The San Francisco call. [volume], November 05, 1895, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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VOLUME LXXVIII.-NO. 158.
THE FORMAL CONVENTION WORK WELL BEGUN
Earnest Mass • Meeting at
the Chamber of Com
merce.
COMMITTEES DECIDED ON
The Interior Cities to Be Recog
nized in the Organi
zation.
SENATOR WILLIAMS PRESIDES.
He Will Select the Men to Do the
Heavy Work To-Day and
To-Morrow.
The fight for the convention has as
sumed formal shape.
Within twenty-four hours an executive
committee will be at work, and within
forty-eight hours all the machinery of or
ganization — finance committee, transpor
tation and committee of promotion — will
have assumed their functions.
It all came out of the meeting at t*he
Chamber of Commerce yesterday after
noon, at which the merchants, Union
League and Half-million Club discussed
the situation and named the steps to be
taken.
There was no nonsense about that meet
ing. It was determined that it was no
time for spread-eagle oratory, and even
parliamentary practice had to take a back
seat occasionally in favor of expediency.
They were business men who were there to
attend to business of the utmost impor
tance. Nobody tried to make a long
speech, and communications which did
not refer to the business actually at hand
were incontinently referred to committees
in order that there might be no delay.
Another peculiarity of the meeting was
that it started promptly on time. The
meeting was set for 3 o'clock, and at that
hour General Friedrich was in the chair.
Among the gentlemen prominent at the
meeting were:
If. M. Estee, S. W. Backus, M. H. de
Young, Alfred Bouvier, C. H. Friedlander,
George H. Pippy, P. B. Cornwall, Oscar
Tolle, A. H. Castle, J. M. Litchfield, John
T. Dare, C. Mason Kinne, Senator A. P.
Williams, George Spear, Dr. Lawler, M.
Cooney, Clement Bennett, Hugo Keil, Cap
tain John Lafferty, H. P. Sonntag, Hugh
Craig, J. L. Field, Charles Montgomery,
A. Gv .Booth, David Rich, E. Palmieri, H.
A. ''icCraney, A. 8. Baldwin, Wendell
Easton, General R. H. Warfield, Colonel
W. K. Smedberg and numerous others.
Nearly all of these gentlemen have taken
part in business of public importance and
understood exactly what they were there
for. Each one had his plans made up, but
was willing to be convinced that some
other citizen's views were better to accom
plish the object for which tbey all came.
So it was that amendments were piled on
amendments until everybody had his say,
and then some broad-minded member
would up with a substitute embracing the
best features of all the plans proposed,
and in the end these features were adopted.
General Friedrich opened the meeting
With a very short address:
"I have been requested to call this mass
meeting together," said he, "for the pur
pose of devising ways and means toward
having the next Republican National Con
vention meet in San Francisco. I heartily
congratulate you that the present outlook
is so favorable, and, with a little concerted
effort on our part, I believe that success
will crown our efforts. This is a business
meeting composed of business men; no
partisanship of any kind should be allowed
to intrude itself, out we should, irrespec
tive of politics, unite in one endeavor to
bring the convention here.
"The Union League Club, a couple of
months ago, appointed a committee toward
arranging for this convention. All of the
National Committeemen have been written
to by this committee, and almost every
one of them has replied. It would appear,
from their replies, that San Francisco is
now within six votes of having a majority
of the National Committee. That is cer
tainly encouracing and should inspire us
al 1 with enthusiasm.
"Tbe press of San Francisco, for once
united and earnest, have already practic
ally solved the financial problem. As a re
sult of their generous efforts over one-half
of the necessary funds has already been
voluntarily subscribed, and without any
other effort made with the people except
to give them an opportunity to subscribe.
The press and the Union League Club have
so far had control of the affair. The time
has now arrived when no one club is cap
able of coping with the movement, and as
a result the community have been called
together to take charge. Hence tnis meet-
ing.
"I have the honor of leaving the matter
in your hands. The first in order is for
you to nominate a chairman to preside
over you. I, myself, decline to be a candi
date."
"Mr. Chairman," said Colonel John F.
Dare as he rose from the center of the
room, "I rise to place in nomination for
permanent chairman of this meeting a
man who has a national reputation; one
who is known among the politicians all
over the Union; a man who has represent
ed this State, in a Senatorial capacity, in
the halls of the National Capitol. I place
in nomination Colonel A. P. Williams."
