The San Francisco call., 1909-11-02
WILL APPOINT MAN
AS COMMISSIONER
Oakland Club Yields Majority in
Playground Body After Con-
ference With Mayor

OAKLAND. Nov. 1.-The game, of
politics was played vigorously today by
the women of the Oakland club and by
playground commission. The field Of
combat lay at the Oakland club quar-
ters in Pythian castle, Twelfth and
Alice streets, this morning. when the
women held a militant meeting. This
afternoon the agitation reached the
city hall, when the troubled commits
sion called a special meeting to consider
itself, and a committee of four Oakland
clubwomen called on Mayor Frank X
Mott to discuss the paramount issue
of clubdonl.
The vacancy in the commission which
led to the political play was caused
some time ago by the resignatio Of
Miss Ethel Moore. Since then there
have been only four persons on the
commission-A- s. Macdonald, the chair
man; Mrs. G.. w. BunnelI, Mrs. Cora T..
Jones, also of the Oakland club. and
Prof. C.: E. Hudspeth. With Miss
Moore the clubwomen had a controlling
membership in the commission.
But after her resignation the COM
mission sought a change. resolution
was sent to Mayor Mott asking that the
fifth member to be appointed be man.
Mayor Mott had an ordinance framed
to reorganize the commission, providing
indirectly for. the appointment of three
men, although the membership OF the
commission was defined as five persons
appointed by the mayor"
Having heard in mysterious way of
the resolution which the playground
commission had sent to the mayor. the
l.
its majority. The women thought that
they knew what the discretion of the
mayor would be when 1T came TO filling
Miss Moore's vacancy. Therefore the
club began adopting resolutions yes
terday Hence the storm clouds that
gathered around the playground COM
mission today.
sion- Macdonald and Hudspeth, looked
to Mrs. Bunnell, she said:-
81 have changed my mind
Therefore the commission made pub
lie it's resolution asking the mayor to
appoint a third man instead of a third
woman. 1T is the unanimous sense
and wish of this commission. etc.
read the resolution. Beneath, were the
words, Moved by Mrs. Jones, seconded
by Mrs. Bunnell."
The resolution was sent to the mayor
again. Behind 1t appeared Mrs. Hall,
Mrs. l.. Crane and Mrs. Frances Gray.
accompanied sby Miss Grace Trevor of
the Oakland club, to talk about the
political aspect of the commission. The
mayor met them, smiling in Taftian
manner He sent them forth smiling
and acknowledging that 1t was alto
gether advisable that the playground
ordinance should require five persons"
instead of "three women and two men.
The mayor still has his discretion"
up his sleeve. That ordinance went
to the city council tonight 1t is now
sanctioned by the playground commits
sion, and the women's delegation has
declared to-the mayor that a play
ground commission composed OF fve
persons is not a bad institution
The COMMITTEES from the club agreed
with me thati results are what we
want said Mayor Mott. There is
much inspection to be done, and We de-
cided that three men could do that
better than three women
The playground commission has IN
structed George z. Dickie, superinten-
dent of Fairgrounds. to open a play
ground tomorrow at the Tompkins
school Ebert Vail will be in charge
and will be assisted by six young
women from the University of Cali
fornia.
On motion of Councilman Elliot the
city council set Thursday evening, No
yenlber IL, for discussion of the or
dinance to reorganize the playground
commission
Mrs. l.. M Hall. president of the Oak
land club, and Mary A. Mikel. recording
secretary, are the signers of a protest
from the club against the ordinance