The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 27, 1897, Page 1

" /assist Cuba to become free. VOLUME LXXXI.—NO. 89. SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 27, 1897. PRICE FIVE CENTS. CUBA’S FRIENDS FILLED WITH ENTHUSIASM. The Committee Appointed by - Mayor Phelan Holds a Rousing Meeting. C. M. SHORTRIDGE PRESIDES. { Ringing Speeches Made by Well-Known Business and Professional Men---Sub- Committees Appointed to Arrange for a Demonstration. Ringing words in freedom’s name that| nd a .snontaneous response in en- | thusiestic applause were spoken last even- at the meeting of the commitiee of fifty-eight appointed by Mayor Phelan to arrange for mass-meeting to give the peonle of San Francisco an opportunity of expressing their feelings toward the | patriots of Cuba. | The very mention of free Cuba seemed to find a responsive chord in the hearts of those present, and staid old business men clapped their hands and tapped their canes on the floor and cheered the elo- ¢ént speakers who demanded that San Francisco get in line with the rest of America and reach out a helping hand to | the Gem of the Antilles. Solid men of the community from al- st.every walk of life responded to the r the meeting. Merchants, bank att physicians, journslists, and others sat side by side, and vied with each other in their eager- | to do something for the cause. e meeting was held in California Hall, ush street, near Poweil, and was lled together by Fa E. Mascherini Jotn H. Jones, the pioneers in tue ement in this City. > present were: Gavin Mo- . james D. Phelan, A. P. Van Duzer, Gaden, 3 jor W. Fahey, Faust E. | n H, Jones, R. P. Clement, ers, A. Meyer, John H. Lyons, | anningham, Frederick Staude and many others, The platform at the north end of the | hall was tastefully decorated with Ameri. can flags, but the meeting would have been earnest and enthusiastic had It been held in asandlot, and before the gathering ersed there was not a man present but felt that he bad entisted his time and gies in a noble cause. {Charles M. Snortrid to order by nominating General £ mon for chairman in order, he s to get down to business and show the Cu- ban sympathizers that the committee w: alive and ready to take action. General Salomon declined the honor on the ground he was not altogether familiar with movement and that the men who had originated the Cuban League of San F it would be best to appoint a chairman und secretary at once and get to work. He said that he knew of no one who would better fill the chair than Charles M. Shortridge, the editor and proprietor of Tue CaLL, the paper which had taken up the movement from the start and made it possible to get such a representative gath- ering together. He nominated Mr. Shor:- ridge for cbairman, and the election was made by acclamation. Mr. Shortridge thanked the committee for the honor and called for nominations for secretary. Mr. Mascherini, the secretary of the Cuban sympathizers, was nominated, but declined on the ground that his business would not permit him to attend to the business of both the Cuban League and the committee. Mr. Jones, president of the Cuban League, was nominated and elected unani- mousiy. Chairman Shortridge stated that the object was to organize the sympathizers with Cuba in this City for the purpose of giving them substantial ard moral aid, that the Spanish yoke might be thrown off and Cuba admitted to the family of republics. Henry E. Highton was called upon for suggestions as to the course of the com- Ames, ries M. Shortridge, | mittee. He stated that his lack of seph Leggett, Henry E. Highton, |familiarity with the subject would mot tobert Ferral, General Salomon, Georze | permit him to suggest, but that he wished to heartily express his sympathy with the struggling Cubans. Organiza- tion, he said, was necessary to give the movement an impetus, and the question was how far might the committee go toward helping the patriots without com- ing into a clash with the relations now ex- isting between the Governments of the United States and Spain. Mr. Shortridge suggested that the com- mittee begin on the lines suggestéa by the call for the meeting. He said that the selection of the executive committee was the first step to be taken. Mr. Highton moved that an executive commlttee of five be appointed to confer with the Mayor and call another meeting to arrange for a great mass-meeting. Gavin McNab said that the committee should be cautious about calling a mass- meeting until those who were to address the gathering bad had time to prepars themselves so that they could not only ancisco and called the meeting | talk to the sympathizers with Cuba, but re present and could fill the office | convince those who were not. better. A. P. Van Duzer said that there was no President Jones of the Cuban League | use in waiting to gather information. THE