The applause that greeted the mention
of the gray-haired Senator's name was
deafening, and before it had subsided the
nominations were ordered closed and his
selection made unanimous.
At almost any other meeting the presen
tation of the chairman would have been a
matter for oratory and argument. The re
tiring temporary chairman would have
been sure to laud his successor to the skies
under the cloak of introducing him, and
the better he was known the more florid
would have been the arguments and the
longer the introductory speech.
Think what an opportunity the intro
duction of Senator Williams was: "Our
sterling citizen," "Services to his country,"
"Ever in the fore rank of movements that
concern the public interest and pros
pa»ii»"«-what an elegant opportunity for
The San Francisco Call.
a voice quivering with emotion and the
good flow of rhetoric! But this was not
that kind of a meeting. General Fried
rich put the chairman before the meeting
in half a dozen words, and the chairman
smote his desk with the gavel and called
the meetine to order.
General Williams said:
"Mr. Chairman and fellow-citizens: I
thank you for this mark of esteem and will
try to the best of my ability to assist in
this matter. I, like all of you present here
to-day, feel a sense of pride in that I live
in California and in San Francisco, but I
recognize and we want our friends in the
East to recognize that this is a part of the
United States and we desire recognition—
we demand recognition, not as Republi
cans or Democrats, but as citizens of the
United States. Up to this time our recog
nition has been pretty near nil. In future
we will demand more.
"We want the people who come from the
East to realize that three-quarters of our
Nation is even west of Indiana, and nearly
half the population is in the West. For
this once let us lay aside all our little
bickerings, all our little jealousies, and
work together to bring one and perhaps
both National Conventions to San Fran
cisco.
"At this time let me in all candor award
the meed of praise to the press of San Fran
cisco for the interest and enthusiasm with
which it has taken up this project. I tell
you when the press of this City and this
State unite that they are invincible. Let
them get behind us or us behind them, as
the case may be, and we are bound to suc
ceed. It is not necessary to tell you that
there would be no advertisement in the
world equal to that which California
would receive by holding a National Con
vention in this City.
"The whole State is interested. It is not
San Francisco alone."
Then Chairman Williams had read a
letter that roused the enthusiasm of the
meeting. It was as follows:
Palace Hotel, San Francisco, Cal., J
November 4, 1895. \
It would afford me great pleasure to accept
your cordial invitation to meet the representa
tive business men of this City at the Chamber
of Commerce at their meeting this afternoon
to formulate plans in reference to holding the
next Republican National Convention in this
City, but 1 am obliged lo leave the City this
afternoon, and so with great regret must forego
the pleasure of being present.
I came to California purely on a pleasure tiip
desiring to see something of this great common
wealth. I have had a most delightful time and
have received such kindness and hospitality
from so many citizens that San Francisco will
always have a warm place in my heart. You
have a wonderful State and a superb City, and
you cannot be too proud of either.
San Francisco to me is an ideal place for
holding a National Convention. You have so
many advantages over any other city. Your
hotels, your beautiful Dark*, your attractive
surroundings, the hospitality of your people,
all tend to make it a most attractive spot for a
meeting of representative men from every sec
tion of our great land. I have never heard but
one objection to San Francisco, and that was
its distance, but it is no greater distance from
the Pacific Coast to the East than from the
East to the Pacific Coast, and the Pacific Coast
has been for forty years attending National
conventions in the East. It is only fair that
the East should come once to the Pacific Coast
I am very earnestly in favor of holding the
convention here, because I believe it would
be a great object lesson, teaching love of
country and patriotism to the delegates of the
East to make thin trip across the continent and
see whaj a superD and vast country we possess
one having every climate and possessing every
natural attraction that the world can offer.
It ia needless for me to assure you that'my
Tote on the committee will be cast from the
first to the last in favor of your city, and I
firmly believe if the Californians will send a
representative committee, making a business
proposition to the National Committee, it wiil
be accepted and the next Republican National
Convention will be held here.
I want to thank the citizens of San Francisco
for their cordial and kindly attentions to me
while in the City and to assure them of my
great admiration 01 their public spirit, of their
business enterprise, of their loyalty to their
section and to their country, and I remain,
with great consideration, your obedient ser
vant, J. H. Manley.
