offer 10 the proposed extension 80.
= These selfish ones We're given their
way 10 a great extent and now the peo-
pie regret that the viii of the mob pre-
vailed. Let San Francisco take adVan-
tage of her opportunity. 1t may never
come agaiu; at least. we all hope that
disaster VIII henceforth be a stranger
here for all time.
j" MY present trip from the East has
been most -eventfuL Held back by
? snowslides and landslides and broken
down motive power, have been behind
my schedule all along the line I was
10 have spoken at Berkeley last even
ing, but my train did not arrive until
late in the night The present condf-
tion confronting the railroads is one that
must be solved. The prosperity of the
country is so great that the railroads
are overburdened- And when ] did
reach here found that the overworked
condition Of the railroads was :espon-
sible for a coal shortage.
What a winter it has. been for the
people of San Francisco But they do
not seem to mind It, and such courage
cs never fail Out Of the hardships of
the year greater prosperity will come
and riches viii be the reward of self
denial"