The San Francisco call., 1910-01-09
PUBLIC OFFICE AND
PRIVATE ENTERPRISE

No small amount of criticism has
arisen In the past over the use OF public
office to promote private enterprise
Many of our citizens engaged in mer-
camille pursuits have been coerced into
patronizing certain persons or firms
through the fear of gaining govern
mental disfavor.
Legitimate business must and shall
be protected in the free and unre-
stricted choice of trade relations, and
any attempt on the part of any elected
or appointed official to force or influ
ence an undesired business relation
will be Immediately and summarily
dealt with
Any business conducted under mu-
nicipal or United States governmental
license, in a lawful manner, must be
fostered and encouraged by this ad-
min1Stration. There has been a tend
ency in the past to harass and injure
for political or personal reasons many
of our businessmen who conduct lawful
and orderly enterprises. In many in
stances our ordinances are given most
narrow and strict Interpretation for
the purpose of Furnishing the political
shortcomings of certain citizens or for
the purpose of satisfying personal
greed on the part of those in authority
Moreover, unnecessary and. too strict
measures have been enacted to satisfy
the unreasonable desire of reformerS
who have slight or narrow compre-
hension of the fair and liberal spirit
which should characterize the govern
ment of metropolitan city.
San Francisco Is metropolitan city,
destined TO be one of the greatest cities
of the world, with a cosmopolitan pop
ulation peculiarly it's own. 1t is
city of pleasure lovers and pleasure
seekers who desire freedom of action
within decently defined limits
Our ordinances should be so amended
and our laws so enforced that not only
shall those engaged in legitimate pur-
suits have reasonable liberties and
freedom of action, but those who seek
our city for the pleasures which it
ma .af n1.d oh ha ~ n =. fA
conduct and personal protection while
they are our guests and bring to us the
millions of dollars which they, spend in
return for the pleasure had.
During the recent campaign the op
ponentS of many of the incoming Off
cials predicted that with the ascension
tion the moral atmosphere of our city
would be degraded and that a wide
open town, shocking to the moral
sensibilities of our citizens, would OBJ
tain
In order that there may be no mis-
taken impression upon the part of our
citizens regarding this very important
matter / desire to place before you
gentlemen and the public at large the
present status of our city with rela-
tion to conditions for which the out
going administration is responsible, and
in order that this unenvfable heritage
may not be said to be fathered by the
incoming administration.
have no hesitancy in saying that
81 ID W4coSiCSS anu TIC DOt ihS
of undesirable persons is concerned the
city today compares favorably with its
darkest days of lawlessness in the past.
Our resident citizens have been har-
assed and handicapped by the enforce
ment of stringent measures, while on
the other hand suspicious characters
from without, who have no interests
in common with us, are not part of US,
hold no property and pay no taxes to
help support our city, are given an
asylum and permitted to pursue their
2sx.x. III IN
ference on the part of the last so
called good government admnistra-
ton. In support of this charge L re-
lowing: