The San Francisco call. [volume], May 07, 1912, Image 10

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

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TUESDAY
Will the Colonel and His Men
Abide by Convention's Decision?
HERE is a serious charge which we hope Governor Johnson, Mr. Heney and the othet Roosevelt
delegate candidates will hasten to deny in authoritative and unmistakable terms. They are
republicans seeking further honors at the hands of the republican party. If they far! to make
denial, then the republican voters must understand that these men do not represent merely the can
didacy of Theodore Roosevelt, but represent a movement intended to destroy the republican party if
Roosevelt fails to control. Surely such honorable men as these must hotly deny any imputation
of treachery.
For weeks it has been repeatedly declared, without denial, that Mr. Roosevelt proposed to attempt
to destroy the republican party if he could not control it at Chicago. So much of slander and false
hood have followed close upon each other from the Roosevelt side, and Mr. Taft has been so obvi
ously misrepresented as to give color to the charge that they did not propose to have a united party
unless that party united on Roosevelt.
This question is bigger than the ambitions of any man. It involves the integrity of the party that
has made this nation great—the party that made Colonel Roosevelt president. Upon that score the
republican men and women of California have a right to direct and explicit information before they
prepare their primary ballots.
Acting on behalf of the republican party, for which it has ever fought, and with the belief that
Colonel Roosevelt would be glad to dispel any doubts about his loyalty to his party, The Call dis
patched the following telegram last Friday night to Colonel Roosevelt, who was then at Baltimore:
San Francisco May 3, 1912.
To Hon. Theodore Roosevelt:
The San Francisco Cal!, while not supporting your present candidacy, has done so heretofore. In 1908, when
the Chicago Tribune declared it would oppose you for a third term, even though you wers nominated, The
Call announced its willingness to support you in the event that you considered it wise or necessary to run.
We have letters from your friends here thanking us for the liberal and unbiased manner in which we have
reported the speeches of yourself and your supporters. \Yc have consistently given fair representation to your
side. California is about to hold a primary election to express the people's presidential preference. Republicans
on each side are claiming California at this election. It is being announced here that, if not nominated at
Chicago, you will seek some excuse to bolt the convention, will refuse to abide by the decision
of the convention, will cry fraud, and will not support the nominee of that convention, and that
your purpose will then be 'to wreck the party. We do not wish to give credence to such a
"statement without first referring the question to you. On behalf of this journal, as well as' on behalf
of the party and the people of this state. The Call asks you squarely: Will you, over your own signature,
telegraph The Call stating whether or not you will abide by the decision of the regular republican national
convention at Chicago and support the nominee of that convention? A straightforward, unequivocal answer
is respectfully solicited. It may result in helping or hurting your candidacy. Silence surely will work injury
to your cause, and so, too, will a reply that does not carry an unequivocal "I will" or "I will not abide by the
decision of the convention," and "I will" or "I will not support the nominee of that convention if I be
defeated." The Call requests the courtesy of an immediate reply by telegraph.
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL.
This telegram was delivered to Colonel Roosevelt on Friday. It was receipted for at the Emerson
hotel, Baltimore, by his secretary. It remains unanswered. Colonel Roosevelt has failed to assure
the republicans of California and of the nation that he is a republican first and that his candidacy for
the headship of his party is based on his loyalty to it.
The republicans of California and of the nation have a right to know what, Colonel Roosevelt
intends to do if the majority of the party, as represented in the Chicago convention, declines to follow
his .lead.
They have the right to an unequivocal pledge of party loyalty from every man who submits his
name to them as a candidate for the headship of their party and their government. They have a right
to demand of the delegates a pledge in this behalf. By his silence Colonel Roosevelt can not make him
self and his ambitions bigger than the republican party and its principles. That silence can be construed
only as evidence of an intent to attempt to wreck the party if it does not surrender.
We challenge Governor Johnson and Messrs. Heney, Lissner and Rowell and the twenty-six Roose
velt delegate candidates to pledge themselves not to bolt the convention; we challenge them to declare
that it is not their intention, if defeated, to start a new party. We challenge them to say anything what
ever on either side of this question.
"Let the people rule," they cry. Then let the people know what you are going to do if they elect
you as delegates.
"Let the people rule." Then be frank with the people. You are to be voted for by republicans,
and they have a right to hear from you.
