The San Francisco call., 1909-04-21
PROGRESS KEYNOTE
OF BIG GATHERING
Pull Together" Spirit at Fill
more Street Improvement
Association Banquet
Optimism for Future of Thor
Oughfare Marks Addresses
by Well Known Men

me pull together" spirit the get
together" spirit and the get some
thing spirit" as exemplifed by the FIJI
more street Improvement association.
We're extolled at length at large ban
auet last night given by that organi-
zation at the Louvre. Optimism and
progress breathed in the words of the
many prominent speakers. and glow
ing prophecies for greater Fillmore
street were expressed with sincerity
by all Bigger buildings. more perma-
nent Improvements. a wider street
these were the topics touched upoA
"nich drew volumes Of hearty applause.
j. Brown acted as toastmaster. and
those who spoke were President David
livingston, Supervisor James Johnston,
ernest , Simpson, Fire Chief Shaug-
messy, Past President Norton g Wells
, d. w Ireadwen and Police Commits
sloner Charles Sweigert. Members of
1ne Fillmore street Improvement asso-
cation and guests numbering several
Supervisors and public officials of San
Francisco were present Covers were
laid for more than 100
FILLMORE STILL LIVES"
Fillmore street still lives" said
postmaster Brown in introducing the
speakers On this general theme dwelt
all who followed.
president David Livingston made a
brief opening address. He pointed out
that the growth and development of
the western addition. with its $50 600
population, would make ii always pos
sible for Fillmore street to remain the
uptown retail center. He spoke of the
work OF the organization in its effort
Tor lower insurance rates and said
that every hope was entertained that
reduction would soon be made.
Supervisor James a. Johnston said
IN part.
The Fillmore street spirit is large
and liberal spirit, too large to be
pounded by the lines that divide sec
ions. The Fillmore street spirit is
broad, II is liberal IL is enterprising, IL
IS constructive, IL is aggressive. ii is
daring. IL is COURAGEOUS. il is persever-
ing and il is fair but ii Is not provincial.
Ine Ftllmore street spirit Of one for
all and ali for one and a pull all to-
gether VIII be the San Francisco spirit
But great as your street has been you
But great as your stret has been YOU
can not permit the past TO fetter the
present You must be up and doing.
You must keep step with the march Of
progress We look 10 you TO initiate
things for your own betterment. You
need new sidewalks new buildings of
more permanent character and better
ansportation-if YOU can get it
Ernest :. simpson characterized his
talk as a "neighborhood chat" He
told Of his boyhOod days IN Fillmore
street when they did not say Fill
more street stiIl lives" but ~Fillnore
street still sleeps" He continued:
And now they say that Fillmore street
never sleeps"
CRADLE OF NEW CITY
He Ikened Fillmore street to the
cradle Of the new san Francisco ana
drew sharp contrast between the bread
lines Of three years ago and the thriv-
ing, busting thoroug hfare Of Today.
Turning 10 prophecy Simpson said ne
voiced the hope Of every man presert
when he forecast for the street a splen-
did era of permanency and stability.
The future Of Fillmore street will
be nodded in stone and steel and sta
bility.- he declared. and with We
hemence insisted that by the unerring
workings OF the great law OF topog-
raphy and geography Fillmore street
was destined 10 reduplicate the kearny
street Of old ana become one Of the
city's greatest thoroughfarss. God
fixed all this for YOU" he said, when
he laid out these hills as he did"
In closing he paid high tribute to
the breadth, nberaIsty. anu generosity
OF spirit Of the Fillmore street mer-
chants and their entire lack Of jealousy
toward other sections of the city they
all loved May you be as great as
YOU deserve. and may you be as great
Fire Chief Shaughnessy was the next
speaker. He told Of the progress that
had been made by the fire department
toward the better protection of Fill
more street. and estimated that when
improvements now under way were
completed insurance rates in the street
would be reduced fully 25 per cent.
Past President Norton c. Wells dis
cussed What We Have Accomplished
IN Fillmore Street" and drew a vivid
piAure Of the many civic betterments
inaugurated by the Fillmore street i'm
provement association. and all for the
general good OF San Francisco.
J. ". Treadwen responded to the
toast What We Need in Fillmore
Street" and in an extemporaneous ad-
dress made a strong plea for bigger
and more permanent street.
SWEIGERT MAKES ADDRESS
Police Commissioner Charles Swell
CERT devoted the few moments of his
address to Law and Order" and de-
livered an exceedingly well phrased
epftome OF San Francisco's progress
toward civic righteousness.
Those men Of eminence, the COM
missioner said. who were with a
robbers haste cramming their rich
4hievery up are now fallen from their
estates. and their downfall is due in a
great measure to the men who made
Fillmore street aIter Lne nre, the CEN
Ter of business and merry widows.
san Francisco now is as clean a city
a. any in the United States. He who
was termed Caesar by the less choice
element is now relying on the single
hone that the Indictment against him is
not q model one. The unchaste ele-
nnent. those living within the shadow
"a the criminal law, have been driven
bsc- to a restricted district. Law and
order reigns.
..Tbe police force now numbers 500
mon. all doing their best duty. with
+be knowledge that 1t is not political
mil that possesses them of their posi-
ffons but the character Of their work
only. Soon the force VIII be increased,
,one bv the addition of 200 more
policemen"
-r-t,osa r,reSent were.