then stated that Mayor Phelan had prom- iced to be present and that it would be more fitting to await his presence, inas- much as be had appointed the body that | was gathered together. | ““We have gathered here,” he said, “for the Jose of expressing our sympathy for Cubs aid her patriots in their struggle for freedom and independence from the cruelty, tyranny nd oppression of Spain; to devise ways and 3 by San Francisco in particular and California 1o general may materially <t them in obtaining that for which tney and to map out a plan whereby these s mav be the more readily accomplished. ““As 1100k around this hall and see so many 1 6% San Francisco’s influential citizens, each of ose face glows with unmistakable sy essed and down-trodden peo- 's not & doubt in my mind n Cuba’s banner is floated to the t of a iree and independent re- lic the Cuban League of San Francisco will t proud of the iact that Cuba’s gratitude is | extented 1oit, and thatit has assisted in a cause | Ahat has the sanction of the lideral-minded portion of thec zed world, and the success . ©f which was preordained by Almighty God. “Asa movement such as this will require - mucn labor, patience and consideration, you .will, no doubt, pardon me if Isuggest a few things that may essist you in your delibera- . tlons “A systematic effort should be made to raise | stfficient funds in order that material assist- dice may be given toward procuring for the soldiers of Cuba provisions, medicines and edical attendance, etc., all of which are so sential 1o & people engaged in bloody combat. nch leagues should be organized in every | of the State so that there wiil be co- Derative action between every section of the d thereby spread the fecling for the of Cuba. solutions should be drafted protesting st the {ndifferen attitude and policy of present administration. of the United s vigorous policy in the Cuban affairs, nmediately after his inauguration, or as - s00n thereafier as possible, to grant beliigerent to the Cubans and to demand the in- release of all American citizens confined a prisons for political offenses. lemen: A great duty lies before us, one which the good we will do will become a of history ; my eoufiderce in your honor, lity and integrity convinces me that you linot be founa wanting in our efforts to When the great stiuggle is ended and Cuba Libre is & recog- *‘nized republic of the world, there will come a * sound from that region below the Gulf which will say: Long live the Cuban League of San * Francisco.” Robe-rt Ferral suggested that the Mayor might be late in arriving, and that in or- der to begin the business of the meeting | planse. , and requesting Major McKinley to | Cavy, which had started the movement, had given all the information neceasary. What the committee should do was to move as quickly as possible to affect the release of American citizens in Cuban dungeons. This idea caught the members of the committee, and was met with hearty ap- Mr. Van Duzer moved that fif- teen members be appointed to organize and prepare for a mass-meeting. General Salomon said that the time to act was now. The Cabans were not insur- rectionists. but revolutionists, and had oattled Spain, her armies, navy, gold and influence, and shown that they could hold their own. They ought to be recog- nized and at once. A fight for liberty should have the support of every Ameri- can citizen, he said, and San Francisco | should not lag behind. Robert Ferral was in favor of immediate action, and he eaid that it was not the time to talk about figures. **Cuba,” he said, *‘wants liberty, and we | want ber to have it. The Cubans have fought and bled and died for liberty, and it is time that the American people arose in their might and demanded freedom for the patriots.” Mayor Phelan entered at this time and state that he had appointed the commit. tee at the request of earnest and enthusi- astic sympathizers of Cuba. “I am thoroughly in accord with the | sentiment that gave birth to this com- | mittee,’ he said. *“The end has come 1o Spanish tyranny in Cuba. They will be free, and it was the example of America that nerved them on to fight. American sentiment is with the struggle for liberty, and it cannot be stayed now. The time | has come when liberty’s banner 1s waving | and it will ever wave over free Cuba. | Even this remote community should not | be left out of the procession that will wel- come free Cuba. “This Cuban matter is an American matter. It should have our ready sym- pathy and action. We oughl to have a big mass-meeting to help the Cubans and bring California in line.” Joseph Leggett said that he hoped time would be taken to make the mass-meeting a vast success. He had no doubt that those who arranged the matter would have eloqueut speakers, and men who were able to lay the matter thoroughly be- fore the people reaay to send the move- mentalong with a boom. “1 believe it isof the utmost importance that we should stir up the sentiment in 0. We let our brothers, by While here at home we s govcooDeneoe, ;’ Then you"sfiall hezr And dance with joy to he And thank the living God t we0eace s D\t & ccessscceccocecogens oS00 Lord! how we weep to hear poor Cuba cry: But that is all, for in her dungeons hot ©0000000000003005606000008000000800000030 You into being, where you rest secure |\ Beneath a flag w._heré danger is a dream. 