The San Francisco call., 1909-12-12
Formidable Opposition in Noun
taineers' Club to Attack on
Hetch HetChy Project
Attempt to Iniure Plans of the
City Stirs Membership to
Extreme Indignation
designations Offered Because of
UntrutFfuI Literature Be-
ing Circulated
Communication Sent to Wash
ingtOn Explaining DiSap=
prOvaI of Pamphlets

ingtOn Explaining Disap=
prOvaI of Pamphlets
I EADERS in the Sierra club have
taken emphatic exception to any
attempt to commit the organiza-
ton TO policy antagonistic to the
city of san Francisco. A strong fac
tion within the club has come out for
tle development of IN. Sierra water
supply.
These members. as jealous in their
love of nature as their fellow Sierrans,
declare that no part of the Yosemite
park is TO be profaned by the reservoirs
al Lake Eleanor and the Hetch Hetchy
valley. They feel that the snow clad
peaks could serve no nobler purpose
than to contribute their liquid purity
L. the city's thousands. So tense is the
feeling that several members have re-
signed because of the attitude Of the
clubs officials.
Nav Poll the Club
A movement was inaugurated yes
terday 10y which the forces favoring
the city may unite and call for a poll
Of the club. 1t is strongly hinted that
a majority Of the members stand ready
10 repudiate any action or movement
that may be regarded as hostile to the
interests of the city Of san Francisco.
when it was made known that new
circulars had been issued and sent
broadcast throughout the country op-
posing the plans of the municipality.
on the other hand, the officers of the
Sierra club stated yesterday that no
action had been taken in the name of
the club. The protests had gone out in
the name Of the Society for the Pres
ervation Of National Parks" This is
an association specially constituted for
this work Its local membership. how
ever. is recruited from among those in
authority in the Sierra club
The circulars were sent out from the
rooms Of the club in the Mills building.
Secretary Colby asserted that the rooms
belonged Jointly to the Sierra club, the
Society for the Preservation OF Ma
tional Parks" and similar bodies. The
rent. he explained, was divided among
them.
Protest by Members
The general membership of the Sierra
club objects, nevertheless, to the fact
that these men have allowed the i'm
preston TO go forth that the Sierra club
as a body is lighting the Hetch Hetchy
project 1t was this feeling that led to
the designations. Among those who
withdrew is Joseph Hutchinson, the To-
cal attorney. He had been en- enthusi-
astic member, but declined to affiliate
further while the clubs officials main
1ained their present attitude.
The policy OF antagonism to the Hetch
Hetchy project has been fathereby John
Muir president of the club; William L.
Colby, the secretary; Prof. william Bade
OF Berkeley and Edward T. Parsons.
Bade and Parsons are directors
Standing out against these men are
such strong influences in the organiza-
tion as Prof Alexander McAdie the vice
president: Warren Olney Sr., one of the
pioneer members; Chief Justice william
Beatty. former Governor George c. Par
dee, Charles II. Bentley, J. n Pomeroy,
Harold French and }. II. Cutter
Pardee, Bentley and others have
joined in note 10 the administration
at Washington explaining that large
portion of the membership dissents
from what has been accepted from the
policy Of the clu bon the water ques-
tion.
Opposition Grows Formidable
This faction has gathered strength at
each succeeding clash. 1t has now
reached a size that may make a ma
jority At any rate it is ready for the
test, and the feeling is growing that
vote should be demanded.
Some Of those who sympathied origi-
nalIy with the ideas Of Muir and Par
sons have come to recognize that they
have been made the dupes Of the Spring
Valley They have now reached the
conclusion that no real harm can come
to the park and that the city's interests
are uppermost.
Professor MeAdie is one of those who
feels that ehe nature Iovinb sentiment
has been allowed to run riot
-AIl the beauty in the world is not
bottled up in the Hetch Hetchy valley"
said McAdie yesterday. 4 see more
glory in a San Francisco sunset than
ever saw in all the Sierras. When
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