The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-03-05
BY ERNEST N. SMITH.

! Especial Correspondence of the Starr
| SAN FRANCISCO, February Is
After the sea of local politics through
which San Francisco has waded in
these past months we are now
through force of circumstances
plunged fun into the harassing times
incidental to a presidential election,
and thereby hang good many diff
ferences of opinion.
Political trouble was early inaugur-
ated in San Francisco by the Demo
cratic proposal to close the mint as
a matter of economy" Be it known
therefore at once that the San Fran
cisco mint has brought to the govern
ment an income of over 100000 o
year, while the Denver mint which it
is proposed to leave, has lost over
| $4,000 a year. Ugly rumors float
about that the Democratic party in
Congress, when the mint at New Or
leans was closed, promised to even
/ things up, that San Francisco should
also lose her mint, or at least have
it reduced to the small position of a
mere assay office
Wherefore the city is aroused as
our old established mint is not only
one of the largest in this country but
is one of the two that pays a hand
some sum each year to the govern
ment. Some time ago one Of the Of
icials of the local mint resigned and
stated at that time that the Guggen-
helms were rapidly getting control Of
the reins of government and to COM
plete the mastery were proposing to
close minis around the country, so
that these mining magnates might
control the production of gold in this
country. This did not add to the
peace of mind of the Taft supporters
in these parts, and also the way the
Democrats in this community went
after the Democrats in Congress made
things somewhat hot at the capital
for the men who control the Demo
cratic destinies.
In the midst of this alteration
came Roosevelt's declaration that his
hat was in the ring" and that he was
"a nominee until" ETC., etc, and on
top of that came the sudden flop of
the progressive Governor Johnson
from the La Toilette camp into the
Roosevelt playground. And further
still he was not followed there by
very many of the men who supported
Johnson when he was running for
, governor. Which shows the begin
, ming of another possible split. And
next and not least Roosevelts broth
er-in-law, a prominent Californian, is
at the head of the delegation which
= came out flat-footed for Taft not two
days ago. There you have the politi
. cal pot boiling in Northern California
- with any number of cooks crowding
around seeking to stir things up with
their own pet political spoon.
The fight for the mint goes merrily
on with the Democrats of the city lin
ing up with the Republicans, and the
Worlds Fair board getting into tn;
fight hot and heavy and demanding
that this most interesting exhibit b.
kept for the benefit of the visitors t
San Francisco in 1915. Even the re
j filming companies, which are direc
J. competitors Of the mint in the pur
: chase and refining of metals, ado
e voice to the demand to keep the mint
l. which throws a side light upon tn,
way San Franciscans now get togeth
J. er when they want something for tn
e good of the city as a whole.
l. While Governor Johnson was Eas
l. some of his good friends who hav
o supported him in the past were bus
It inaugurating the Taft boom and the
e went steadily ahead in spite of Johr
sons vociferous call from the Eas
y to climb on the Roosevelt bandwago
70 and wait until he came home to staI
a things going.
t, And so between the Taft and tn
d Roosevelt forces there will be som
j. pretty politics doing these next fe,
a. months. Taft has undoubtedly bee