The Washington herald., 1907-08-05
San Francisco Rising.

Editor The Washington Herald
One OF the queer things that strike the
observer is the expressed opinion Of so
many people as TO the hopelessness Of
business in san Francisco now. San Fran
cisco has a Id of people who never did
succeed in their business. and never will
succeed in anything. They go around
wailing: oh, you simply can't DO any
thing in san Francisco now, Conditions
are appalling. Nobody viii listen 10 any
business proposition"
This kind Of howler reminds one Of
a famous dead beat, in Washington, when
he was asked to pay a bill. He threw
out his chest and said. Couldn't raise
q penny, under prevailing conditions.
There's deadlock in financial circles.
The banks won't do a thing on any col
lateTalr' Il was quite true that the
banks wouldn't do thing Tor him. The
when, with the air Of prince, he threw
down a small check. sent in charity, in
response TO a begging letter 10 a rela-
tive, who occasionally helped him.
The San Francisco howlers are largely
those whom fortune has turned down in
all times. The kind Of people who made
the city great are here loving her IN her
tribulation, and working right along to
help her 10 be great again. They are the
ones who are doing with less than they
did; making less; but decided in their Op-
timistic feelings. You don't find one OF
the heaviest losers, by the fire and pres
ent conditions. complaining or losing
hope. They never even think Of anything
but the great city that is to be. The city
purified not only by fire, but by the
VIII Of her own citizens, who are work
ing 10 make San Francisco more beauti-
ful, and an honestly ruled place.
II the calamity howlers could be de-
ported at once the city would be relieved
of an incubus. Strangers are influenced
by statements from such people Every
time one man or woman expresses the
idea that San Francisco is a dead place
for some time 10 come, the burden Of the
workers is increased. The truth is that
a man with real energy, the kind that
built the great metropolis Of the Slope
on the sandhills. sets 10 work with the
dead certainty Of success. II prices are
higher, rents higher, what better time
for investment? Do people expect to step
out Of a train and find. a city built in
q year? II the city government was cor
rupt, is not the city on the road to better
days?
The truth is that the men who are able
10 make a new city are also right here,
doingNt. without talking. And there are
plenty of honest ones. AS a rule, the
man Of sterling honesty is not Overloqua-
cious. Empty drums and trumpets give
out loud sound. These opinions are not
from a, land holder. or one interested by
one cent Of city investment They are
but the truth, told as an act of simple
justice, by one who has been in San
Francisco more than seven years-One
who saw her In her glory and suffered
with her IN her day Of desolatiOn; one
who sees. with the eye Of a practiced OBJ
server. that which is 10 be- The people
who are trying 10 frighten away settlers,
who are injuring San Francisco's new
chances, are the ones who add the least
10 the power and pride of any city. State.
or country, They belong TO the class
which always tries TO cover up its per-
sonal failures under general conditions
Their only industry is trying TO make
conditions OF nonsuccess. Having done
this for themselves they labor for general
conditions. The writer has spent a long
time watching events from the stand
point OF a disinterested observer. the only
interest being that truthful reports should
be made.
After the fire-directly after 1.-THE
lawless element took advantage Of the
conditions, 10 begin to make things worse.
BY pillage. by all the means known to the
looter. this element began its damage.
How long did ii obtain? A few hours
At once. upon the car strike, the same
element took hold Il is a pity that the
lawless should ever prevail. but the bet
ter class Of citizens should not be con-
founded with the worse. San Francisco
z Is not a city Of rolghs. If the same space
were given to The steady work that is
going on for good that is devoted to evil
"Details, the country would have the same