USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego > History of San Diego, 1542-1908 : an account of the rise and progress of the pioneer settlement on the Pacific coast of the United States, Volume II > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29
This noble citizen ended his life, as he had chosen to live it, at the public charge. Becoming crippled with rheumatism, he was given a home at the County Hospital, by order of the Board of Supervisors, and died there a few months after. It was surely a happy fate, and worthy the ambition of any dog, to be held in affectionate remembrance by so large a number of people as is San Diego's "Bum."
SAN DIEGO'S TOWN DOG, "BUM"
CHAPTER II
POLITICAL AFFAIRS AND MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGNS
FTER the abolition of the city charter in 1852, A the municipal affairs of San Diego were ad- ministered by a board of three trustees. Addi- tional powers were conferred upon these trustees, and the boundaries of the city de- fined, in 1868 and 1870. At the general elec- tion in the fall of 1871, for the first time, the Republicans elected a number of their candi- dates, and the city and county have continued to be Republican, as a rule, ever since. An interesting feature of the election last mentioned was that Mr. Horton and James McCoy were oppos- ing candidates for the state senate. Mr. Horton received a majority of fifty in his own county, and it was thought for a time that he was elected; but when the returns came in from San Bernardino County, McCoy had a majority.
In 1872, a new county government act was passed, which went into effect in March. The same act provided for the reincorpo- ration of the city and increased the number of trustees to five. The first city election under the new charter was held on April 9, and resulted in the election of D. W. Briant, John M. Boyd, José G. Estudillo, E. G. Haight, and W. J. McCormick as trus- tees. A. G. Gassen, city marshal, and M. P. Shaffer, city assessor. At the fall election in this year, the county gave Grant and Wil- son a majority of 152 and Houghton for Congress 235.
April 7, 1876, a new city charter was adopted. The admin- istration of city affairs was continued in a board of five trustees.
In March, 1879, while the question of the adoption of the new constitution was up, there was a warm campaign. Dennis Kear- ney spoke at the skating rink and had a large audience. The Union led the friends of the new constitution. On April 4, it said :
The Union hears that a vulgar and profane blatherskite named Wellock, who has achieved notoriety as a ranter at the sand lots of San Francisco. has announced his intention to stump Southern California in behalf of the New Constitution. We notice that San Diego is in the list of places to be vis- ited by him. The people of San Diego don't want to hear him. They heard with patience Dennis Kearney's ignorant harangue, and that taste of sand lot oratory is sufficient, etc.
465
THE CHARTER OF 1886
The new constitution went into effect in January, 1880, and it was at this time that the old district court went out of exist- ence and was replaced by the Superior Court. The first term of the new court was held on January 5, 1880, by Judge McNealy.
In May, 1886, a new charter was adopted, which went into effect the next month, by which the town was organized as a city of the sixth class. A year later it became a city of the fourth class. In the fall of the latter year (1887) there was a
DOUGLAS GUNN
First Mayor under the charter of 1889, Editor of the Union, Historian and useful, devoted citizen for many years
warm contest between the Citizens' ticket, headed by D. C. Reed, and a Labor ticket, headed by W. J. Hunsaker. The latter won.
On December 5, 1888, an election was held for the choice of fifteen freeholders to frame a new charter. Those selected were: Douglas Gunn, H. T. Christian, Edwin Parker, Charles Hubbell, W. A. Begole, N. H. Conklin, M. A. Luce, Philip Morse, G. W. Jorres, E. W. Morse, George M. Dannalls, George B. Hensley, R. M. Powers, D. Cave, and C. M. Fenn. The charter framed by these men was adopted by the people of San Diego March 2d,
466
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
and approved by the legislature on March 16, 1889, and went into effect on the following 6th of May. This is the charter under which, with a few amendments, the administration of the city is still carried on.
