The San Francisco call., 1913-07-26
RAPHAEL WE'LL
BACK To ENJOY
BOHEMIAN J|NKS
Returns From European
Haunts to Spend His Re
naming Days in San
Francisco
RESIDENT OF CITY
NEARLY 90 YEARS
Glad That the Government
Has Decided to Send a
Navy Into Pacific

Raphael Well returned yesterday
morning from a trip to European cap
itals that had lasted several months,
and he expressed the determination
last night not to leave San Francisco
again until he shall have celebrated
the sixtieth anniversary of his arrival
here. which Will be within a few
months.
II have many friends in Europe"
he said, "and particularly a circle of
very close friends in Paris. or course.
I love my native country, but San
Francisco has been my home for near
ly so years, and / told my friends in
Paris when / was there last that
could never be satisfied to live any
where else than here.
81 have been with one firm for So
years now, which 1 think is a record.
The history of San Francisco is also
the history of my life and I want to
spend the rest Of it right here
Il know that in some ways things
are not as good as they might be here
right now. But in that San Francisco
does not differ from the other big
cities in the United States and Eu-
rope. Everywhere I went while I was
gone I found 1t the same. Money Is
tight everywhere in this country and
in Europe. But things are going to
be better here before long. I am sure"
VISITED THE EXPOSITION
Mr. Weir said he visited the inter
national exposition in Client and made
some inquiries in regard to the Pan
anna Pacific exposition. Some of the
turies in Ghent, he said. expressed a
Willingness to come to San Francisco
in 1915 If they were wanted But Mr..
Well was not officially representing
the San Francisco exposition and there
fore made no attempt to do any bust
ness along that line.
Regarding local affairs Mr.. Well
said he had kept himself as well posted
as possible. He had had the local
papers forwarded TO him-'tand I read
them. too" he added. Asked as TO how
he stood on the matter of the proposed
bond issue, he said that he had not
Yet sufficiently studied the matter to
be able TO make a statement But I
VIII say this he continued: II am
not opposed to bond issues as a prin-
ciple. as some people are. There are
those who always oppose any issue of
bonds, fearing that 1t will increase
their taxes. l stand willing to pay
more taxes myself If it is necessa ~,
and where the object is a good one I
am in favor Of the issuance Of bonds
Anything that will advance the best
interests of the city is good, even If it
does cost money"
DELAYED BY FLOODS
Mr.. Well said he was greatly disap-
pointed that he was delayed in the
latter end OF his journey by floods
His train got IN % hours late and he
therefore missed the wedding of a
friend that he hoped to attend. But"
he said. Il am here in time to attend
the jinks of the Bohemian club that
are being arranged by my friend Rufus
Steele, and l am glad of that.
wouldn't have missed that occasion for
anything"
The decision of Secretary of the Navy
Daniels that, after the opening of the
Panama canal. the home of the Ameri-
can battleship fleet is to be in the
Pacific is hailed by Raphael WE'LL with
great approval Il have always in
sisted" he said. that our battleship
feet should be kept on this side, where
it is most liable to be of service. I
don't see why they should have waited
for the opening of the canal, either.
What is the use of spending all those
millions for the fortification of Homo
lulu and the construction Of a great
naval base at Pearl Harbor when the
navy of any nation could capture the
Islands without any trouble because we
have not a single dreadnought In the
Pacific? ] am glad to see that the au-
thorities at Washington seem to be
waking up to the Importance of pro-
tecting the Pacific coast"