When the applause had subsided H. i\
Sonntag moved a vote of thanks to Mr.
Manley, which was heartily given. Then
John C. Currier, on Colonel Smedberg's
motion was chosen secretary.
Mr. Tolle promptly nominated Wen
dell Easton as treasurer. Before the nom
ination could be seconded Alfred Bouvier
was on his feet and Btarted the first dis
cussion of the day. "It would possibly be
better to pause a moment and find out
what Mr. Easton would be treasurer of.
Of course an objection to Mr. Easton was
the furthest thing in the world from my
thoughts. We have not yet any funds in
our control to call for a custodian. I have
devoted considerable thought to the mat
SAN FRANCISCO, TUESDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 5, 1895.
ter, and my idea is that we should have a
committee. Mr. Easton might then be
chairman of a general committee. At
present he could be treasurer of nothing
unless of our consciences. I move that
the chairman appoint a committee of fif
teen — not a partisan committee, but one
made up from the representative civic and
commercial bodies of the City, the various
civic societies of San Francisco, the various
exchanges, the Union League Club, the
Chamber of Commerce, the Half-million
Club, etc. What we want is a representa
tive general convention committee. That
committee will appoint a chairman, secre
tary and treasurer, and out of it shall be
named sub-committees for its purposes —
among them a committee to go to Wash
ington in December and to there appear
before the National Committee."
Just here M. H. de Young stepped for
ward with a paper in his hand. It proved
to be a resolution embodying substantially
what Mr. Bouvier had suggested.
"It is needless to repeat the old adage,"
suggested Mr. Bouvier, "about great minds
all running in the same channel," and
with this he accepted Mr. de Young's
resolution. It was seconded, but not put
for quite a time, because a number of
other gentlemen had different views about
the course to be pursued. General Backus
was the first on his feet.
"I do not think," said General Backus,
SOME OF THE MEN WITH IDEAS WHO SPOKE AT THE CONVENTION MEETING.
"that the number named in Mr. deYoung's
resolution is enough. We should not
limit ourselves to sucli a small list. In
order to take in all the societies in San
Francisco we should have a much larger
committee. I move to amend the resolu
tion by increasing the number to twenty
five."
"I agree with the speaker and move to
make the number fifty," said George
Fippy. "This will divide up the work.
No small committee can attend to it
properly."
"On the other hand, I think that fifteen
is too many, and I move to make it ten,"
said David Rich.
"It would appear to me, on reflection,"
said General Friedrich, "that even fifty is
not large enough. If this committee is to
appoint all the sub ones, it ought to be
composed of as many organizations as
possible ; localities outside of San Francisco
should also be given recognition. I move
to amend the amendment by increasing
the number on the committee to 100."
"I suggest that it be made seventy -five ;
fifty to be given to San Francisco and
twenty-five to the interior towns," Mr.
Tolle said.
M. Cooney agreed with General Fried
rich, except that he thought the number
should be 100, as the entire State was in
terested.
Mr. de Young, who had been patiently
waiting, his resolution getting further and
further buried beneath the load of amend
ments, counter-amendments and sugges
tions, turned at last and made a bit of
speech to bring his paper to the surface
again. He said:
"We are met here to organize toward
bringing the National Republican Conven
tion to San Francisco, and not to spread
honors around promiscuously over the City.
We must organize and carry out our work.
My list of fifteen is sufficient. If you in
crease it you will have a mob, and whoever
heard of a mob accomplishing anything.
If you have a committee of 100 you will
never get a quorum once a month. It
would take fifty-one to make a quorum of
the large committee, and they would
never come together once a year. In addi
tion to the fifteen I intend to suggest a
committee of seventy-hve to have charge
of the transportation and the like. If you
want, a large body to distribute honors
among you make out a promotion com
mittee, whose duties will not be very
important."
A stalwart voice from the rear of the
hall took .up the argument. It was Mr.
Sullivan of Santa Cruz. "Santa Cruz," he
said, "is the only piace that has put its
name down for money on your list outside
of San Francisco. This convention is for
California first and for San Francisco sec
ond. The committee should be large
enough to take in members from the in
terior. You can always get a quorum.
