The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-17
FLETCHER Will
HAVE TO EXPLAIN
Good Government League COM
mitteenlan Too Friendly
Toward Herrin

Executive Committeeman George
Fletcher of the Good Government
league probably will be called upon to
explain his political activities in the
Sunset and Richmond districts. At a
meeting in Richmond few nights ago
Fletcher made a remarkable speech, in
which he confessed having done poll
tics for>Herrin In the past and told how
he had enjoyed the privilege of riding
to conventions on Southern Pacific
passes. Before that he had been tell
ing how he had abandoned the machine,
but in this address he attempted to
justify his sins and announced that he
believed in the machine program" and
objected only to II when he was not
in on it."
Two members OF the Good Govern
ment leagues executive committee
Edgar Miner and Jesse w. Bryan
were disposed of recently because 1t
were undesirable. Fletcher has long
been persona non grata in the organiza-
ton and IL is believed that his utter
ances at the Richmond meeting AFFORD
an opportunity that has long been
awaited to invite him to resign
Fletcher really was on the hunt for a
Job. it is said, when he Joined the
he lIlGQ MS DSSI 10 ODld4U al
appointment from Mayor Taylor as a
commissioner of public works, not
withstanding that the league committee
had resolved that no member should
seek Office. Failing in the effort to land
a good job through the medium Of the
Good Government forces, he managed
to get place in the sanitation service,
which he now holds, while he is act
lively organizing political clubs.
TARRIES ON THE FENCE
The recalcitrant Good Governmenter
declared the ether night that he did
not know whether he would have his
clubs affiliate with the Lincoln Roose-
Welt league or with the machine. This
indecision as to the machine is to be
regarded as fatal to Fletcher in his
connection with the Good Government
league, which is opposed emphaticaIly
to Herrinism.
Fletcher is representing to people in
Richmond and Sunset that his kind of
clubs Will serve as improvement bodies
as well and that their political power
viii be used to bring about liberal
treatment from the municipality In
this manner several anti-''push" citizens
have been induced to sign the rolls.
Members OF the old "Maestrettf gang"
are active coworkers in the movement.
The officers of the Good Government
league viii make q thorough investi-
cation and expulsion OF the last mem
Der against whom objections have been
entertained may be the result.
DOING "PUSH, POLITICS
II Fletcher is really undecided as he
has claimed to be. on the subject Of
afhliating the Sunset and Richmond or
CARNATIONS with the Lincoln Roosevelt
league, his indecision is not shared by
his fellow organizers.
The so-called republican club" in the
thirty-ninth, with its officers in Sunset
and Its assistant officers in Richmond
is vigorously engaged in doing push"
politics. When the Sunset carpet bag
gers" as they have been called-mean-
ing James A. Rutherford, julius
F'rankel and their associates-invaded
richmond few nights ago and con-
stituted themselves the club for the
whole thirty-ninth they received the
support of all the push" fighters in
the district
Maestrettrs steam beer boys" were
well represented at the meeting and
applauded Fletcher and Frankel when
they spoke. Ex-Assemblyman Fisher,
who owed his legislative position to
Maestretti. spoke IN appreciation of the
Fletcher club. Others who have been
prominent in the fight against good
government In the thirty-ninth also at
tended the meeting and signed the roll
of the club.
This fact shows which way the club
leans in its sympathies. That its SYM
pathies are anywhere except with the
league is shown by the activity of these
Maestretti men in aiding the old chief
TO get the push" registered during the
closing days of registration.
Maestretti IS reported to be well SUD-
piled with funds for the coming cam
paign and he has already spent con-
siderable money hiring conveyances for
those voters who showed apathy in the
matter Of getting their names on the
great register.
VOTERS ARE NOT DECEIVED
These conditions are thoroughly un-
derstood by the good citizens of the
thirty ninth and they are eager to tes-
tify their allegiance to good govern
ment by supporting the Lincoln Roose-
welt ticket. More than In any other
district in town the public demand for
the routing OF the Herrin heelers is
loud voiced in the thirty ninth. The
league is giving the people just the
opportunity they want and there can
be no question of the outcome The
ticket which is backed by Fletcher with
his Herrin connection and by Maestretti
with his Ruef following will be opposed
by one in which none but the highest
class Of citizenship will be represented