Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 68

I TIIECAUTION AGAINST EVASION OF IIENTvY MILLER. WOULD FOUND A SCHOOL OF DRAMATIC TRAINING ASSESSMENT ON THE NEW TUNNEL a i 'J 5 AN FRANCISCO, April tically decided by the municipal board to drive another tunnel. This will be tv hat is so generally I j-eferred to as the Duboce avenue tcnnel, designed to bring an extension of the municipal 1 suited, from the signed document that came from the jury. Nothing that has happened in recent years in judicial procedure has occasioned more talk. The question was, how did the jurors come to sign such a document? It was not believed 'that-they would have thought of such a thing without it being put upjto them.

The fact is that it was put over by Charles BVennan, of Arbuckle'g It was the work of a newspaperman. Brennan was formerly a reporter on Oakland newspapers. When Arbuckle was being lionized after the verdict and the jurors were being congratulated on their finding, and there was general hand-shaking, and the fourteen men and women were51 beginning to feel that they were heroes, Brennan gathered them into the jury room and made a quick address. He recounted the injustice that had been done Arbuckle and told the jurors how-they might, aid in righting thtf wrong. He had the statement all ready and away for outings.

And there were races, both of endurance and speed, which weredifferen- tiated from those of the-present-day motorcycle in being more genuine athletic contests and not so dangerous. But the automobile de-" veloped, and the 'bicycle habit disappeared, except as exercised by messenger boys anrd others who use the haudy vehicle as a mere conveyance. Now, however, news comes up from Coronado that a coterie of enthusiasts are behind a plcua to bring the bicycle back as to runs and racing and rother events that were popular in that other day when the wheel, had its sports vogue. A parade is contemplated for May with decorated wheels and all the pomp of old; and a race meet for May' 20 is talked of. Of course, if these attempts score success the fever may le expected to spread.

Henry Miller's Ambition Hjenry Miller has come again with a competent company and at least two new plays, be a little to get another guarantee among opera patrons here of an-amount ap proaching their recent guarantee. It will at least not be so easy tili there is a' regular opera house. The comment of Conductor Polacco, recalled and set forth bv Willis Tolk on. this page two weeks ago, is a good indication of how the talent regards it; A Singer's Throat News that John McCortuack will recover from the desperate triple ojwration on his throat is gratifying to his multitude of friends, who will also hope that the voice which has pleased and entertained so very many will not be' impaired. This cannot be knowffor some time.

The operation has ati least put a temporary embargo on his appearances on the lyric stage. has cancelled all his engagements for the year, evidently with the intent to take no on a premature attempt to come back. A surgical operation on the throat of a singer is a hazardous thing. There is a notable iustance right here of this fact. Any number of people can remember when Emilie Melville was a bright particular star and a great favorite in light opera.

An affection of the throat interfered somewhat with her Vocalization, and sheswas advised that it could be remedied by an operation. Also that such operation would notlendangeb her voice in the south of Golden Gate Tark to Market street by a direct route, practically paralleling the Hajght avenue line of the United Railroads. This tunnel will burrow under Bueua Vista 'park, which comprehends the considerable eminence directly south of the park panhandle. It will cost about as much as the Twin Peaks is four million of dollars. While hft horinz of this tunnel has been practically upon, final action will not be taken tilW following the lead of one who expressed himself as agreeing with Bre.nnan, they aTT'put their opening at the Columbia May He Jias names to it.

the assessment district is platted and submitted to the board. This is to avoid a happened as to the Twin Teaks assessment. The board -went ahead with, that improvement inhmitted. be- IB Ing satisfied with the tentative blocking out of There Are Two Brennan There have been numerous examples of San Francisco officials publicists coming in pairs the Deasys, the Louderbacks, the Hynescs, the Coffeys, and others. Now we have the Brennans.

Charles Brennan was of counsel for Arbuckle, and is accredited with the feat of inducing the jury to sign the celebrated statement that their verdict was not a sufficient acquittal of that much tried thespian an extra judicial action, by the way, which Arbuckle and his friends and backers may have coniesto regard of doubtful utility in as least. She submitted'to the operation, witlw tne result mat tne singing quality oi ner voice was ruined, and her stage appearances were thenceforward confined to spoken parts. Miss Melville, in discussing that experience with a friend recently, said that when it was made kri'tivtt to l.er that her siiig. voice 1 come so often and his offerings have always been so acceptable that there is no doubt that this visit will affowl a treat to theater goers. HJs love for California and his belief that she will become one of the world's centers of art has often been expressed.

