Within the Golden Gate.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7708, 10 January 1905, Page 4

Within the Golden Gate.

IMPRESSIONS OF SAN FRANCISCO. No. 111. (By an ex-New Plymouthite.) Once again I endeavour to set down something of what daily passes in my view. THE UNIVEIiSAL "WEED." If I do not soon clear out I shall certainly become a uigar smoker. Everybody smokes cigars here, and u pipe is a very rarity, i Those who smoke least chew most, and if I must choose (no pun intended) I will have to smoke. LABOUR'S IRON-SHOD IIEEL. I was astonished to find the Labour Unions here so j, absolutely in control. There is always some strike or boycott in hand, and the labour element is perfectly tyrannical in its demands. A Socialist here is really an Anarchist, and Dick Seddon would most certainly be electrocuted by the powers that be if he nttempledf to enter the Golden Uate. He jvould never be allowed to land. The power of these labour organisations is tremendous, and a bitter fight is continually wagud between their leaders and the Citizens' Protective Alliance. As a visible result the city is much placarded, and up every street some boycotted stable, store, or other establishment will be passed. Outside of each of, , these two men are stationed, one warning all passers that "This shop is unfair—it employs Japanese labour at 6s per day" ; br "This shop is unfair, as its horses are liveried in an' stable," and so oiii. Unfair" is a term applied to anything which does not comply with demands, and is therefore under boycott. In each case Man No. 11. boars the opposing Citizens' Alliance placard. Ever since my arrival here two men have taken up their stand from 7 a.m. till 7 p.m. outside a boycotted restaurant just in the centre of the city. One bears a placard drawing the attention of pass-ers-by 'to the fact that the restaurant is boycotted by the San Francisco Labour Council, and asserting that "To boycott is lawful,"etc. The other ni a n exhibits the inscription of the Citizens' Alliance, "To boycott is UNlawful," etc. The couple stand day after day ij without saying a word to each other, and form a sight amusing and instructive to all comers. HOLIDAYS AND HEAT. The city has 'been unusually gay for ; the past three weeks. The lirst rea- : S °H for 'this was the holding of tlie ■ triennial conclave of the Knights Templar one of the highest. Masonic . Orders. The streets have been most ; splendidly illuminated, and parades s have been the order of the day. The great parade was a magnificent afi lair. All those taking part were re- [ splendent in full-dress uniform, and most of the divisions were composed of line-looking men (some of tliem even millionaires), and all marched and rode with the precision of soldiers—indeed,many of the Commanderies are drilled with military exactness. King Edward was represented by a real live lord, who was a great draw to the Americans. I got a good view of the whole show The procession numbered something over ten thousand, and took two hours and a half to pass a given point. I stood for four hours in one spot, and was fairly roasted for my pains. That day, and for three days after, San Francisco was struck by i a record heat wave. The tempera- ■ ture stood persistently—night and day—at 101 degrees or 102 degrees. ; I shall never want to experience such • beat again. The air canie along the i streets in furnace-like whiffs, and one Bought a shady wall only to find it ■ giving "out lieait like red-hot coals. Every bit of cloth material about the house was quite hot, and though one washed frequently the water was hot, the towels were hot, and one's bed was as hot as an ironsand 1 beach. Then we had a labour procession of thirteen thousand persons on Labour Day. Next there was a procession of six thousand Native Sons of California (the "Beforo the War" set here) ; then a procession of a hundred thousand Oddfellows. One even got tired of processions, and I think the town is glad to get back to the old routine of making dollars in a less noisy ;way.