The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-10-30
CENTER DFNOUNCFS
COMMERCIAL RING
Applies Strong Epithets to Nc
Nab, Tyson, Captain Matson
and Swayne
Charges That They Circulated
Libelous Stories to Defeat
the India Basin Act

The heavy artillery of the advocates
of the India basin act was concentrated
last night upon James McNab, r. H
Swayne, James Tyson and Captain Will
liam Matson, whom Matt l. Sullivan
characterized the higher ups of COM
mercialism." The opening guns were
fired by Supervisor George Center, who
did not hesitate to use the shorter and
uglier word which President Roosevelt
held over the head of E. H. Hartman.
Center denounced the four, as men who
pass for honorable men, His indigna-
ton had been aroused by Objectionable
circulars sent broadcast of which he
charged they were the authors
So intense had been Center's feeling
in the matter that he had gone during
the afternoon to Attorney Matt 1. Sulli-
van with the intention of suing for libel
and SANDER, but Sullivan advised
against such action.
Center was one of the principal speak
ers at lively joint session of the Mis-
sion promotion association, the Islais
creek inland herbor association and the
Potrero commercial and manufactur-
ers association held last night at the
hall of the Mission association at Six
teenth and Valencia streets. His at
tack upon the four businessmen was
but the beginning of series of clashes.
Later In the evening Matt Sullivan and
A M. Davis, president of the Merchants
association, exchanged heated words
and Sullivan INDUCED In sharp ex-
changes with Henry E. Monroe, a con-
tractor, who stated that he was op-
posed to the act. but admitted that he
had contract to fill in land which the
state proposed to condemn.
CENTER'S IRE AROUSED
Center was particularly aroused over
the fact that a committee of the mer-
camille bodies, consisting of McNab,
Swayne, Tyson and Matson, which had
been given charge of the campaign
against the India basin act, had sent a
representative out into the interior to
defeat the measure by spreading the
report that the men advocating the
act owned all the adjoining land and
hoped to benefit financially. The man
sent into the field was n. l. Stoddard
secretary of the ship owners associa-
ton. With him went the circulars in
which Center and others were attacked
Center stated that he and Colonel w.
j. Barrett had heard of Stoddard's ac-
tiYlties and decided to go to Fresno to
investigate. They found that Stoddard
had told the Fresno chamber of COM
merce that Center owned the Islais
creek land and was in the deal to make
what he could out of it. The facts were
laid before the businessmen of Fresno
by Center and Barrett and Stoddard left
town. After reciting the facts last
night Center said he had learned that
Stoddard had been sent out by the COM
mittee of the mercantile associations.
Il found" said Center, that James
McNab, William Matson, James Tyson
and K. II. Swayne were responsible for
this. These were the moguls We
found that these four men run the
whole thing. They hired this man and
sent him out to lie. Is there a single
organization in this city of which they
are not members? The associations
downtown are run for one or two men.
What Will be their fate? 1 don't know.
IheyIl die. Their excuses will become
SO great that nobody will join them.
These men pass for honest men.
why did they send this man out to
neE The draymen's association controls
the warehouses of the city and they
don't want the harbor to expand. 1
lost my temper when I found that lying
vagabond down there. But the lie goes
on just the same; the same men and
the same lie."
Other speakers placed the blame for
the opposition upon the shoulders of
Engineer Luther Waggoner, Thomas
Magee and Pope & Talbot. Waggoner
BIG CAMPAIGN FUND
1t was also charged that q campaign
fund of $4,000 had been raised to de-
feat the act Anonymous postal cards
nave been sent throughout the state
against the act and the bill boards in
Oakland have been placarded with
signs urging voters to defeat the meas
ure. These posters call upon the people
of Oakland to refuse to help the San
Francisco harbor.
DAVIS REsENTs INsINUATIONs
Andrew NJ Davis of the Merchants,
association resented the insinuations
against the commercial interests and
spoke calmly for a more generous
spirit. His talk assisted in the resto-
ration of peace. When he had conclud-
ed, Sullivan paid him a tribute for his
loyalty to the city's interests in SUD-
porting the India basin act.
Rev. d. 0. Crowley succeeded in COM
pletely restoring harmony by a reso-
luton that red fire be burned on the
hills on the eve of election to remind
the people to vote for the measure
The resolution was adopted unani-
mously.
James Rolph Jr. presided at the
meeting and the speakers included: G.
S. McEnerney, Colonel w. J. Barrett
Rev. D. o. Crowley, Charles ]. King
Theodore Pinther, Charles Alpers
George L. Center, Eustace Cullinan and
Matt 1. Sullivan.
Fairfax Wheelan has addressed a let
ter to the chamber of commerce in
/. f<.l, l. L.