It is his hope, ofteri reiterated, to found a dramatic school in San Francisco on the lines of the Coiiiedie Fran-caise, the actors in which arc the living standards of correct pronunciation of the French language. Mr. Miller maintains there is no standard of oorrectly spoken English whose judgment is final. It is his idea to found a school which will not only be efficient as to the drama, but also an authority in pronunciation, il may to after this that he is an- rt'iilifirrty -on "good English. It is also, perhaps, unnecessary to the standard of correct English as spoken in New York is not that of Boston, and that that of New Orleans is quite different from either not to mention London and other cities of England.

It has been asserted that the best English is spoken in Dublin; but few will contend that Dublin English should be the standard of the United States. Two Army Tragedies sisting hint to couie back in fie film. she had a sensation similar to that which jer-sons must experience who are informed that there is no hope of their long surviving. Brennan, also in the law, -is now receiving consideration because of his aspiration to succeed the boundaries. When the assessment plat was made out there was quite general surprise and gome adverse Upon the disclosure that the holdings of some eleven property owners, directly within the district, had been eliminated from the assessment.

These holders were James Rolph Eustace" Culli-nan, Matt I. Sullivan, Norah M. Sullivan, Mary L. Phelan, Mary A. Tobin, Prior Estate, Mary VPrlor, Poheim Estate, John A.

Lennon and Tessie W. Daroux. There are members of the municipal board who seem determined that that body shall not come in for censure in this improvement as it did in the other. Reminiscences of Chris Buckley Many interesting an.d characteristic stories are being told of the late "Chris." Buckley. In the 'preparation days of the PanamaTacific Exposition there was a hitch in New' York's An appropriation to finance the State's display was held in the Legislature, Art intimation arrived that Tammany vat responsible.for the hold-up, with the idea that it might wholly defeat the state's participation.

President Moore sent for a resident of this city noted for his ability to figure out Cuf Rate heater Tickets Supervisor "Roaring" Bill Scott in the State Senate. Scott appears to find the job 'of municipal supervisor more pleasing than that of State senator. The latter commands his services and vocal activities but two or three months every two years, and carries no salary McLeran through several political calculations as the heir apparent It was so accepted by McLeran himself, and so regarded by the public. For some months, however, there have been, signs that the mayor is receding from this position. It is thought that the.

result of the last municipal election may be a reason' for this. It will be remembered -that special effort was put forth by the administration in behalf of McLeran, aj that he made great effort himself, spending more money than any other candidate, with the result that he came sixth on the list when the votes were counted, with Mc-Sheeby and Schmitz, who constituted the administration's opposition, second and third, respectively. This could hardly be accepted otherwise than as -a rote of lack of confidence in the'administratipn. The mayor never has been over keen in standing by a henchman who shows signs of slipping, -and hence a lukewarm-ricss. However, McLeran is still striving for the goal that he fixed in his mind's eye when he came on the board.

Struggle Looms in School Affairs Those who cast local political horoscopes--though that may be a fanciful way of putting it are seeing possible lively doings in the school department this year. The school control was radically reorganized by charter amendment two years The Board of Education was enlarged to 6even members, and the superintendent was made an elective, instead of an appointive, official and ex-officio member of the board. The term for which he had been previously elected holds until the end of the current year, however. When this term' expires it is expected that there will be a wnr: time over his successor, who be elected by the education board, and whpse selection need not be confined to residents of the city, 'as necessarily was the case when the superintendent wasr elected by popular vote. Superintendent Roncovieri is an announced candidate to succeed himself under the new arrangement.

The expectation that there will be a Iivety time is based on the'assumptlon that the amendment which so considerably changed the' situation was inspired by a belief that that ws the only way to lose Roncovieri. At the expiration of his present term he will have "held the office eighteen years. He was appointed in 1905 by Mayor Schmitz, to succeed W. H. Langdon, who had been elected District Attorney, and has had little trouble in being re-elected every four years sinee.

The forecasters aforementioned figure that the election of a superintendent next time will be an administration matter, though they are not certain thatthkadministra-tion favors Roncovieri. They have doubts about this. However, theyqpe it that School Directors Esberg, Alice Powers, Murphy and Mott (sister of Private. Secretary Bainey) will vote about as the administration sees the light, and that School Director Prag is aslo strong-, ly inclined in that direction'. Result of Addicott Imbroglio This prospective ruction in the school department is Believed to result from a spark that ws generated a couple of years back over Princi? pal Addicott of the Polytechnic school.

His ousting from his principalship is understood to have been due to afeud with the superintendent. After Addicott had been ousted some four months, that the board had to reinstate him on the advice of the city attorney, who found that his ousting had been irregular, and to pay his back salary, has in no degree healed the breach between the superintendent and the Addicott proponents, who are expected to be in battle array against any effort thaf may be made for the election of Roncovieri under the new. arrangement. It is believed that the carrying of the amendment which resulted in the new deal in the face of administration op-, position has been accepted as indicating a public sentiment which it is not good politics to defy, as the election of Roncovieri would seem to do, and that is what the prognosticators base their dope on that the administration is Hot keen in his behalf. between sessions.

