The San Francisco call., 1908-09-01

are innocent. Personally 1 am in the
war to stay, whether IL Is for 30 days
or years.''--Statenent of Walter Mac
arthur before the cIergymen's branch
of the Citizens League of Justice yes
day morning at Wesley Nj. e. Church.
More than 100 cIergymen, represent
ing various denominations in San
Francisco and Oakland, listened intent
~ to the above statement and then
voiced their approval of the remarks
with vigorous applause. Mention of
Francis J Aeaey's maine, eaupled with
remar lsss ga the great nscessity " ~ 1oEt-
'TinuiRg the gr&. Z prosecution, created
enthusiasm
Macarthur's address was not TRADE,
but an urgent appeal to the honest
citizens Of San Francisco to exert their
influence for the betterment of the
public mind. we shall so affect pub
lie opinion said Macarthur, that the
men at the head of the graft prosecu-
tion would not dare to give it UP even
if they wished to do So"
Prof George II. Boke, who is prom
inently identified with the Citizens
League of Justice, preceded Macarthur
on the platform. Professor Boxes ad-
dress disclosed several plans by which
the league will endeavor to offset the
mind distorting work in which agents
for the grafters have been engaged.
To secure the accurate and honest pub
lication Of trial reports and meetings
and to campaign against poisoning the
public mind By persons interested in
the welfare OF the grafters comprise
two of the plans which the league
deems of the most Importance. This
done, Professor Bake believes, the tide
will turn in favor, unanimously so, of
the graft prosecutors work.
Professor Boke narrated an interview
he held with an editor of the pro- graft
press. Boke visited the parsonage
with a view to securing the publica-
tion Of an article which emanated from
the Citizens League of Justice. While
the editor was not personally adverse
to the article he informed Bol1e that
stronger powers were against the Citi-
zens' league and against the whole
fight against graft.
The forces Of evil among men in
this city seem to be in the ascendency,''
said Professor Boke, but l believe
that if we stand together our power
VIII cut off the power of evil. Thou
sands of men would be honest, but
they suffer from the terror of that
strange power in their midst 1t is the
fear of money. the greed for money,
that is preventing honest men from
standing together. This league be-
Heves that men can be united, although
we know that great sacrifices will be
made"
The stirring arraignment of the
abuse of sacred privileges by the graft
ers was the leading topic of Macar-
thurs address. He said that when the
league Gfst met there were those who
advisedSradical measures and it was
demonstrated that the old vigilante
spirit was neither dead nor very sleepy.
He continued:
There. were those who proposed that we take
matters in our own hands and proceed to admins
ter justice according to own lights and our own
means. But the shortcomings OF the law should
be cured by more and NOT by less law and | am
that those responsible for the present situa-
tIon IN San Erancisco would like nothing better
than to engage the law abiding element in such q
contest; but tie law abiding element would be
handicapped In such contest in tiat their oppo-
Eclts conid 30 further and last longer and are
more familiar with that method of fighting The
struggle must be based upon dependence and
confidence IN the law. The moment the city rec
ognizes that there IS no hope-either because
there is no law abiding element or because il
lacks courage to assert itself--just that moment
tie city ma., as wei decide 10 submit 10 robbery
Ss,,.se+,- Is t,asa,t non M. rrirei,,ie - - eis-
the peaceabe possession of property and the
right Of every citizen to go peaceably about his
business. There is great deal more in this
cause than the mere prosecuting and convicting
of those charged and guilty of grating This il
a matter In which the most sacred and invioIate
principle Of orr government It exists is in
Yoieed-fhat Is. the right to the peaceabe posses
sion OF private pr0perty-and public property is
more sacred than private. II would be better TO
announce to the world that this city were a
pickF0cket's paradise than that the streets
which are the sacred and fnvio1ate property of
the community. should be sold by supervisors or
the boss OF supervisors TO private corpora tions
and no punishment follow.
Just as soon the graft prosecution is
dropped-for the sake OF argument-and as soon
as the trials of the guilty are discontinued
tgc shall find the very foundation of popular gov
ernmeat falling away We must stand by this
prosecution. Nr. Heuey Is at its head aud In
that capacity we must stand by him. II the
grafters are innocent they would be the first to
call for speedy trinls, but they hire lawyers to
place obstacles In the way of the law
When you ask for speedy trial for these
graffers you are their fricnds-proyiding they be
innocent Personally, / am in the war to stay
tion-