It provided for a mayor, for the first time since 1852 (in the interval, the president of the board of trustees was called by courtesy the mayor, but there was no such official, properly speaking). The legislative branch was a common council, con-
WILLIAM W. BOWERS
Located, 1869; California Assembly, 1873; Collector of the Port, 1874-83, and again, 1898-06; State Senator, 1887-91; Member of Congress, 1891-97. He designed and superintended building of Horton House in 1870; also designed Florence Hotel (now Robinson) and managed it for seven years
sisting of a board of aldermen elected at large, and a board of delegates, two of whom were chosen in each ward. The other officials provided for were: city attorney, auditor and assessor, treasurer and tax collector, city clerk, city engineer, superintend- ent of streets, superintendent of parks, superintendent of sew- ers, superintendent of schools, chief of police, chief of fire depart- ment, health officer, plumbing inspector, board of public works, board of education, board of library trustees, board of police
467
ELECTION OF MAYOR GUNN
commissioners, board of fire commissioners, board of health, police judge, and board of cemetery commissioners. Amend- ments were adopted February 3, 1895, and January 29, 1901, and on March 1, 1906, the legislative body was changed to a common council of nine members, one from each ward, the sep- arate boards of aldermen and delegates being abolished. At the same time, provisions were inserted in the charter for the exercise of the initiative, the referendum, and the recall- regarded as important steps in the improvement of the city administration.
MATHEW SHERMAN
Mayor, 1891; owner of Sherman's Addition and prominent for many years in business and public affairs
The first city election under the present charter was held April 2, 1889. The campaign presented many features of inter- est. There were two tickets in the field, one called the Straight Republican, headed by John R. Berry, and the other called the Citizens' Non-Partisan ticket, headed by Douglas Gunn. Both these candidates were Republicans and there was no Democratic ticket. The real issue of the campaign was between "the Galla-
468
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
ghers,"-carpetbaggers from San Francisco who came during the boom and obtained control of the Republican organization in city and county-and the older citizens of San Diego. It was charged that these "Gallaghers" were for the most part Demo- crats before coming to San Diego. They had succeeded in elect- ing a few of their candidates the year before, including the supe- rior judge. The Union supported Berry, but other papers were for Gunn, and party lines were much broken up. The Sun
D. C. REED
Mayor, 1897; for thirty years in the forefront of real estate activity, with unfaltering faith in the city's destiny
(Democratic) of April 4th commented on the campaign as follows :
The campaign which has come to an end was not too short to present some interesting and remarkable features. It was marked by the almost total disappearance of the second great party in this city when the presence of a divided majority in the field would have given it success had it named a straight ticket of its own. Such a throwing away of political oppor- tunity is almost without precedent. . Much of the op-
A. E. NUTT
D. L. WITHINGTON
M. L. WARD
L. A. WRIGHT
A GROUP OF STATE SENATORS
470
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
position originated in ancient grudges, dating back to the early ' days, and almost forgotten by those of the present day.
Senator W. W. Bowers was one of the leaders of the Repub- lican organization, but in this campaign he wrote and spoke in favor of the Citizens' ticket. The city at the time was supposed to have a normal Republican majority of from 500 to 800, but at this election Gunn and most of the Citizens' candidates were elected. Gunn's majority was 428.
FRANK P. FRARY Mayor, for two terms, from 1901 to 1905
Two years later, in April, 1891, the contest was between the regular party organizations. The Republican candidate for mayor was Captain Mathew Sherman and the Democratic J. W. Hughes. There were no particularly exciting events in the cam- paign and the result seemed to hinge on the party line-up and the number and zeal of the friends of the respective candidates. Sherman was elected by 48 votes, and was the first mayor elected on a straight party ticket.
471
CARLSON'S FAMOUS VICTORY
The election of 1893 was a memorable one and presented some unusual features. Both the old parties made nominations, the Republicans naming Adolph G. Gassen for mayor and the Dem- ocrats A. E. Cochran. There was also a People's Party in the field, with John Kastle as its candidate for mayor. In addition to these, Captain James Edward Friend and William H. Carl- son were independent candidates for mayor, making in all five aspirants for one office.