Notwithstanding, it seems to require a considerable effort to get it. Brennan expresses himself as willing to make this effort, and has taken the first step in ascertain ing that Scott has no intention of staging a repeat. Story That Is to Be Dramatized It is not often that an authoress is fortunate knotty and difficult problems, Jnd laid beforJ enough to have her story accepted as a stage The Presidio is agog as the result of two army tragedies within less than a week. The suicide of Major Frank W. Duryea, which occurred within the confines of the reservation, was.

brought closer home than the murder at Oklahoma City of 'Colonel Faul Vard Beck, but the latter had many friendsymong the officers Jiere. There 'are many among the military who take sides with-the Colonel, and say that it will jrequire more then the "unwritten law" to save his slayer, Judge Jean P. Day. In this connection one who has taken a keen iuterest in the case at western army headquar ters called attention to a companion case, re With the theatrical season nearing 'its close so far as traveling attractions are concerned, local managers have been-wondering what the effect would be of the establishment in San Francisco of a cut-rate ticket office similar to that in operation in New York. The strenuous campaign recently waged by one of the city's playhouses eliminated almost altogether the activities of the ticket broker and speculator.

Some there are who regret his passing. While it is true that speculators gobbled up the best seats and made way for graft on the part of box office employees', they made business good to a certain extent by making good reservations hard to get. They created a demand "for the best reservations on the theory that people general'y want what they can't get Incidentally, the broker, while realizing gain on the premiums he exacted, also took many losses on tickets undisposed of. In New York there is an institution that works in the opposite way. The, theaters certain seats into the hands of this organization, which proceeds to dispose of them at two-thirds or half price.

In this, the most disastrous season the metropolis has had in years, mora than thirty attractions were listed at the cut-rate offices last week, I am told, nere in San Francisco, where the combination houses are forced to maintain the prices demanded by: road attractions; a cut-rate ticket office might not be such a bad scheme, although so far there has been none willing to pioneer it. Arbuckle Reconciliation The reconciliation between Arbuckle "and his wife, Minta Durfee, is complete. I learn that the comedian was so grateful for the action of his better half in coming to his aid at the outset that, he made love to her all over again. IndeedTTtrhrsatd that their sojourn in Lbs Angeles, after the murder charge was reduced to manslaughter and the comedian was released on bail, was a second. honeymoon.

Moreover, I am told that the actor has declared that his wife will henceforth be the only woman in his life. He says there will be no more "parties," and that he will traverse the straight and narrow path. Several considerations have been responsible for this determination on the part of the least of these," according to those closest to him, is that he is one hundred thousand dollars in debt. One of his lawyers tells me that he must earn this huge sum before he will be even with the world, and that he is determined to start in and pay his debts as well as to accumulate a competence so that he will have no financial worries in the future. When he was arrested! Arbuckle was reputed to be a millionaire.

It was said that his bankers were ready to accept his check for any amount. These were merely press agent stories. Had it not been for the film Interests coming to his aid it is doubtful if he could have hired a lawyer of the reputation of tJavin him we facts, asking if could work out a otution. Without much hesitancy the gentleman replied, that he thought be could, and at once ardse as though the interview was ended. Asked what he was going to do he Teplied that 'he was going to see "Chris'' Buckley.

Asked further what could do about it he was advised to wait and see. Within two days a wire came to the effect that the New York appropriation would be available, at once. It was signed "dfearles F.Tlurphy." Of course, the man who this name is the celebrated Chieftain of the Tammany organization that figures so large in New York politics. Buckley had sent a wire to the big chief, with the result we have stated. Buckley and Murphy, How the Re time boss of Ban Francicso came to have influence with the reigning boss of -Tammany is interesting in itself, and I believe the story has never been told.

Murphy and Buckley were born in the same town in Ireland. They came, as so many do, seeking opportunity to better their condition. Buckley found his opportunity considerably in advance of Murphy, but certainly found his in time. Their friendship always been Anything that Buckley wanted dbnri in the great eastern center had only to be mentioned by him to. his and presto, it was (Hone.

The converse of this was equally true. Charles Murphy's message of condolence was the first received by the Buckley family upon the" passing of its head. It is of Interest to consider the circumstance that these two men, born in the same town in Ireland, should emigrete to the United States, one to become the dominant political power of the metropolis of the eastern seaboard, and the other to occupy a similar position at one time on the western coast, a continent more than three thousand miles across separating them. One of those whowho were close to Buckley, related to me incident illustrating his laconic way of expressing himself. Not six months before his death, in discussing current political trend's jand conditions, he said: "If 'eorne of the present day not excluding the Judiciary, had bcoJfi placed in ojficcjv'hile I took an active interest in political affairs, I would have been hanged to a lamp postl'J McLeran Still Has the Bee Supervisor McLeran is still figuring on becoming the mayor of San Francisco.

