The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-10-16
CROCkER IS GIVEN
HEARTY RECEPTIONS
Republican Mayoralty Nominee
Speaks at North Beach,
Richmond and Mission
Clearly Defines His Position on
the Principal Issues of the
Campaign

From North beach to the Richmond
district and then back into the Mis-
sion, William Crocker, republican can
didate for mayor, made a rapid swing
last night, addressing four large meet
ings and receiving hearty receptions
at each. The beginning of the speech
making was at the Washington square
theater at Powell street and Mont
gomery avenue, in the forty fifth dis
trict
Croker was the first speaker at the
Washington square theater meeting,
but the auditorium was well filled by
the time of his arrival at quarter
past o'clock, and he was given
warm welcome. The meeting was pre-
sided over by Emil Hildebrand, and
number of speakers followed Crocker,
including several candidates for the
minor offices on the republican ticket.
Croker outlined the principal points
of his policy and won applause at all
four meetings by his championship OF
the Hetch Hetchy water proposition
and his stand in favor of gas and other
public utility rates which would give
the corporations controlling these utill-
ties a fair return on their actual in
vestment and no more. His stand, he
declared, would be for a strictly bust
nesslike administration of the city's af-
fairs on the principle of equal rights
for all and special privileges to none
If elected, he asserted. his appoint
ments to the various city commissions
would include only men of ster-
ling quality and business ability, chos-
en- because of merit alone and not be-
cause of political strength or trickery-
The second Crocker meeting was at
Steimke hall, in Octavia street near
Union in the forty first district, where
Robert w. Moore presided as chairman.
Moore introduced Croker as a man
who for years had been his personal
competitor in business and whose chief
virtue he knew to be square dealing.
Crocker told of his own upward climb
from the carpenters bench to the po-
sition of mill owner, stating that his
own interests were bound up in San
Francisco and that all the fruits of his
struggles were invested here. in real
estate. 1t was not for what the Office
might bring him nor for the glory IL
might reflect that he wished to become
mayor, he stated, but because he
wished to give the city a clean, honest,
business administration.
From the Steimke hall meeting
Croker hurried to Clement hall at
Sixth avenue and Clement street in the
thirty ninth district. where a large
crowd was awaiting him. Alex Russell
introduced him at this place. Croker
again declared that the Hetch Hetchy
water system was one of the citys
greatest needs and also declared him
self in favor of the immediate building
of a new city hall on the old site. BY
defeating the proposed civic cen
ter bond issue the people had
announced themselves in favor
of the old site, said the speaker
and he added that he considered
this site the best in any event
He declared himself in favor of taking
the public schools entirely out of poll
tics and in favor of erecting only class
school buildings.
The last meeting was at Saratoga
hall in Valencia street near Fourteenth.
where j. E. Ellington presided.
Croker talked somewhat on the same
general lines as at the preceding meet
inSs. He announced himself in favor
of a new city and county hospital, new
emergency hospitals and public build
inSs of a kind which would be a source
OF pride to the city. He said that he
favored more time for rest for the
members of the police and fire depart
ments and believed that under the
present system it could be arranged
that each freman should have one day
in five to himself and each policeman
at least two days month.