Geary Street Project Moves
After a Sad Record of Delays
EVER since 1903 the people of San Francisco have contemplated
the construction of a municipal street railway on the Geary
street line. Votes were repeatedly taken on bond issues to
finance the project, but while a majority of the citizens usually
favored the plan, the necessary two-thirds vote was lacking until,
finally, in 1909 the popular revolt against the poor service given by
the United Railroads brought out the requisite majority.
Then ensued a period of harassing and purely obstructive litiga
tion instituted by the United Railroads for purposes of delay. It
dragged along in the courts, but the end was always certain.
Next came the difficulty over the sale of bonds. It was intimated
at the time that strong financial interests, inspired by the public
service corporations, were holding back bidders, but probably there
was no foundation for this belief, and it may be presumed that a
lack of confidence in the municipal administration of the period was
at the bottom of the hesitation. At any%rate, the whole issue of
bonds, amounting to $400,000. has since been sold at a premium.
There were other annoying delays and no little waste of money,
due to defective administration and the use of the funds for political
purposes. Engineering plans were drawn and remodeled, causing
more delay. H seemed for a while as if the project were hopelessly
"hoodooed."' Part of the roadbed was constructed on that section
of the line not in use, but the old rattletrap cars kept on running and
rattling until last Sunday.
It is an interestfng history, supplying demonstration of the diffi
the wheel. We may expect that, after many adventures and obstacles
overcome, the city will shortly have in operation a modern and up to
date street railway that will set the pace and give an example tor
private enterprise, besides supplying the basis on which a com
prehensive system of urban transit operated by the city can be
' WAVING frittered away the time of session doing politics and
I I chasing campaign material, congress now talks of taking a
vacation over convention time so that members may go home
to mend their fences. In the way of important
and pressing legislation nothing has been done,
and apparently there is no prospect that any
thing worth while will be accomplished. It is
— altogether a discreditable record, for which
the blame must rest on the democratic majority in tFrr-rTmisc of
representatives.
• * The whole Pacific'coast has been demanding legislation that
would put Alaskan development on some practical basis, but while
the matter has been talked over in a*i -aTway in congress,
nothing has been done and nothing is likely to be doneat this session.
Congress "Stall*
ing" for Political
Purposes
- EDITORIAL PAGE OF THE CALL
The very pressing matter of regulation of rates for the Panama canal
has been discussed at great length, but the politicians in congress who
are playing for position appear to have shelved that subject for the
present.
It looks like a concerted plan to stall of? action on any
subject likely to cause controversy, and the business of the country
suffers because congressmen can see nothing but the polls and the
primaries. Every move that has been made in congress this session
was taken with a view to its effect on the coming elections.
VANCOUVER, B. C, is a sort of municipal experiment station.
It is the home of many fads and fancies, some of them good and
others not so good. Among the former, perhaps may be counted
' .an original scheme for the correction of an
early municipal indiscretion.
Like other young cities, Vancouver, before
she found herself, parted with her birthright,
that is to say her water front, for a nominal
consideration. Indeed, San Francisco is the one city on the Pacific
coast which has steadfastly repelled the rapacity of private enterprise
in this relation.
Plan for
Making a Co*
operative Harbor
Now, Vancouver, feeling prosperous and energetic, wants to
correct the mistake, but this prosperity brings the penalty that
water front values have climbed, out of sight and quite beyond the
reach of the municipal purse. The city would like to make a free
harbor, but can not pay the price.
It is proposed, accordingly, to pool all the water front interests
in one organization, to which shall be conveyed in trust sufficient
property for the fulfillment of Vancouver's ambitious plans for a
great harbor. The water front property owners-are to have repre
sentation on the harbor board and the people of the city are asked to
vote bonds in an amount sufficient for the completion of the plans.
The bonds, of course, will be paid off from the net earnings of the
harbor, and the surplus will be divided among the property owners.
The scheme looks like an interesting example of co-operation
between municipal and private enterprise and it will be wortri while
to watch how it comes out. Usually the private owners get the best
of a joint bargain like this.
"TjDISON promises a revolution in methods of education, and he
is emphatically a man who accomplishes big things. The great
*"■'■■■■' inventor proposes to expound «and explain the processes of
• **•-' "i natural sciences with the help of the camera.
The moving picture will take the place of the
moving finger, with the effect that the im-
I pression created on the youthful mind will be
._ ! direct and vivid, and not second hand and
vague, as must always be the ease with book learning.