We do not want any jealousy in it. We
are going to win, and I as a humble
country member want to remind you of
the balance of the State. Give us, back
woodsmen, a chance. Whatever redounds
to tlie honor of ban Francisco redounds to
the honor of California. Let us unite Cali
fornia to get the convention that will name
the next President of the United States."
M. M. Estee smoothed the slight ruffle
that the contending members had stirred
up. It only took a few words. "I heartily
indorse Mr. de Young," said Mr. Estee.
"In my twenty years' experience I never
yet saw a large committee on anything
that ever accomplished anything. You
can never get a quorum. We are dispos
ing of the spoils and honor before we have
the convention.
"We can dispose of the spoils and honors
by having various sub-committees if it is
necessary. The general committee wil!
have to meet daily, and a large body will
practically preclude the possibility of the
work being done. I speak disinterestedly,
as I will not go on any committee myself.
Let us not destroy our work by bickerings.
The East is all in favor of us, and if we pull
together we will undoubtedly win."
"Just what are we talking to, Mr.
Chairman?" asked Alfred Bouvier.
"The chairman would say that it is not
according to strict rules," said Senator
Williams, "but — "
"I was not rising to a point of order,"
said Mr. Bauvier. "I was eoiag to call thft
previous question, prefacing the call with
a suggestion that in addition to the gen
eral committee a committee of promotion
consisting of 100 members from all over
the State be appointed."
The chairman suggested that all the mo
tions be withdrawn, but nobody withdrew
them. General Backus was the Moses that
led them out of the wilderness.
"It is not exactly parliamentary," said
Backus, "but here is an easy way out of it.
Let us vote on the various motions, taking
the smallest one first, and if that is not
adopted we can go on voting on the larger
number until we reach the view of a
majority of the meeting."
General Backus' idea was enthusiastic
ally adopted. Mr. de Young's resolution
for a general committee consisting of fif
teen members was put and carried. That
disposed of the whole matter.
Then other committees were provided
for. P. B. Cornwall came forward with a
motion.
"I suggest," said Mr. Cornwall, "that a
committee of twenty be appointed by the
chair, with power to increase the number
to eighty if advisable. This committee
can be made up in part of members in the
interior, and may be charged with the
collecting of funds and otherwise promot
ing the project."
"I movt) that the chair be instructed to
appoint a committee of 100 on Dromotion
and subscription, to be made up both from
San Francisco and outside towns," said
John T. Dare.
"The suggestion of Mr. Cornwall that the
committee of twenty be empowered to in
crease itaelf is good," said M. H. de Young.
"They can appoint the number better
than the chairman. It will be almost im
possible for the chairman to do so."
"I thoroughly agree that the task of
selecting a committee of one hundred will
be well-nigh impossible," said Chairman
Williams.
"I have spent most of my life in the in
terior towns of the State," said Mr. Dare,
"and I know what effect the selection of
men in those towns by this committee
would be. The interior is at present en
thused over the idea of bringing the con
vention to the coast, and they will feel
greatly honored if the chairman of this
meeting officially selects one of their rep
resentative citizens to act on the com
mittee.
"If this committee simply appoints aids
to help them collect in the various towns
it will dampen tneir ardor, I feel aure."
"I favor Cornwall's motion," said Gen
eral Friedrich. "It ie practical and gives
a basis for us to act on."
"I withdraw my amendment in favor of
Mr. Cornwall's motion," said John T.
Dare, and Mr. Cornwall's motion was
passed.
Then George Pippy introduced a reso
lution. It was as follows :
Baolved, That the chairman appoint lmme«
diately a committee of five to be known as the
committee of transportation. It shall be the
duty of this committee to immediately com
municate with all transcontinental roads and
secure from them definite and positive assur
ances as to the rate they will give for trans
porting the National Committeemen, delegates
and attaches of the Republican Couvention of
1896. This committee shall make its report as
soon as possible to the executive committee.
"Mr. de Young's resolution provides for
that," said Mr. Bouvier.
"The gentleman is mistaken," retorted
Mr. Pippy. "I call for the reading of Mr.
de Yonng's resolution."
"Move we adjourn," interjected Mr.
Bouvier.
"Do I hear a second?" asked the chair
man.
"Is not Mr. Bouvier a little hasty?" in
terrupted General Friedrich.
