in their descriptions of the Society and their interviews with its officers.

Hearst's EXAMINER tagged this "Smear Campaign" as an "Unforgiveable Slur on San Francisco," and explained that it's no news that homosexuals exist, but it is vicious to try to make political capital by stirring up public emotions on such a misunderstood subject. The recently merged NEWS-CALL BULLETIN said Wolden had proven himself unworthy of public office and should get out of the campaign. The EXAMINER felt this would deprive the public of its right to trounce him at the polls.

Wolden's backers, Ben Swig of the elegant Fairmont Hotel, and clothing manufacturer Adolph Schuman, angrily said they'd understood there was to be no mudslinging, and several other backers backed all the way off. Democrat Jack Morrison, a candidate for Supervisor, blasted the attempt "to capitalize on public abhorrence of morals offenses" and said "I want nothing to do with the Wolden campaign." Frank Brann, who'd helped get Wolden the Democratic endorsement, agreed, and said he "didn't know the Mattachine Society was running for Mayor." BACKGROUND

By San Francisco city charter, local races are non-partisan. But when Wolden entered for Mayor, he announced a switch to Democratic registration, and got half-hearted suppoort of labor and Democratic forces. Few took Wolden very seriously.

According to San Franciscan Joe Bush, the puzzle is why this thing should happen in this city, which has always prided itself on its cosmopolitan tolerance. Why should the most Blue Nosed administration in city history itself be accused of "fostering homosexuality?"

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Bush blames it on Khrushchev "Wolden failed to get up steam by his last-minute switch to the Democrats. Then Khrushchev came along, smarting from his rough treatment in Los Angeles, and ready to adopt L.A.'s sibling rival with open arms. So the dairyman-Mayor got national publicity by benignly presiding while Mr. K. bounced around, saying sweet things about this city, plus the sort of digs at L. A. that gladden the heart of any true San Franciscan. Khrushchev even said he'd be glad to vote for Christopher. Those poor guys in the Wolden camp had to come up with something even hotter than Khrushchev -and what was there, except homosexuality? Well, it's hot, alright-we'll see who gets burned."

The charge that Christopher was especially friendly to homosexuals is a puzzler. When first elected, Christopher appointed a new police chief, Frank Ahern, who vowed to chase homosexuals out of town (which Chief Gaffey had also promised in June, 1954). But there are limits to what a policeman can do

a point Wolden seems to miss. The courts won't let police close a bar just because homosexuals gather there. Most of the bars named by Wolden are fighting to defend their licenses against actions to close them, brought by Ahern or by the witch-hunting State Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Ahern also wrote articles for the smut-adventure magazines under such titles as "Don't Call Our City Queer." Since he died of heartfailure at a ball game, San Francisco's police apparently have avoided illegal raids, entrapment, and such, and have not gone out of their way to harass homosexuals who are not obviously breaking laws. And when a homosexual is victim of a criminal attack, he can go to San Francisco

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