The photographic film, illustrating with the speed' of light the
successive processes of a given operation, will take the place of
awkward and often unintelligible description in print. There will
Ke the elimination of abstruse and difficult demonstration.
Natural history, chemical reactions, mechanical processes present
/and obvious fields for the employment of this means of instruc
tion, made easy and at the same time interesting. Schooling will
not be the hard and irksome grind that so often repels and disgusts
the youthful mind, for the work will be filled with a living interest.
Mr, Edison's project does not, of course, cover the whole field
of education. Languages, for example, might conceivably be taught
through the medium of moving pictures, but the impression would
be mostly transitory and would lend no help to the ear, unless accom
panied by phonographic or other recitation..
Edison's Plan
for Pictorial
Education
They're All Doing It
Greens
By the POET PHILOSOPHER
THE pampered gourmet wishes for
fancy kinds of dishes, kinds fit for
kings and queens; but to the hum
ble diner there's-naught on earth thafa *
finer than good, old fashioned greens.
For months my soul was slghin' for
spinach, dandelion and other wholesome
yarbs; they are the sign and token
that winter's back is broken —the har
binger that harbs. Oh, greens! There's
nothing beats 'em! The man who dally
eats 'em has better grub, by jlng, to
still his stomach's groanln* than ever
yet was known in the palace of a king!
Oh, greens! Our mothers stewed 'em,
our fathers gladly chewed 'em, and
hence those rugged sires who cleared
the woods and prairie and scrapped with
wild beasts hairy to guard their cot
tage fires. Note all those famous crea
tures whose proud and handsome fea
tures appear in magazines; if you but
knew their storjfi you'd find they rose
to glory through having eaten greens.
All garden sassts splendid, and never
may be ended the fame of peas and
beans; may naught decreaae the num- '[
bers of squashes and cowcumbers—but
best of all are greens!
ma thy
JMaaa IUM&«w tA*m t
THE OLYMPIC GAMES
GEORGE FITCH
Author of "At Good Old Stwash"
THE Olympic games flourished in
Greece away back before Senator
Shelby Cullom went into politics,
and were revived in 1896 w r hen it
seemed likely that the millennium
would soon come unless something new
was discovered for the nations to quar
rel about.
The first modern games were held in
Athens in 1896, and were disappoint
ingly peaceful, but since then the ill
feeling has grown rapidly until at the
London games in 1908 several English
editors burst while trying to be polite
and hostile at the same time.
In the original Olympic games the
best athletes of Greece took part and
the winners got laurel wreaths for
their efforts. Now the nations of the
world participate and the prize list
has been considerably improved. The
winners get laurel wreaths, medals,
cups, trophies, moving picture percent
ages; magazine rights, vaudeville en
gagements and half the gate receipts
at Madison park the next winter. Many
a poor boy has gone to the Olympic
games with only a good pair of legs
and a return ticket and has had to
leave his laurel wreath behind when
returning to make room in his suitcase
for his exhibition contracts.
The Olympic games consist of sprint
ing, running, jumping, discus hurling,
weight throwing, and whatever other
events the entertaining nation has the
best chance to win. In England in
1908 they worked In tennis, archery,
croquet and tea drinking. Even at that
the Americans won the cup, and the
entente cordlale hasn't been so severely
(Copyright, 1912, by George Matthew Adams)
PERSONS IN THE NEWS
NEWCOMB OARI.TOX, rice president of the
Western Union Telegraph company, arrived
from the east yesterday on a tour of Inspection
of the properties of the company. During the
afternoon he was tbe guest of the exposition
directors and visited tbe fair site. Carlton
waa director general of the Pan American
exposition at Buffalo.
# * *
HILLIARD J. ROSENCRAirrZ and Joseph J.
Keegan, known all through the orient as "the
Irishman and the Jew," kings of all commer
cial travelers, arrived from the orient yester
day on the Shinyo Maru. They have be*n
away for three and a half years.
* * •*
DR. THOMAS E. GREEN, a well known clergy
man and author of Chicago, Is at the Palace
with Mrs. Green. He was grand prelate of
the Knights Templar for four years and is on
the lecture platform.
w # *
E. R. WALKER and Z. G. Phelps of Coalings.
L. I>. Scott of Los Angeles. Mr. and Mrs. J.
S. Cruse of Indianapolis and W. H. Larkin of
Boaton arc among the recent arrivals at the
Stewart.