4 And whert abroad—well, that's another thivé 7 the dozen, rot, it and safely sigh. oovoos ar our eagle scream, hat he did bring Sose i < A world in arms, wigh all its shell and shot, ¢+ Is what we need./But as we have it not,. ¢ $ Wait till our birthday battles-in July™ % 5500005550000 TEooa! e favor of Cuba that is dominantin this country,” he said, “thoughit may be dor- mant. “The American people have the liberty of Cuba in their hearts, and while the ad- ministration may be siow to move, the citizens of this country are not, and they bave already shown by their action throughout the United States that they are ready to act.”’ He offered an amendment to the origi- nal motion that the committee to be ap- pointed be given its own time to arrange for the mass-meeting. This was carried unanimously and Mr. Suortridee named the following committee: James D. Phelan, Honry E. Hightoun, Robert Ferrai, A. P. Van Duger, in - MeNabb, General Edward S, Salomon, Joseph Leggett, Mejor W. Fahey, R. P. Clement, George T. Gaden, H. B. Masters, John F. Lyons, John H. Jones and Fisher Ames. On motion of General Solomon, Charles M. Shortridge was made a member of the committee and Mayor Phelan an bonorary member of the general committee. Joseph Lecgett moved thut the com- | mittee of fifteen be asked to co-operate with and ask the co-operation of the Cuban League of this City. The measure was carried unanimously. A. P. Van Duzer was elected secretary of the committee of fitteen, and General Salomon moved that a sub-commitee be appoiuted to arrange a general plan for the mass-meeting and report back to the committee of fifteen. This was carried, and the chair appointed Messrs. McNab, Gaden, Salomon, Ferrel, Clement. The chair was also made a member of the committee. This sub-committee will meet on Tuesday evening at the Occiden- tal Hotel and will report to the committee of fifteen on the following evening at the same place. The meeting then adjourned to the call of the chair. Among those who sent letters of regret at not being able to attend the meeting was Adolph Sutro, who wrote as follows: OFFICE OF ADOLPH S”mg N sco, Feb. 23, 1897. Hon. James D. Phelan, City Hal, cisco—DEAR SIR: Many thenks for the honor of being appointed en the committee of fifty to organize & branch of the Cuban League in this City, but it is impossible for me to attend any San Fran- meetings, as my whole time is entirely ocou- pied with various matters. Very truly vours, ADOLPH SUTEO. I J. Troman wrote as follows: COLUMBIAN BANKING COMPANY, % Mills Building, 236 Bush street, SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 26, 1897. John H. Jones, President Cuban Leaguc, 2006 Mason street, City—DEAR SIR: Yours of Febru- ary 22 is received. 1ind it impossible for me toattend the meeting to-night, much to my regret, as 1 am in full sympathy with the movement and will do all I can to aid you in the struggles of the Cubans for freedom. Regretting I cannot be with you, I am, yours very truly, 1. J. TRUMAN. The Cuban movement is extending through the country day by day, as evi denced by the letters received at the Cuban League headqnarters. The follow- ing seli-explanatory letter came yesterday from George W. Stewart, one of the pub- lishers of the Visalia Delta: VisALIA, Cal., Feb. 25, 1897. Faust E. Mascherini Esq., San Francisco, Cal.— DEAR Sir: From Colonel Nearny I learned this moruing of the location of the Cuban League, of which you are secretary. Cuba has many sympathizers here, and al- though our town is not large we may be able to do sometning for Cuba’s cause, if you care 10 have branches organized in other than the large cities. At your convenience would like to hear from you concerning your organization ana to know how we can be of any assistance here. Yours for Cuba libre, GEeo. W. STEWART. A4 MUBDEREL STILL SCHEMES. Walling’s Highest Price for Details of Prarl Bryan’s Murder. CINCINNATI, Ouro, Feb. 26.— Beott Jackson, who, with Alonzo Walling, will bang March 20 for the murder of Pearl Bryan, is writing a confessior. which, it is reportea, will be forthcoming in two weeks. He will sell 1t to the highest bid- der and expects $10,000 for it. A Cincinnati newspaper-it is said, has already offered $5000 for "‘E:hnn con- fession, telling wnere Pear' 2iryan’s head is and how and where she m¢r lher death, It is stat-d that Jackson b’s|some oneon the outside who has the }’!'Ver to make & deal ¢ n MOSLEMS DEMAND CHRISTIANS' BLOOD | | Made Bold by the Policy of the Powers They Pa- rade Canea. | Ishmael Pasha Circulates False { Stories to Inflame the Turks. | Greecs Refuses to Withdraw the Army of Invasion From the Island of Crets. CANEA, Crers, Feb. 26.