CAPTAIN JOHN L. SEHON
Chosen Mayor in 1905 by Democratic and Independent coalition
The three regular party nominees were substantial citizens in good standing. Gassen was one of the oldest residents and had held a number of city offices. Colonel Kastle was also an old resident and business man, and had been president of the Cham- ber of Commerce. Friend was a clever newspaper writer, with many friends, and Cochran was well supported by his party's strength. But when the votes were counted, it was found that Carlson, a comparative newcomer and novice in the city's pol- itics, had twice as many votes as any other candidate.
472
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
The time has not yet come to write the story of the career of "Billy" Carlson in San Diego. He is now conducting a pros- perous real estate and banking business in Los Angeles, and if he ever finds time, ought to write the story, himself. Although he entered the race for mayor last, he won out handsomely by dint of hard personal work and promises. If there was a voter in San Diego whom he did not personally interview, or a man who wanted anything that he did not promise to secure for him, neither have since come to light. As soon as "Billy" got into the mayor's chair, there were to be new electric car lines on
JOHN F. FORWARD
Who served in the recorder's office for nearly twenty years, during fourteen of which he held the chief place. Chosen in April, 1907, to serve as Mayor until May 1, 1909
every street equipped in an impossible manner, hotels fitted up á la Edward Bellamy, lines of steamships to every port on earth, transcontinental railroads galore, the park was to be improved at once, everybody was to have plenty of work at the highest wages, and, in short, the millennium was to come then and there. That he did not achieve all these things in his two terms is, per- haps, not due to any want of imagination on his part. There is a tradition that quite a number of ordinarily level-headed peo-
ARCHIE F. CROWELL City Engineer
CLAUDE WOOLMAN City Treasurer
CHARLES KELLY Councilman
F. J. GOLDKAMP Councilman
A GROUP OF CITY OFFICIALS
474
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
ple were so much amused by his meteoric canvass that they voted for him "just to see what he would do."
The candidacy of Captain Friend deserves mention. There does not appear to have been any considerable popular demand that he should run, but with a happy-go-lucky optimism which was part of his nature, he conceived the idea of running inde- pendently. Everybody he asked signed his petition, on which there were about 1,100 names, but he received just 98 votes. He thereupon proceeded to write a book, containing an allegorical account of his campaign experiences, and called it 1,000 Liars, implying that that number of his friends had promised to vote
EUGENE E. SHAFFER County Auditor for eighteen years; a leader in all movements for civic advancement
for him and failed to do so. In this book the characters are real, but masquerade under fictitious names. His own identity is con- cealed under the name of Captain James Edward Bings. The book is amusing and full of a cheerful philosophy; it is now out of print and quite scarce. Its dedication was "To the im- mortal ninety-eight" who had voted for him.
The election of 1895 resulted in the re-election of Mayor Carl- son, running independently. The opposing candidates were:
JOHN,H. FERRY Recorder
LEWIS R. KIRBY District Attorney
M. M. MOULTON Assessor
W. H. FRANCIS Clerk
A GROUP OF COUNTY OFFICIALS
476
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
W. A. Sloane, Republican; Charles S. Hamilton, Democratic; and Daniel Stone, People's Party. The Union of April 3d made the following comments on the result :
The total vote polled yesterday, 3297, shows better than words how hotly the battle was fought, yet in spite of the many conflicting factions there was no special outward excite- ment, and at many of the polling places there were no hangers- on. The total vote of the city last November was 3327, while this year's vote on the municipal election only is but 30 behind. All sorts of reports were current as to what was to be ex- pected, and bets were made on all subjects; but nothing was more clear than that everybody was at sea as to the result. The strength of the A. P. A. vote, the meteoric quality of the Carlson element, the water question, the civic federation move- ment, and personal considerations were some of the disturbing factors, and these left their mark on the result. Not any single party element can claim the victory and none is left entirely without something to show for its work.