# # *
GIFFORD PINCHOT. former head of tbe bureau
of forestry, is at the Palace. He Is here to
assist In the nomination of Roosevelt in Cali
fornia.
* * *
JOHN O. HUNTER of Calgary, X. W. T.. is
stopping at the Union Square. Hunter owns
one of the largest cattle ranches in tbe north
west.
• * •
DR. AND MRS. DOUGLAS BROWN of Spreck
els, Cal.. are making a short visit at the St.
Francis. They have a number of friends
here.
* * #
C. B. OSBORNE of Sacrament - **. California com
mission geologist, is a guest at the Baldwin.
* * *
WILLIAM RAMOLD and wife of Los Angeles
are among the arrivals at the Court.
* * * **•*
GEORGE F. LON6SDORD. a St. Paul insurance
man, is stopping at the Bellevue.
* * *
T. M. AYXRB and wife of China are among the
recent arrivals at the Arlington.
* tt *
R. J. RICHARDS, a Seattle real estate dealer.
Is stopping at the Turpin.
* % *
C. T. OALCRITH, a lumber man of Sisson. is
registered at the Stanrord.
* # *
DR. T. R. JONES and wife of Xew York are
registered at the Court.
* * *
C. F. JOKES, a lumber man of Crescent City, Is
at the Union Square.
* # *
L. HERZ, a business man of Satinas, is regis
tered *t the Tnrpis.
* » #
J. W. COTJTHBEBT of Wilbert Springs is stay
ing at the Sutter.
* w *
K. C. JEWETT off Aberdeen is at the St. Francis
j with bis family.
jarred since John Paul Jones sailed up
the English channel.
The greatest event of the Olympic
games is the Marathon, Which is a", foot
race of 25 miles and some hundred
yards, the original winner having died
at this distance. The last Marathon
was won by Johnny Hayes of America,
who beat all the British champions,
thus demonstrating that since 1776 the
Americans have learned to run and the
British have forgotten how.
The Olympic games are held once
in every four years, it taking that
length of time to allay the ill feeling
over the last event. The games this
year will be held In Sweden, and as
usual, It will be the world against the
United States, with the British news
papers politely aspersing the table
manners and track etiquette of the
Yankee victors.
E. R. SAMUELS, proprietor of a general mer
chandise store at Novato; George W. Roberts,
a dealer In automobile supplies at Marysville;
O. M. Congdon, a dealer in stocks and bonds
in Los Angeles, and H. (** Humphreys, a cat
tleman of Reno, make up a group of recent
arrivals at the Argonaut.
* * »
COUNTESS ELEONORA DE CISNEROS, the
well known mezzo soprano, is at tbe St.
Francis with count de Cisneros. She is an
American, being Miss Broadfoot of Brooklyn
before her marriage.
* * *
MR. AND MRS. WTNTHROP COWDIN of Mount
Klsco arrived yesterday from tbe east to at
tend the nnptiala of J. Cheever Cowdln and
Miss Florence Hopkins.
* * *
J. M. ROBERTS of Seattle. J. A. Buckley of
Lost Hills. R. C. Knight of Portland and G.
W. Davis were among yesterday's arrivals at
the Manx.
* # *
SENATOR ALBERT J. BEVERIDGE of Indiana
ia at the Palace. He came west to campaign
for former President Roosevelt.
•"+#•"♦
MRS. H. D. ADAIR of Chicago is registered
at the Cadillac.
4t a m
T. M. WATT of Chicago ia staying at the
Cadillac. i
Abe Martin
Ther haiot nothin' that destroys what
little superiority a man feels over
woman like tryin* C paint a chair. Ther
seems t' be somethin' ahout th' advent
|o' th' first robin V make a feller want
it' drop ever'thing an' git into politics.
MAY 7, 100 {
The Colyum
Robert Browning;, Born May 7, 181*
This day 100 years ago was surely
one on which it might have been said:
"The year's at the spring,
God's in his heaven —
All's right with the world!"
But the voice that was first to sing
that inspiration was then only utter
ing an inarticulate murmur of con
tentment at the mother's breast.
# # *
THE FARMERS OF THE RICHMOND
A proper new ballad of the country
In the town—after Austin Dobson.
The farmers of the
Richmond;
They follow not
the plow;
They keep no head
of horses.
They seldom have
a cow;
But. oh, the heads
of lettuce
(As many as a
score)
They raise within
the garden.
