The San Francisco call., 1909-02-14
MERCHANTS INDORSE
PORTOLA FESTIVAL
Association Approves of Plan
for Great Celebration and
Urges Aid for Scheme
Inauguration of Fiesta in Honor
of Explorer Marks New
Era in City's Life


The Inauguration of the Portola fes-
tival for October of this year means
the establishment of feature in the
life of San Francisco that is certain
to attract world wide attention. There
are several California cities and many
cities on the continent that have an
nual festival celebrations, but no.
where is there a city that has the
Unborn carnival spirit as that to be
found in San Francisco.
An instance of that is to be had on
New Years eve and especially last
New Years eve, which meant more
than an hour or two of joyousness. 1t
meant the rebirth OF the city and af-
forded its citizens and their friends an
opportunity to pay compliment to the
merchants who pioneered the move
ment back to their old quarters in the
shopp45g district
From that successful celebration in
the downtown district sprang the idea
of big annual celebration that would
include all sections of the city. The
Portola festival was the idea.
New Orleans has it's eMardi Gras";
st. Louis its yelled Prophets" and
Omaha its '..Ak-Sar- Ben. which at
tracts thousands of visitors.
ELABORATE FESTIVAL
In San Francisco, where things are
done on big scale, there will-be fes-
tival conducted on the lines of those
in other cities but on a far greater
magnitude and elaborateness. All the
commercial, fraternal and civic or
tv,k ks-xx.. -
together and suggesting ideas to a
central executive committee with head
quarters at 936-9S7 Phelan building.
There is so much sentiment and his
toric romance centered about San
Francisco that the festival is bound to
be a most wonderful one. The early
Spanish settlers with. their quaint old
ways have thrown cloak OF romance
over this section that is famed the
world over.
1t is the object of the men in charge
of this affair to make it strictly
Spanish festival, with all it's wonderful
attractions and color display.
Mayor Taylor has formally issued
his proclamation giving the city over
to the celebration from October 19 to
October % of this year. and calling
upon all citizens at home and abroad
to rally together to make this affair
a great success The supervisors have
put their stamp of approval on the
scheme by adopting resolutions pledg
ing their support ana assistance
Louis Sloss has been assigned the
task of handling the funds, and all
subscriptions may be sent to him
through the office of the executive
committee at 936-937 Phelan building.
PLAN is INDORsED
The following resolutions have been
unanimously adopted by the board of
directors of the Merchants association
of San Franchises:
Whereas the one hundred and fortieth ami
versary OF the discovery Of the bay of San
Francisco , by Gaspar de Portola. first gov
Whereas, the public spirited citizens of San
Francisco, in response to general and spon-
organization for holding and are now engaged
liz preparing the details of a festival. which
San Francisco bay and afford an opportunity
for public rejoicing over the splendid present
and still more splendid future Of the city and.
at the time draw back to their old home
the San Franciscans scattered throughout the
Whereas 1t Is the common wish of those
citizens who seek the welfare and desire to
hasten the progress OF San Francisco that this
festival shall become 1xed annual institution
and feature of the city's life; and
Whereas the success of this festival and its
establishment annual event will be pro-
NOTED and further assured by giving it the
support and sanction of The Merchants associa-
ton: now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Merchants association does
hereby extend to the Portola festival its ap-
prova OF the organization already formed and
the plan outlined; and
Resolved, that the Merchants association does
hereby approve of the selection OF the period
from October 10 to %. 1909 both inclusive as
the occasion of the first Portola festival, and
urges all San Franciscans TO join IN the merry
making of this festival and TO assist in making
il such success will rebound to the credit
of the community at home and abroad and add
greatly 10 it's prosperity.
THE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF s. r.
ANDREW NJ. DAVIS President.
J.. NJ. KING, Secretary.