The San Francisco call., 1908-10-23
De YOUNG HITS
HOME INDUSTRY
A HEAVY BLOW
Discriminates Against Local
Business Houses in Purchase
of All Supplies
Union League Club Members
Indignantly Denounce Action
of Their President
Contract for Furnishing 0rgani-
zation's New Home Taken
Boldly From City Firms


dressed to the members of the Union
League club L. H. McRoskey, well
known as furniture and mattress
manufacturer, has turned the light on
the troubled affairs of that organiza-
ton. McRoskey wants contract for
furnishings for the new clubhouse,
which he believes rightfully belongs
to him, and he has appealed to the
membership of the organization to
circumvent certain officials in their
effort to place the business with an
eastern house. McRoskey's letter has
brought several of the leaders of the
club to his assistance and they have
joined in objecting to the discrimina
ton against local merchants and manu-
facturers. Their indignation is the
gFeater in view of the fact that Nc
Roskey himself is a member of the
club.
A large element in the organization
was surprised to learn that eastern
and even European firms were given
the preference over San Francisco bus
mess houses, and it was the more
amazed that NJ. III. de Young, president
of the club should have adopted this
couvse IN view of his vigorous declara-
tion in the Chronicle of yesterday
morning that contracts should be
given, whenever possible, to local con-
tcerns. The members are practically
fa unit in the opinion that De Young
was Responsible fol- the discrininatioH
against the SAN Francisco business
firms and bs' some it was pointed out
that it has long been his practice to
buy at the east and abroad instead of
at home.s
To support this contention they Ge-
clare that the proprietor of the Chron-
icle imported eastern men TO plan his
new building and other eastern men to
erect it: that lie has long bought his
clothes from eastern outftters: thatfhe
has scorned even 10 purchase in SaT
Francisco uniforms for mis- elevator OPP
orators The local product was not
good enough for De Young
That President de Young's policy has
not been popular in the Union League
club is Indicated blythe fact that two
furnishing committee when they
learned that he had thrown out the To-
cal bidders and decided to purchase
elsewhere at higher figures.
ISSUE IN CAMPAIGN
The episode has stirred the institu-
tion to such an extent that it has be-
come an issue in the campaign for the
presidency of the club. An opposition
ticket headed by William II. Jordan.
with buy at home policy has come
into existence to wrest control from De
Young, who is after a third term as
president. The point Will be deter
Y,ipad a tha January aIactinn
In the, meanwhile the McRoskey con-
tract has displaced political considera-
tions in the club discussions. McRoskey
says it is not his intention to cause
trouble, but that he has simply asked
for fair play In his open letter. which
was published yesterday, McRoskey
stated briefly that he had submitted
bid for the beds and bedding of the
new clubhouse. He declared that
subcommittee had approved his tender
and recommended its acceptance. but
that the executive officers of the orr
ganization, without a satisfactory rea-
son or any reason, decided to place the
contract with an eastern house. He
concluded by saying:
1--WE offer to meet any price of an east
ern house We have not received n
square deal. Do you believe I'm en-
couraging local Industry. This is an
unfair discrimination and we think you
ought to know the facts. Are You go
ing to stand for its"
1t appears that the club will have 80
| or 40 bedrooms in its new home now
nearing completion at Powell and
| o. Farrell streets During the absence
| in Europe of President de Young the
| committee on furnishings proceeded to
secure from local dealers figures at
which they could supply the beds and
| bedding The committee in charge of
| this work was composed of William
H Jordan, acting president; E. II.
| Tryon. D. A. Hulse and DR.. Louis
| Deane. Several furniture establish
ments were visited and then the COM
| mittee decided to leave the selection
of the bedding to Hulse. who is also
in the furniture business, but declined
| to bid because of his position on the
| committee.
Hulse decided finally that the figures
| of McRoskey were the most satisfac-
| tory. The club required between $3, 900
and $4,000 worth of bedding, and in
plaring the tender of McRoskey before
recommendation that it be accepted.
The full committee had practically
| agreed to place the order with him
| when Jordan learned that De Young
! would return to San Francisco in two
! DAYS Out of Difference to the presi-
dent of the club he determined to sub
nit the recommendation to De Young
When the latter received the docu-
ments from Jordan he looked at them
| and then thrust them in his pocket.
McRoskey's contract never got farther
| than De Young's coat.
| CONTRACTS SENT EAST
A few days later it was learned that
the contract had been sent on to O. D.
Bates g. Co. of Boston. When this in
| formation was conveyed to them Jor-
dan and Hulse. feeling that an injus-
| flee had been done which they could