The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1912-04-04
insult ADDED
TO INJURY IS
FATE OF HILL
State Harbor Commissioners
Alameda Roosevelt Clu
Made a Maverick
Then G. r. Morris Refuses to
Shake Hands and Threat
ems a ''Punch"

the progressive republican leaders of
Alameda county. suffered a hard fall
from grace and double blow to his
pride at meeting of the executive
committee of the Roosevelt Progressive
league of Alameda county Tuesday
night in Maple hall in Oakland. First,
the Alameda Roosevelt club, which he
tfathered as one of the pioneer political
bodies of the Roosevelt campaign, was
coldly dropped into the discard by the
executive committee, and then, as he
was leaving the hall, he was threatened
with physical violence by George t.
Morris. also of Alameda.
| Morris twice refused to shake hands
with Hill and told him that he was "a
political crook" He concluded his de-
nunciation by informing Hill that if he
would remove his glasses he would
punch his face. At this point the argu-
ment attracted the attention OF several
other members of the executive COM
mittee and Hill retired from the field.
Trouble Over Stamps
The trouble between Hill and Morris
dates from the time OF the last state
primary campaign in 1910. when both
were active workers in behalf Of Hiram
w Johnson and were enthusiastic
members of the Hiram W. Johnson Re-
publican club of Alameda.
Several clashes occurred between
them then and a serious breach finally
ture. Morris. who had made liberal
donation to the funds of the club, spent
about $40 of his own money for stamps
for campaign literature. expecting to
be reimbursed. Hill is said to have
advised the club to 'get Morris whistle
for his money and to have used the
available club funds in the payment of
EUtner bills.
In any event Morris has always
blamed Hill for his failure to receive
the money which he expected and has
had nothing to do with the state har-
Dor commissioners. Thus the scene
was set when Hill started to leave the
hall at the conclusion of Tuesday
nights meeting. Morris was standing
near the doorway talking to Arthur
Mock, former Alameda man.
Refuses to Shake Hands
How are you. George" volunteered
Hill, extending his hand to Morris.
"Ill have to refuse to shake hands
with you," replied Morris, looking Hill
souareiy in the eyes. I'm not in the
habit Of shaking hands with political
crooks"
whats the mater with your in
quired Hill.
.If you were any kind of man
you'd know what's the matter with
me-" declared Morris. Hill hesitated,
and then tried again to shake hands
with Morris.
Keep away-keep away from me,
threatened Morris. "or I'll put one over
on you"
Several persons stepped up, inquiring
the cause of the trouble.
"Oh, one of those wild longhairs
from Alameda is after me-" explained
HILL
Threatens to Punch Him
IF you'll take your glasses off, was
Morris reply. "I'll punch your face for
you.''
The spectators had crowded in by
this time and the encounter came to
an end. Morris admitted the details of
the verbal battle yesterday. but Hill
declared that he had not had any
trouble with Morris. and added that
whatever occurred was nobody's busi-
ness anyhow
Hills rundown of the early even
ing took place while the executive
committee was celebrating over the
organization of Alameda county in be-
half of Roosevelt When the coloners
hat fell into the ring IN California,
TIill was one of the first to busy him
self with organization matters, and,
representing himself as authorized by
Governor Johnson to inaugurate the
movement in Alameda, organized a club
IN that city by electing l.. J. Geary
president, Mrs. T. H. Speedy vice pres
ident, w. A. Nicholson, vice president
and L. NJ. King secretary.
Blow Is Made keener
Tuesday night the executive COM
mittee Of the league refused to recog-
nize this club and appointed COM
mittee to organize another Alameda
club in its place. The blow was made
the keener when Mrs. Speedy. first vice
president of the Hill club, was named
with Samuel Poorman Jr. as the COM
mittee to take charge Of this organiza-
tion. Mrs. Speedy promptly accepted
the commission with the statement
that she had taken hand in the first
! organization only because OF Hilrs
statement that he was authorized by
Governor Johnson to bring the club
| into being.
| The efrect of the womens action was
completely to discredit the club formed
! by Hill and to take the matter of or
ganization In his home city entirely out