The San Francisco call., 1909-10-06
TAFT BOOSTS FOR
GREATER OAKLAND
Nations Chief Magistrate Heeds
Counsel of Mayor Mott in
FavOring Consolidation

OAKLAND. oct. 5.-The advice OF the
mayor Of Oakland proved good enough
counsel for the first citizen Of the
United States today when President
Taft Joined the ranks of the local
boosters for greater Oakland and ad-
vocated the consolidation of Oakland
Berkeley. Alameda and the eastern sub
urbs. together with the bonding Of the
city Of Oakland FOR wharves and
municipal buildings.
That part of the national magls-
trates speech which brought enthu-
siastic cheers from the great con
course of people gathered to hear his
willows address, was purely a local
issue. In this question Of public policy
The president threw his weight on the
side OF the public interest as ne saw
il through his own experience ana
through the information EXTENDED by
Mayor Frank X. Mott.
TALKS on LOCAL ISSUES
For Mayor Mott was the man who
informed the president. Expecting 10
hear national men eNtOlled or cen
sured for their achievements or their
misdeeds under the dome at Washing
ton the largest audience which ever
greeted a president ia Oakland, was
thrilled 10 hear the great man talk
familiarity of those problems which are
topmost in the concern OF the Alameda
county citizen. The president got his
coaching" from the mayor or oak
land who had received him as the
t-frv's guest when he rode across the
Berkeley boundary.
There il was that the mayor took
his cue. Like any ordinary traveller
the president could not point out the
line that separates Oakland from the
college city. The unity Of interest, the
unity Of geographical situation and the
unity Of progress which is the COM
mon property OF Oakland, Berkeley
and Alameda was impressed on the
chief ma agistrate of the nation by
Mayor Frank X. Mott.
The land locked harbor on which
the three cities front was discussed
by the president and the mayor, and
the great man OF public affairs was
told that within less than 80 days a
bond issue will be submitted for the
Improvement OF Oakland harbor. the
cost of which the property owners of
the existing city will bear. The project
met with favor from the president, for
when William H. Taft faced his au-
dience at the WILLOWS. TO whom he was
introduced uA ms UlellOIs the lLdE OF OF
Oakland. he launched at once into his
boosters speech and he congratu-
lated the people on doing that which
ne conceived as SO important that they
could not refrain from the doing.
HARBOR WORK ADVOCATED
The mayor was not the only person
who talked bond issue with the presi-
dent Congressman .:oseph r. Know
land of Alameda also impressed upon
Taft the urgency of the harbor work
10 be undertaken by the city of Oak
land. His advice was quite in har-
mony with that given by Mayor Mott
who. on meeting the president, eX-
planned 10 him the reasons as he sa w
them why there should not be six
incorporated towns within Il radius OF
Eve miles from the city hall of the
county seat.
This condition was not altogether
new 10 the president Of the United
states, who is an observer of men and
cities. The division Of government be-
tween the east bay cities had paral-
lel in Tafts mind, for in supporting
consolidation in Alameda county the
president reminded his hearers that he
had advised ST Paul and Minneapolis
10 quit wrangiing and 10 get together.