That lies beyond
the door!
The farmers of the
Richmond
Ne'er have a single crop
Of apricots or barley—
Then let the harvest stop:
They'll raise a dozen turnips.
Eleven feet of beans,
A head or two of cabbage,
A bush or so of greens.
The farmers of the Richmond
Are never prone to rise
Unprecedentedly early—
(In that, I say, they're wise.)
They leave their cots begrudging.
They loiter in the tub, .
While mistress boils the coffee,
The husbandman will grub.
The farmers of the Richmond
'Will go to work at eight.
In suckering the berries.
In training roses straight.
A half hour's toil suffices
To till the garden spots—
They do not farm in acres.
But in twenty-five foot lota!
The farmers of the Richmond
Will work for half an hour;
They'll weed the brave potato, •
They'll pluck the graceful flower;
And then away they hasten.
For desperately they need
The money earned in offices, •
To purchase garden seed.
The farmers of the Richmond!
So earnestly they grow
A three foot yard of rhubarb,
Of artichokes a row!
But farmers of the country.
Obsessed with pride of land.
The produce raised in Richmond
Is best —it's grown by hand!
WITH "HOSBY" FITZ
BOSTON, May s.—lf the demo
cratic national convention in Bal
timore does not see its way clear
to name Governor Foss for presi
dent, Massachusetts may present
the name of Mayor Fitzgerald of
Boston as a candidate for the vice
presidency.—News Item.
That would be one way of giving »
real meaning to the prefix.
Blame It on the Dog
Mrs. G. Timber returned from
San Francisco Sunday evening and
shows the effects of her long ill
ness. A very fine bulldog accom
panied the lady home.—Healdsburg
Enterprise.
STANDING OF MEN
IN MAJOR LEAGUES j
(A system to make the election
situation intelligible to the cas
ual voter. Excluding yester
day's results.)
REPUBLICAN LEAGUE
Delegates Delegates
Won Dost Pet.
Taft 437 201 «00
Roosevelt ..245 483 S3«
La Follette. . 3fl 702 049
(Scattering, 10; delegates chosen,
728.)
DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE
Delegates Delegate*
Won iMmt Pet.
Clark 186 364 S3B
Wilson 120 430 218
Underwood . 04 48*3 lift
Marshall ... 30 520 034
(Scattering and uninstructed* 150;
delegates chosen, 550.)
There Are Sights and Sites
Elder Brush: What's this I hear, my
son, that you're telling people that
when you were in San Francisco you
saw all the sights, eh?
Son: Yes, sir; I saw the site for the
Panama-Pacific exposition and the civic
center.
A Solace for Us!
Boston is having an epidemic of
dramatized songs. That city has al
ready seen "Annie Laurie" and "Kath
leen Mavourneen."
They're staging all the favorites of a
hundred years ago,
The songs of bygone epochs—ain't it
grand
T§ think we will have safely passed
M away—been stowed below.
Before they come to "Alexander's
Band?"
DIALOGUE OX THE DECALOGUE
MAYOR ROLPH—Why is a police
commissioner?
POLICE COMMISSIONER -| f' g ° G ' I
For the dissemination of the liquor
traffic.
Q. —Where should it be disseminated?
A.—ln the shopping district.
Q. —Anywhere else?
A.—Near schools.
Q. —Does the law say a saloon must
not be within 150 feet of a school?
A.—Oh. yes, but we can get around
that all right. All we have to do is
to wrap the tapn measure 10 times
around a lamp post.
Q. —Why did you take that precau
tion?
A—You knew, a drunken man, walk
ing from the saloon to the school, would
naturally walk around the lamp post 10
times.
THE MAYOR—Fare thee well. Call
the next candidate for the ax.
FIRE COMMISSIONER {jOHND.}
Here, your.honor. f
Q> —Why Is a fire commissioner"
♦ A C~;T O set5 et jobs for his blends' and
to hold therfi on their jobs.
Q. —Any other purpose?
A - —To keep drunkards in the denart
merit. X
Q.—Why that selection in particular'
A.—A man familiar with fire water
ought to be most efficient in watering
a fire. *
THE MAYOR—Good! "Firewater" 1.
an Indian expression, is it not?
THE MAYOR—Th € n I think I'll j u ,r
put the Indian stsrn on you
(Exit fire commissioners and police
commissioners.) P"iice
° f thp bamff in th *
** * I• _ -A. UV,