—Most of the foreign warships that were lyinz in the harbor here have left and gone to Suda Bsy, where there is a better anchorage than here. It is likely, however, that as the situation has become more crifical than ever before, and it would not be sur- prising if a conflict should occur. In one respect the interposition of the powers has had a bad effect, in that it has | led the Moslems to believe that Europe is back of them in their combat with the Cbristians. = As a result there are this aft- ernoon 8000 Moslem fighting men, besides the Turkish soldiers, all heavily armed, parading the streets of the city and de- manding the blood of the Christian dogs who have dared to question the rights of the Turks to rule them. The combined forces that have been landed by the several powers number only 800 men, and it is believed that with- out the aid of the warships they would prove of no avail in preserving order in the city. The popular passion has been added to by Ishmael Pasha, the acting Governor, who has circulated false stories to the effect that the Greek troops are mutilat- ing Moslem children. The Governor knows these stories are untrue, and ap- parently his only object is to create among the Moslems deeper hatred of the Chris- tians and to further excite the desire for revenge. He is carrving matters with a high band, and it is likely that the powers will have to intervene. Accompanied by an armed body of Turks he left Candia to-day and occupied strategic positions in the vicinity from which he attacked the Christians, causing serious losses to them. The commanders of the warships remaining in the harbor protested to the ‘Governor against his breaking the armistice, but the protest was unheeded. The admirals command- ing the foreign fleets have been notified of Ishmael’s action,and there is much specu- lation as to the course they will pursue. LONDON, Ex6., Feb. 26.—The Athens correspondent of the Times telegraphs that Prime Minister Delyannis has in- formed him that Greece’s determination to retain her army in Crete is irrevocable, but that the troops will abstain from the of- fensive. They will only brotect Chris- tians. Greece will not declare war against Turkey unless the Turks invade Thessaly or the powers render the position of the Greek troops in Crete unbearable. The correspondent sdds that the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Athens had t graphed to the Pope, asking his Holin 10 mediate between Greece and the powers. ATHENS, Grerce. Feb. 2.—The popu- lar indignation against the great powers shows 1o sign of waning, and if the people hold their way they woull fight with arms in their hands against the combined forces of Europe in defepse of their right to protect the Christians in Crete. It is not alone among the people that this feel- ing prevails. Parliamentary and official opinion strongly favors resistance to the demands of the powers. The joint note addressed their presence here will again be requirea, | | to the Greek Government has not yet | been delivered and the delay is unex- | vlained. Only the Russian, Austrian and | German Ministers have been instructed by their Governments concerning the note. It is reported that one of the powers has witihdrawn from the concert. 1If thisis true it wiil leave matters in statu quo and will br-ak up the concert, the efforts of which have been directed toward over- awing Greece by threats. TRAGEDY AT SALT CREEK. One Man Dead and Another Dying as the Result of a Joke. OGDEN, Uran, Feb. 26.—As the result of what was apparently a joke, J. W. Lewis is now lying almost dead and John Nichols entirely so at Plain City. About a week ago Nichols playiully took a watch from Lewis' pocket and laughingly said, “I guess I'll keep it.”” When asked to re- turn it he smiled and walked off. He came to Ogaen and pawned the watch and when asked by Lewis to return it be only | laughed. | Lewis discovered that the watch had | been pawned and swore out a warrant for Nichols’ arrest for petty larceny. Nichols | heard of itand this morning, taking a re- volver, he started for Salt Creek, where Lewis and several otbers were working. “I'm going to settie that walch busi | ness,”” he saiq, and fired, the bullet strik- | ing Lewis in the back. He then retnrned to his home, put a bullet into his forehead and almost immediately expired. Lewis is 20 years old and a Southerner. | Nichols was 22 and was born in Plain City. A L Sl HOW THE COKLISS ACT WORKS. Bad Blood Between Conadians and Americans on the Boraer. NEW YORK, N. Y., Feb. 26.