The entente between him and Mayor Rolph, so well defined for years, now seems to" be strained. There 'is no doubt that the mayor regarded venicie ior one or tne loremost dramatic stars before the actual publication of the book, but that has been the good fortune of Mrs. Blanche Upright, whose literary effort, Valley of Content," has just come from the publishers. Mrs. Upright makes her home at the Falace Hotel.

Her story has not yet passed the scrutiny of the reviewers, but I am old that it has been recognized as containing just the right motif for a starring vehicle for Marjorie Ram-beau, who has Tead the script. The theme is based on the three keys to happiness love, jntenesrand pride of personal achievement. "All of these make for content, and the writer has welded them into a story which is said by those who have read it to possess fine dramatic possibilities. Mrs. Upright has written several other stories.

Incidentally, she is grandmother. Certainly it is an unusual satisfaction that herjafest work is in demand for, stage presentatioil before the public has read it. Cash Prizes for Clubs There is some pessimism regarding the announced plan of the toast League management to stimulate interest, among the clubs which find after the season has advanced, that they are not )n it for the pennant. That the eight clubsPcan stand an assessment of $20,000 for a fund to be apportioned to the clubs in the order in which they finish except the one in the cellar, which is to get nothing--4--ques-tioned by some who affect to know of the financial probabilities? However, it seems to be a reasonable scheme the winning club to get the second 4000, the third 3000f the fourth the fifth the sixth 81300, the seventh and the eighth, as it has been expressed, "soup." It would have a tendency to keep all the clubs pn their' toes, whereas under the old order those which slip down-ward in the fag end of the season lose their pep and the fans are not treated to the lively playing to which thejr are entitled, and are thus inclined to lose interest. If the league can stand an assessment 20,000 for a promotion purpose there is little question but this would be a good way to spend it.

Is the Bicycle to Come Back? By this is meant the bicycle as a' pleasure vehicle, as it was used a quarter century ago; fort mtidi jn use still, though Its use has become one of utility, which' in its earlier days was almost unknown. It must be recalled how on Sundays the roads and parks and' byways were fairly covered with cyclists of both sexes, cently tried in New York. There the slayer pleaded that he was justified in the killing of his wife's betrayer, but the jury found' him guilty. When time came for pronouncing judgment, however, the court found occasion to express regret at his conviction. The case was that of William Grubb, who to his home to find one George Corcoran partially disrobed in his wife's apartment.

He shot and killed the man instantly. Judge Otto A Rosal-sky sentenced him to from four to twenty years, but declared that he would, recommend his pa- role after he had served one yearof the time. The jurist pledged himself to work for Grubb'i release, 'and his comments were almost in the nature of an argument for the prisoner's exoneration. Down in Oklaidoma there is likely to be something of a fight in connection with with the trhil of Judge Day, in the belief of local army officials. What's Eating Senator King The considerable contingent here that Is keeping tab on the Mexican situation understand perfectly wclr what inspired Senator King of, Utah to such a violent outburst against Mexico demanding that that country pay a half billion dollarsMa" reparations and also" give guarantees for the protection of Americans within its borders in the future.

Senator King represents a Mormon constituency, and the Mormons have large colonies in Mexico. Some of these were pillaged by bands of freebooters during the years of revolution, and some of the colonists were Senator King "may not be censurable for looking out for his coreligionists. Senators having strong religious affiliations have done that before but be is la a way to defeat his own purpose if he brings about a situation of permanent antagonism between the two" The surest way to realize on reparation demands is to get on terms with the debtors and create a situation that will tend to en Operatic Affairs. The deficit in the recent oera season here approximates $70,000, while" iV was expected there would be profits, that would assist in ameliorating losses elsewhere. This calculation was based on the returns from the sea-solTof 1921.

iut the company met adverse conditions, chief of which was the illness of Mary Garden. Whatever may bo said of her vocal class, or her unpopularity' as a director with other artists, there Is no doubt of her drawing power with tb When she was unable to appear during the recent season there seemed to be no other to intrigue opera goers, and they stayed away in such numbers that the box office sadly suffered. Late news from Chicago is that she will no longer figure in the aggregation as director, but it is not certain that she will not remain as artist It may be' jear'before San Francisco Is again favored witaopcra from a company that classes with thit of Chicago. It will, perhaps. Arbuckle Jury's Statement While the quick verdict of "not guilty" In the Arbuckle case occasioned surprise in view of the two previous disagreements, it was nothing compared to the tongue-wagging that re- able them to pay.

At least that ia the feeling hero, where there is a noticeable sentiment in favor of recognizing thc-Obregon government nnd thus bracing it up. THE KNAVE. IMl Mil 1H1 mm, wiwrV'iHiHiiii'iiniftr BP.