In 1897, C. F. Holland was the Democratic and Non-Partisan choice for mayor, and D. C. Reed was the Republican candidate. The Union, however, which had heretofore supported the regular Republican nominees, refused to support Reed, giving as a rea- son his affiliation with the Municipal Ownership Club, which, it alleged, was backed by the San Diego Flume Company. The Union also opposed Mr. Holland, alleging that he was the orig- inal choice of the Flume Company and that the Non-Partisan organization was an outgrowth of the Municipal Ownership Club. It therefore gave its support to Major Henry Sweeney, an inde- pendent candidate. Carlson ran again and there was also a Pop- ulist ticket, headed by A. C. Mouser. In the result, Reed came in first, Holland second, and Carlson third. Mouser and Sweeney each received a few votes, also George D. Copeland.
An interesting question was raised in this campaign as to the eligibility of Major Sweeney, who was a retired army officer. It was claimed that for this reason he was ineligible, but the Union disputed this, alleging that the question had been raised and set- tled in other cases, and that there was no bar to his holding the office, if elected.
In the election of 1899, the question of municipal ownership of the water system cut considerable figure. The candidates for mayor were: D. C. Reed, Republican ; Edwin M. Capps, Demo- cratic ; and John A. Helphingstine, Socialist Labor party. The battle was really between the Flume Company and the South- ern California Mountain Water Company. According to the Union, the Flume Company was doing its best to thwart the work of Babcock's company by lawsuits, etc., and was now try- ing to put into the mayor's chair a man known to be violently
477
FRARY'S TWO ELECTIONS
opposed to Babcock. Capps was city engineer at the time of his nomination and had repeatedly rejected portions of the work of the Moreno system. The Mountain Water Company pre- ferred Reed, who was not unfriendly to them, to Capps. Capps was elected by 221 votes over Reed, and Helphingstine received 70 votes.
In 1901 the contest was between Frank P. Frary, Repub- lican, Patterson Sprigg, Democrat, and Frank Simpson, Social-
CHARLES S. HARDY
Who ranks among the foremost merchants, and who created the most powerful political organization in the city's history. Characterized as "Boss" by his opponents, recognized as leader by his followers, his supremacy on the hard- fought field of politics is unquestioned by either
ist. Frary was elected; the vote: Frary, 1,674; Sprigg, 1,000; Simpson, 157.
In 1903, Mayor Frary was renominated by the Republicans, James E. Wadham was the Democratic candidate, and Frank Simpson the nominee of the Socialists. The Democrats adopted a platform which contained some advanced ideas, particularly in relation to public ownership of gas and electricity and the development of the pueblo lands with a view to producing
478
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
income and thereby providing for "progress without taxation." The large Republican majority was not entirely overcome, but was materially decreased, the vote being as follows :
Frary, 1,469; Wadham, 1,312; Simpson, 219.
The election of 1905 marked the rise of the "anti-boss" spirit in the Republican party and emphasized the demand for an extension of the principle of public ownership in relation to the water supply. Captain John L. Sehon, a retired army officer, had become a conspicuous leader of the reform element by his independent course as a member of the council, and was gen- erally regarded as the logical candidate of those opposed to the Republican organization. Nominated by the Independents and endorsed by the Democrats, he made a vigorous campaign, which aroused an equally vigorous opposition by the Republicans, who selected Danville F. Jones as their candidate for mayor. The Socialists nominated W. J. Kirkwood.
The Jones-Sehon campaign was marked by one incident of peculiar interest. This was the controversy over the eligibility of a retired army officer for civil office. The case was elaborately argued in the newspapers by prominent lawyers, who were about equally divided on the legal question involved. Captain Sehon was elected by a decisive majority, but his friends believed an effort would be made to prevent him from taking office. The event proved that they were not mistaken, as proceedings were instituted in the superior court. The mayor-elect disappeared from the city and could not be found by the officers who wanted to serve papers in the suit. He returned just before midnight in the last moments of Mayor Frary's expiring term, and, at the first minute of the term to which he had been elected, entered the city hall, took forcible possession of the executive offices, and proclaimed himself mayor of San Diego.
