The San Francisco call., 1909-11-04
Mayor in Full Control


Every question of appropriations or
legislative authorization of the expend-
sture OF the citys money will be de-
termined by a majority OF the board Of
supervisors in sympathy with the
mayor, and in fact chosen by him or
with his consent and advice for the
nomination OF his party.
In the event Of friction in the new
hoard neither republicans nor demo-
Gratis sigly or collectively can exert
any determining influence except upon
those questions which may require a
1wo-thirds vote.
The incumbent board viii be repre-
scented on the new by only three mem
hers-Bancroft and Murdock, republi-
cans, and Hooks. the lone democrat to
survive the cyclone of votes. These men
have been leading members of the
present board and have headed i'm
portant committees. Naturally they Will
draw back seats on the new board. The
republican side Of the minority is COM
posed of FIVE unusually strong, able,
upright men, Hooks, the one democrat
reelected. is a veteran Of experience
and with a creditable record.
For the most part the members OF
the ma jority are men untried in pub
lie Office. c. A. Nelson, who bids fair
10 be one. OF the leaders OF the new
board, was a member of the last state
assembly and made a record there
which was decidedly creditable TO him
self and his party. He was the house
leader for the Islais creek project and
was big enough TO Withstand unusual
adverse pressure from san Francisco.
lie was a sturdy advocate of the direct
primary election law. and that despite
the fact that its partisan features made
il generally Objectionable to the mem
bers Of the legislature who had been
the benehciaries Of more than one party
nomination.
In the councils Of the union labor
party of organized labor. exclusively of
politics. Nelson has been one of Nc
Carthy's most reliable lieutenants. and
* is generally believed that he will be
one Of the administrations chief repre-
sentatives on the board of supervisors
Voted Ticket Straight
That organized labor voted its party
ticket straight is amply evidenced by
the election of Il members Of the board
OF supervisors and by the defeat OF
such valuable public servants as Su-
pervisors James P. Booth. Thomas Jen-
nings. A. Comte Jr., James A. John
ston. George Connolly, Daniel c. Muir
ply and Henry Payot.
The fact. too, that Al Of these men
were beaten by but narrow margins
and that none Of the supervisorial can
didates picked by the late business
mems committee of % made even a
creditable showing in the race, fur
nisbes some food for interesting rUmi-
nation on the part OF those Political
Students zsrho heliere that the nominal
ton OF q majority party viii cloak al
most any kind of personal spots.
The substantial pluralities and ma
5orities given to incumbents like
Treasurer McDougald, Public Admin
istrator Hynes, Recorder Godchaux.
Tax Collector Bush and City Attorney
Percy V. Long also demonstrate that
psrtisan nominations is after all a COM
paratively slight consideration when
weighed against good public service.
Mayor elect Mccarthy and the franz
ers of his platform have promised San
Francisco a liberal businesslike ad-
1ninistration of its affairs They have
promised San Francisco that the Hetch
Hetchy municipal water project will be
prosecuted with the utmost dispatch; I;
that San Francisco shall have an IS
cent gas rate; that the horsecars shall
be removed from Market street with
out injury 10 the public's rights; that
the Geary street railroad shall be oper-
ated by the city as q model of munich
pal ownership, and operation Of urban
transportation systems. They have
promised streets, sewers. schoolhouses,
hospitals.
San Francisco has given to them all
the power il can confer. 1t has ac-
cepted their promises. It expects their
redemption.