The San Francisco call., 1909-10-09
CROCKER FRIEND
OF WORKINGMAN
Republican Candidate Says That
he Has Given TOiIers a
Square Deal
Believes in Unions and Knows
San Francisco and It's
Needs

william Croker. the planning mill
man oefed any man in his hearing last
night TO say, OF to find man who could
say that he ever showed himself other
than as the firm friend of the working
man. This declaration was made in a
Workngman's district, the thirtieth, in
smiths hall, Ninth and Howard streets.
sno the answer was deafening applause.
Crocker's opportunity for opening his
speech with a decisive and powerful
statement came in a slip of the tongue
on the part of the chairman. L. Nc
henna, proprietor of the Hibernia hotel
IN that district and one of the leading
workers for the betterment Of the dis
trict. McKenna slipped in the middle
initial. H" which belongs to Crocker
the banker
Boys, Croker began when the noise
OF greeting had quieted. i want to call
YOU boys for I am one with you. 1
have been spoken OF as a millionaire
ano friend OF the nillionaires. But
my name Is not William II. Croker
it's plain Bill" Crocker. Ii was Bill
Crocker when ! landed here at the age
OF IS. without father and without moth
er TO aid NE; it's Bill Crocker now.
And no banker. no millionaire nor cor
poration owns me or ever viii own me-
When I came here ] made my own
way. working days and studying nights
When ] worked I did a square days
work for fair days pay. When ] be-
came an employer 1 gave a fair days
pay for q square days work-and. what
IS more. I gave my men steady work, in
season and OF. None of you can say
that I ever did otherwise. And you can't
find a man in this city who can say l
ever did otherwise.
The answer given the candidate al
this point by the crowd was an old
fashioned ovation.
when / worked for wages l was a
union man" continued Crocker. 4 have
never been against a man for joining a
union. because I believe that unions are
formed for the betterment or the conol-
rion Of the toilers.
IF elected want TO say that the rule.
4 fair days wage for a square day
work will prevail. I stand for the square
deal be it for the man at the top or the
man who sweeps the streets. All classes
are entitled 10 the same protection un-
der the law
unfortunately. ] am not a public
sneaker I wish I were. But can
only say what / think. My days were
given TO work and nights 10 study. ana
/ had no time to cultivate such talents-
But I can say that / know san fran
cisco know every street, and
rrict-its need Of new sewers and ~of
streets. on which work has progressed
so slowly ] know, too. how its water
mains were broken in the great catas-
trophe.
your doors II elected shall see that
this magnificent project is carried
through. You here don't realize what
II means out in Bernal heights. where
the residents have TO catch their drip
pings from the faucets in barrels at
night to have water in the daytime.
= Il believe IN giving the fire boys, who
4 are ever on duty. one day on In hVe.
md in more considerate treatment of
the police.
In all. I believe in a liberal inter
pretation Of the laws, to meet the
varying conditions in the different dis
tricts.
AS for the gas rates. a fair income
on their investment is all that cor
poration has the right to demand.
GREETED By CROWD
Croker was unable to leave the
meeting for q considerable time. owing
10 the crowds that pressed about TO
Among the others speakers, John
Farr. county committeeman, said the
entire republican ticket would carry
the thirtieth district. John j. Grelt'
Fred EggerS ana a u DOsSs' Co-iN-
dates for county clerk, sherin ano re-
corder. respectively. promised TO Keep
the latch string out" and give cour-
reous and busfnesslike administration
q. ". Bayreuther was enthusiastically
received in this, his home district
John T Dare. for police judge, made
strong impression in recounting ms
part as a friend OF the laoorer. he
told how he had left barren Long
island farm to strike out as sailor
At "A and arrived in San Francisco at
is. where he worked as longshoreman..
mule driver. pony express rider and
team owner. studied at night and finally
gained his law diploma.