The San Francisco call., 1909-08-08
LONG TELLS
WHYHE WOULD
RETAIN PLACE
Republican Candidate for Re-
election as City Attorney
MOdestIy States Views
FavOrs Sierra Water System,
Low Gas Rate and City
Owned Road TO Ferry
BY GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

city Attorney Percy V. Long is a
candidate for republican nomination
and reelection. His candidacy has
been indorsed by the conference Of in
dependent republican clubs. Long
was not put in the race b. the inde-
pendent republicans. He was a full
nedged and extremely active candidate
before the independents conference got
around TO the matter of Endorsements.
Long has made the race for city at
torney on three former occasions. De-
feat was sandwiched in between two
victories. He was beaten by Burke in
1905, when the whole fusion ticket went
down before the Ruef-Schmitz paint
eaters" ticket He likes his berth and
the work Of his Office He wants more
OF both and admits the truth of that
old politicians maxim, Few die. none
resign"
Longs is an extremely interesting
personality. Quite aside from his
views, any man OF SO years, who has
been in the public service for the major
portion Of Is years, is interesting. Or
dinarily the man caught-young and
kept in the public service for a decade
has no views save those touching the
best way TO hang on to a job and those
furnished him by party platform
makers. Ordinarily the boy who takes
up the role Of bread winner at Is has
a hard row TO hoe in politics.
LONGS PLEASING PERSONALITY
Long is a student of men as well as
conditions politician. That is the
first reason for his success which sug-
gests itself TO one who studies Long.
A pleasing personality, good voice
and apparent self control are coupled
with the modesty Of the cOnsummate
politician. He has views. He talks
about them easily and well He has
decided opinions on public questions
and is clever enough to express them
without undue use Of the first personal
sprOnOUn.
Those views. interesting as they
might be otherwise, have a public sig
nifcance since he is a candidate for re-
nomination and since he hopes to be
reelected. I asked Long the questions
I have asked other candidates for par
tisan nomination. He answered them
freely and positively, at the same time
showing an aversion to taking personal
credit for the conduct Of his ofice and
dividing what he undoubtedly esteems
the honors Of his administration with
the members of his staff by substituting
''the Office" for 4" Here is what
Long told me in answer to those ques-
Iaons
STUDIES LAW WHILE CLERK
I am 80 years old; born in Tuolomne
county; lived in San Francisco about l9
years. I am married and have two
daughters. / attended the grammar
schools at Hayward and the Oakland
high schools. / left school when I was
Is years old and have hustled ever
since.
Il was appointed a deputy clerk of
. the supreme court in 1891 and served
until 1895. During that time I studied
law and was admitted to practice in
October, 1892. I have practiced law in
San Francisco since 1895. j was elected
a Justice of the peace in 1900 and re-
elected in 1902 for four year term.
] resigned in 1903 to run for city at
torney and was elected. I was renomi-
mated on the fusion ticket in 1905 and
beaten by Burke. I was nominated by
the good government league and demo-
Gratis in 1907 and elected"
why are you a candidate for re-
election to the Office Of city attorney"
I asked.
WORK Is ATTRACTIVE
Few die and none resign-the Office
OF city attorney is attractive because
the work is constructive, and espe-
cially so under present conditions. In
general practice the average lawyer is
so placed that he is forced to take
positions contrary to his views in or
der to support his family. In this Of
fee the city attorney has the advantage
of advising the authorities against
cases without merit. The Office par
takes Of the nature of judicial posi-
ton. The advice of the city attorney
is frequently final. The Office of city
attorney is especially attractive to the
student now when the trend Of mu-
niclpal thought is toward the acquisi-
tion and operation by the public of
those services now supplied by public
service corporations. To be the chief
legal adviser of a big community
means the resolving of big govern
mental questions. In this connection it
IS well TO remember that when the
charter was adopted in 1898 the people
of this city adopted a provision for the
acquisition of public utilities"
WOULD REAPPOINT STAFF
In the event of your reelection will
the present staff be retained?"
-'If reelected I will reappoint this
staff. / am proud of the staff; to it is
due the big success Of the Office. 1t is
nonpartisan in character and it was
selected solely on my knowledge of
the respective abilities Of the men
who compose it"
Are you in favor of the Hetch
Hetchy municipal water project and
the acquisition and development of the
proposed municipal water supply?"
Il am in favor of the Hetch Hetchy
project. / went to President Roose-
welt in 1905 and secured the reopening
of the case. Then there arose a differ
ence of views. We went out of Office
the fire and the matter laid dormant
When il was revived I argued before
the congressional committee for the
grant"
WILL WORK FOR WATER RIGHTS
What, in your opinion. should be
done in the matter of the acquisition of
the Ham Hall lands at Lake Eleanor
and II reelected what Will be the pol
icy Of your Office in that matter?"
An attempt was made to secure
those lands at an agreed price. 1t
failed. Condemnation was the only
alternative. Condemnation proceed
ings have been begun and the Office
has employed expert witnesses as 10
valuations of water rights and is ac-
lively engaged in the work Of prepar-
ing for trial If ! am reelected those
cases will go on. The city is commit
ted to the acquisition of those prop
critics. The voters have declared for
il by a vote Of to /. They have
authorized $500. 600 worth of bonds and
they are committed morally to raise
led