The motion to adjourn was allowed to go
unnoticed until Mr. Pippy's resolution had
been put. It was carried, Mr. Bouvier
bravely and sternly voting "no." Then
Mr. Bouvier's motion was taken up and
the meeting was over.
During the debate a number of com
munications had been passed up from the
floor. These were not read because they
were not considered pertinent to the issue
immediately before the house.
Among the communications is this one
from I. S. Friedlander:
We can afford to oe severely practical in our
discussion of this project. Let ns endeavor to
look at the situation as it appears to the disin
terested observer, and to estimate from that
standpoint the strength or weakness of our de
mand that the next National Republican Con
vention be held in San Francisco. We should
try to imagine ourselves in the place of the
National Republican Committee, for we are
working on the assumption that the delibera
tions of that body will not be influenced by
either predilection for or prejudice against any
applicant for the convention, but will award it
to the city that proves itself best entitled to it
on the ground of expediency and every other
essential consideration. We must remember
that San Francisco has several active and inac
tive rivals in the field, and that they will be aa
eager to expose our disadvantages (for we
must not flatter ourselves with the belief that
she has no disadvantages) as we will be ready
to deny their false representations.
We cannot persist in our candidacy without
provoKing a fierce and unscrupulous on
slaught, and as we have no idea of relinquish
ing our candidacy while there remains any
possibility of capturing the prize it is plainly
our duty right now and here to look the pros
pect squarely in the face and decide upon an
effective campaign. We have not hesitated to
sink political and partisan considerations in a
broad effort to help San Francisco, and surely
■we can afford to weigh San Francisco's present
aspiration fairly— as it will* be weighed by the
committee— without pronouncing ourselves
destitute of local patriotism or inviting sus
picion that we are harboring a desire to de
preciate our City's self-esteem.
Our claims will be weighed by comparison,
and It would be superfluous at this time and in
this place to recapitulate them, for they ha^e
been set forth so often and s>o intelligently \»
the press that every one here it conversing,
with them. But you may not be so well in
formed as to the plans that will tie filed in
opposition to us. When we have expounded to
the committee all the exclusive advantages we
possess in the way of climate, hotel accommo
dations, etc., the other fellows will take th#
floox *nd endeavor to show that our strongest
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
bids for favor are offset by our remoteness from
the great centers of population, and the fact
that our standard time is several hours behind
that of the other big cities of the country, thus
preventing the publication by the morning
papers of New York and Boston and Philadel
phia and Chicago of the late proceedings of the
convention the previous day.
There will ue other objections, just and an
just, urged against the selection of San Fran
cisco as the place of holding the convention,
but those I have mentioned are the principal
ones and will be the hardest to overcome.
And now is the time to devise ways and means
to nullify them. On that point I have no
advice to offer, further than to suggest that
when the proper ways and means nave been
adopted they be entrusted to the care of men
capable of operating them for all they are
w nth, and more than they are worth, if possi
ble. Much will depend upon the personnel of
the committee that you will select to present
San Franri«eo's claims. To Insure success It
must be made up of men who know how to
talk and are not afraid of hard work— men who
are fertile of resource to argument, who possess
the respect of this community and are
qual) Sea to compel that of those whom they
shall try to influence. While defending San
Francisco from malicious aspersion they must
be ready to administer a knock or two on
their own account— to hit a head when they
see it. While extolling the attractions of their
own beloved City they must not neglect any
opportunity to expose the repulsive features of
her rivals.
Pittsburg is said to be our most formidable
opponent, and it should not tax the gray mat
ter of the California advocate to evolve argu
ments sufficient to slaughter Pittsburgh
chances. Let him compare the soot-laden
atmosphere of that city with the salted ozone
that is constantly on tap in Sau Francisco,
aud assure the committee that here the dele*
gates to the convention could keep their
lungs expanded and their linen immaculate
all the year round. And in mentioning Chi
cago, also conspicuous In the race, he may in
cidentally remark that instead of being
equipped with a canal flowing with liquid
tilth, this City has the prettiest and cleancit
bay in all the world. These are only minor
details, but they count. When the Scotch
philosopher declared that 'mony a mickle
makes a muckle," he provided a text that
might with safety be adopted as a motto for
the guidance of men who are to have the
honor of laying San Francisco's claims before
the National Republican Committee.