—A Sun special from Toronto says: Canadians have been complaining about the United States law regarding alien labor, which prohibits persons living on the Canadian border from going into the United States and returning in the evening. It is said that the Canadian Government will pass a retaliatory law touching Americans coming into Canada. The Globe, the Liberal organ, has sent a reporter to investigate the matter, and some interesting stories are told of the inconvenience Canadians are subject to at Windsor, owing to the Corlixs act. There is bad blood on the border and the former friendly feeling has passed away. Cana- dians crossing the river to Detroit to visit have been turned back, because it was thought they were zoing across to work. It is said at Windsor that nearly as many Americans find employment on the Canadian side as there are Canadians who cross the river to work on the American sige. A count of the number crossing from Detroit during the hours of 6 to 8 was 197, or thirty-e:;ght more than crossea to Detroit during the same time Wednes- aay. The Coriiss act does not interfere with women crossing, and many of tLe Canadians crossing are stenographers and saleswomen of Windsor employed in Detroit. 1f the Canadian Government passes a law to retaiiate, more Americans would be affected than Canadians. There are some 2000 American citizens now in the mining districts of Western Oatario and British Columbia, and besides there are several Americans engaged in the Cana- dian lumber camps who would come under such an act as it is proposed to pass. Nill Be Distinctly American. ST. LOU1S. Mo., Feb. 26.—If the horo- scope of the McKinley administration by Julius Ericson, the young astrologer ot this city, is fulfilled the Presideni-elect will have four yearsof excitement. Among other thines Ericson says: “If McKinley's inauguration takes place at 12:45 tuere will be grave danger of the country drifting into war. There will be cold comfort for the Democratic party in all this, because they will not be abvle to win four years hence. “The opponents of Major McKinley as- sert that the policy of the administration will be decidedly in favor of the trusts, corporations, pintocrats and money-grao- bers. I beg to differ with them. The astrological indications point to the con- trary; in fact, there Wwill be a general breaking up of piutocratic orzanizations, which will necessarily redound to the ben- efit of the masses. “The administration will be distinctly American, and startling news may be ex- pected from Washington from March 18 t020. Martial men and martial measures will be to the fore.” ALL UNITED FOR THE NEW POSTOFFICE Business Men, Labor and the State Legislature De- mand It. RESOLUTION BY THE SENATE. Joint Meeting of All the Business Organiza- tions to Be Held March 4 to Take Action. Supervising Architect Aiken will probably revise his beliefs in the matter of the San Francisco Postoffice. Mr. Aiken is the man who makes plans and has to do with details i the constructing of postoffices. In an interview published in THE CALL on Thursday he said that the date upon which work would be begun on the San Francisco Federal building was ““very indefinite’’; that the engineers had ‘‘certain prob- lems to solve’’ concerning the site before it could be determined what kind of a building might be erected upon it. This, after the site had been definitely accepted and Mr. Aiken had himself made his plans, and they also had been accepted. San Franciscoand the State of California have with this halting and are about to see that a period is put to it. The Postoffice and Federal building is long since due. The work undertaken now would come in the form of a special blessing to the congested labor market. Completed, the building will give a home to the Federal courts and to the postal authorities in keeping with their necessities and the dignity of the City. ~ The agitation of the subject by THE CALL seems to have been all that was necessary to awaken not only the City but the whole State to an expression of the impatience under which they have been chafing for years. Indeed the Chamber of Commerce has several times made a demand for action in the matter, and a letter of inquiry from the Merchants’ Association is even now discovered to be on the |way. These inquiries and protests have hitherto been filed away by the Secretary of the Treasury, or whomever they may be addressed to, and the inquirers are expected to accept and be satisfied with Mr., Aiken’s vague explanation about problems that have to be solved by the engineers. But this is different. The organizations representing every busi- ness interest in the City have united in a demand that the work shall be ‘begun at once. The Labor Council of this City and County last evening added its protest and claim for consideration. The State Senate has passed a resolution