The San Francisco call., 1907-03-03
Californians in New York Amused
at Washington Dinner to Mayor
BY G. 9. Carlton

NEW YORK. March 2.-Californisns
here arc considerably amused over the
dinner given 20 Mayor Schmitz and his
colleagues IL washington by Vice Pres
ident Fairbanks The Vice President
has the reputation OF being q tolerabiy
astute politician. but the CalifornlAhs
here laughinEly declare that ne hSs
been nisinformed as TO Schmitzs icl-
lowing fn California. The Oalliornlahs
say that tho Mayor is dead one
end that the Vice Presidents dinner +,
willie we'll enough from purely socisi
roint Of view. was an effort wasted II
Fairbanks expected TO reap any po-
littcsl advantage in California by cul-
sivating the friendship OF Schmitz.
II is said 10 be a habit OF the vice
President 10 make friends with the crit
fos OF President Roosevelt. Several no
table Instances OF this have been point
cd out From this IL Is argued that
Fairbanks realizes that he could never
become the Presidents legatee while
Secretaries Root and Taft were among
the Presidential possibilities ano thSt-
while he could not proft by President
Roosevelt's friendship he hopes 10 de-
rive some advantage from making
friends with his enemies.
The Vice President thus hopes 10
make friends in California, where Pres
ident Roosevelt has become unpopular
by reason Of his interference with the
states local affairs; but in seeking the
aid OF Mayor Schmitz in behalf OF his
Presidential aspirations Californisns
declare that he is sadly amiss In his
long distance view OF the California
situation.
Secretary Taft as a Presidential can
didate has stirred UP q hornets nest
by sending TO Congress letter recon-
ynending that a balance OF the t2.5OO,-
600 appropriated by Congress for the
relief OF the victims OF the calamity OF
last April be used TO indemnify liquor
dealers in San Francisco. whose stock
was conhscsted or spilled by the at
thorities at that time. II seems that
their claims amount 10 something like
$50 oOo Now the Prohibitionists are
up In arms and are forwarding protests
20 washington against the payment OF
these whisky bills"
Secretary Taft. as the head OF the
War Department. changed ofnciaily
with the maintenance OF order and
the safeguarding OF lives and property
81 San Francisco is naturally In the
forefront Of this comment and criti-
cism. It is regarded as remarkable
that he should send to Congress in
this connection an official letter recon-
mending that the loss er lied by sa-
looms and groggeries by the destruc-
tion of Understandable amounts OF
whisky should be repaid out OF the
relief fund, which he was directed "a
expenc.
II is pointed out by critics OF Secre-
tsry Taft's remarkable recommenda-
tfon 10 reimburse the whisky deal
ers OF San Francisco that a far-reach-
ing precedent would be established II
his recommendation should prevail AL
property. Il Is contended. nc-uding the
many valuable buildings dynamited IN
efforts TO cneck the spread OF the con-
Migration following The earthquake
might reasonably claim equal basis Tor
damages. This would cause q food
OF claims OF all rfnds 70 pour IN upon
Congress or the Federal Government
for action taken while the military
forces OF the Government were in con-
troll OF the city
But the judge advocate general OF