Another communication was as follows.
It was submitted by T. B. Morton:
San Francisco, Cax., Nov. 4, 1895.— We, the
citizens ot the State of California and of San
Francisco, in mass-meeting assembled, do
hereby express our sincere desire for the con
vening of the Republican National Convention
in this City in 1896, knowing full well that
San Francisco is competent on all lines to care
for such a convention in a manner second to
none in the Union. The Inducement »nd ad
vantages we can offer are many and varied.
Our unsurpassed climate and natural re
sources; the great importance of California to
the rest of the Union, so far as regards her
mineral wealth, agricultural products and
natural resources, which are capable of afford
ing paying investments for millions and labor
for the great army of unemployed— these and
other features are potent reasons why the con
vention should be held here.
In convening the convention here we will be
enabled to enlighten the representative men ol
the Nation as to the absolute|necesslty of the
early completion of the great Nicaraguan
canal, which will be the means of increasing
our traae with the Orient, islands of the sea,
the western coast of Mexico and the South
American republics. If these great avenues of
trade and wealth can be properly placed before
the American people, we firmly believe the
whole nation will be benefited, and we believe
all of this can be accomplished by the conven
ing in this city.
Besides these many advantages we believe
the candidates for the Presidency should be
selected by the people through their represen
tatives. In convening the convention here,
this being the most remote city haying no
candidate of its own for National honors
places all candidates before the delegates alike
on an even basis, with no local influence to
intimidate and overawe, and leaves the dele
gates free to vote for the chpice of their con
stituents or make their own selections, and
the people for once will choose the candidate
and not the politicans. Therefore be it
Revolved, That the chairman be authorized
to appoint a committee of seven, four Republi
cans and three Democrats, to go to Washing
ton and lay the claims of San Francisco before
the Republican National Committee, and use
every honorable means to cause the conven
tion to convene here in 1896.
Chairman Williams will notify all the
committeemen of their appointment. He
will name the general committee named
n Mr. de Young's resolution within
twenty-four hours and the others within
forty-eight hours.
CONVENTION FUND TO DATE.
The subscriptions continue to pile up
from all quarters of the state, and the
rivalry to see who can do the best is making
it interesting for those who are in the
movement.
Yesterday Gladding, Mcßean <fc Co.
added $250 to the list, on the ground that
every stranger brought to California was
just one more feather in her cap. In such
acts we find the typical California business
men showing their hand all over the
Golden State.
In Los Angeles last night the Herald
came into the ring with $100, and tho
never-sleeping Sciplo Craig of the Red
lands Citrograph put himself down for $25.
Others in this City assisted in swelling
the fund, and the good work still goes
merrily on.
The record up to the beginning of this
week was :
PREVIOUS SUBSCRIPTIONS. ...»7 I.B6a
Xeuf Subscriptions.
GLADDING, McBEAM & C 0.... 250
LOS ANGELES "HERALD" 100
REDLANDS "CITROGBAPH".. 98
BROWN BROS , 500
PACIFIC TRANSFER CO «0O
SACHS BROS 250
UNITED CARRIAGE CO 200
KAHN BROS, KLINE & CO 100
ROTH Sc CO 100
KINAI.nO BROS. & CO 100
J. P. JACKSON 100
RETAIL HATTERS' ASSOCIA
TION 2RO
J. A. FOLGER & CO 10»
GREY BROS 100
GOLDEN WEST HOTEL.. 100
HALE BROS 100
W. K. VANDERSLICE & C 0.... 100
KOHLBERG, STRAUSS A
FROHMAN SO
NEWMAN & LEVINSON 6O
GROOM & HAGAN 5O
HOLLENBECK HOTEL (Los
Angeles) 100
VALLOO AQUATIC CLUB 100
MARK STROU9E 69
S. SOLOMON. 5O
OAKLAND "ECHO" 25
TOTAL 87 4,520
Within the next twenty - four hours,
through the exertions of the committee
appointed by the chairman ol the meeting
at the Chamber of Commerce, it is likely
that the people of California will see some
substantial additions to the fund.
coyrjEJTiox rates.
Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Waiting
to Hear From the Association.
Both General Passenger Agent Goodman
Continued on Fourth fag*.