of emphatic protest against the delay, coupled with another demand. Our Senators and Representatives are called upon by these bodies to be diligent in looking after the business, and, not satisfied with this, Congress will be asked to appropriate a { quarter of a million, to be added to the quarter of a million already availablé, in order that, once begun, the work need not be checked for lack of funds. This temper is likely to see an end to the dawdling over problems that have long ago been determined and of which determination the authorities at Washington were long ago given the proofs. San Fran- cisco is sick of playing the ignored suppliant while cities of much 1 importance have their needs, so far as the Federal Government is con- cerned, supplied for the asking. San Francisco is the metropolis of the West, and her postal and customs business is immense. She requires suitable quarters in which to transact that business, and she will see to it that she be given them. The high fence that surrounds the site at Seventh and Mission streets has been a blight on that neighborhood quite long enough. The interest on the cost of the lot would almost pay for the building had the money been otherwise invested. A joint meeting has been called of the Manufacturers and Pro- ducers’ Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the State Board of Trade, the Board of Trade of San Francisco, and the Merchants’ Asso- ciation, to be held in the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce on the 4th of March. While the ceremony is going forward at Washington, in- augurating a new President, a new and more energetic administration, the men who represent San Francisco in the fullest sense will be gath- ered in this City to prepare to place before that administration San Francisco’s most urgent demand upon it. The work should be done in a manner that will not leave it open to more than one interpretation. In the meantime let the petition to Congress for a further appropri= ation be circulated and signed. No further time should be lost. grown impatient A MONSTER MASS-MEETING Filve Large Commercial Bodies to Petition the Authorities to Hasten the Work. On Thursday, March 4, there will be a grand meeting of the members of five of the largest commercial and industrial bodies on the Pacific Coast, in the Cham- ber of Commerce, at 2 2. M. The purpose of this gathering will be to prepare a petition to be forwarded to the authori- ties at Washington asking that every effort be made to get the work on the new San Francisco Postoffice started at as early a day as possible; also to petition Congress at its prospective extra session to appropriate a quarter of a mitlion dol- lars more, in order that when the work is started there will be no delay for the lack of funds. This decision was arrived at yesterday at a meeting in tne Manufacturers’ and Producers’ Association rooms in the Miils building that was composed of rep- resentatives of the leading commercial and industrial bodies. Julian Sonntag, president of the Manufacturers’ and Pro- ducers’ Asscciation, presided. Hugh Craig, president of the Chamber of Com- merce, repres>nted that body. The Cali- fornia Stste Board of Trade was repre- sented by Vice-President J. 8. Emory and Manager J. A. Filcher. J. R. Freud of the Merchants’ Association represented that body. Colonel Joha P. Irisn, one of the Postoffice Site Commissioners, was there also. A. A. Watkins, president of the Board of Trade of San Francisco, telephoned that business prevented him from being present, but hs understood the nature of the movement and wasin sympathy with it. Mr. Sonntag gave a brief explanation of the objects of the meeting and said that the matter of the erection of the rew San Francisco Postoffice is being agitated. He said that if the organizations there repre- sented should join hands in concen:rated and concerted action he believed that something might be accomplished. There is no ase for any single body to undertake to set the ball rollinz. 1f all would per- form their parts the very nature and back- ing of such a petition as the one suzgested would certainly be felt in Washington. With a large sum of money already in band it would be very desirable to start the work as quickly s possible. The ex- cavation for the foundatiuns could at least be made. Colonel Irish, by reason of his posi- tion and having recently bsen to Wash- ington, was able to give much informa- tion upon the subject. Colonel Irish was evidently of the opinion that the reason the work on the Postoffice was not begun long ago was Dbecause of the attitode of the people of San Francisco if their posi- tion could be determined by utterances of cerfamn newspapers 11 this City, for he said: “I was in Washington only a short time ago and called upon Secretary Car- lisle and upon the supervising architect oy