The city awakened the next morning to learn that the man whom it had chosen as chief executive was in full possession of the municipal government and that nothing but ouster proceed- ings could now defeat the popular will. The case was bitterly fought through all the courts. The superior court decided against the mayor, but was overruled by the court of appeals. The supreme court of California sustained the court of appeals, so that Mayor Sehon remained in peaceful possession and pro- ceeded to give the city what is generally regarded as the most notable administration in its history. The mayor's conduct at the time of the Bennington disaster and the San Francisco catas- trophe won the approval of his bitterest opponents, while his management of public affairs was heartily commended at the end of the first year of his administration by the newspaper which had most earnestly opposed his election.
' The vote: Sehon, 2,018; Jones, 1,376; Kirkwood, 483.
CHAPTER III
LATER JOURNALISM AND LITERATURE
ROM 1860 to 1868, San Diego was without a F newspaper or other periodical of any kind. The laying out of Horton's new addition and the fear that the population might be attracted that way caused the people of Old Town to bestir themselves. In the spring of 1868 Philip Crosthwaite paid a visit to his sister, Mrs. Wm. Jeff Gatewood, at San Andreas, in Calaveras County. Colonel Gatewood was publishing the San Andreas Register, and the desire to have his sister near him and at the same time to do something for Old Town prompted Cros- thwaite to propose that he should remove his newspaper plant to San Diego. The proposal interested Gatewood so much that he came to San Diego and investigated the conditions. He found the San Diegans responsive to his desires; they gave him sub- scriptions and advertising contracts which he felt would justify the venture; and, liking the place, he determined to make the change.
Returning to San Andreas, he formed a partnership with Edward W. Bushyhead, who had been his foreman, and also employed J. N. Briseño. When the paper was issued, however, Briseño's name appeared as publisher and Bushyhead's did not appear at all, because Bushyhead, upon his arrival, was not impressed with the town or the prospects of the new ven- ture and was unwilling to have his appear; but the paper was really owned by Gatewood and Bushyhead, and Briseño was only an office boy. Gatewood came on to San Diego over- land, leaving Bushyhead to pack up and ship the outfit and fol- low by steamer. The outfit arrived about the 19th day of Sep- tember and quarters were found in a frame building belong- ing to José A. Altamirano, next door to the parsonage, at Old Town. There was an old Washington hand press and a very good assortment of type. By the 3rd of October they were suf- ficiently settled to be able to issue a prospectus. A copy of this interesting paper follows :
To the Public:
On Saturday next I will issue the first number of The San Diego Union. Those who wish to advertise will confer a favor
480
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
upon me by sending in their advertisements as early next week as possible. In order to insure an insertion on the first page of the paper, the copy must be handed into the office by next Tuesday night. I presume that the business men of San Diego appreciate the advantages of advertising, and will therefore accept with avidity the opportunity now offered them.
I will be thankful for any local item of general or special importance, and particularly request to be furnished with names of vessels arriving and departing from our harbor, and with all matters of importance to shippers.
From those who purpose farming I will be pleased to learn the character of crop they intend planting and the prob- able quantity of acres they will cultivate. I respectfully in- vite from all branches of business such communications as will tend to advance the multifarious interests of San Diego county, and promote the general prosperity of our citizens.
Neither political tirades, nor personal abuse will find place in the columns of the Union. As my object-and such is my agreement with my patrons-is to publish to the world the ad- vantages of the harbor, climate and soil of this vicinity, I hope that no imposition, exaggeration or prevarication will ever be tolerated by those who may afford local information to the Union. In my humble judgment they need no such subter- fuges; but the plain, unvarnished truth of our harbor, climate and soil is all that need be told, to insure the wonder and win the admiration of the world.
As the Union is to be politically neutral, I know of no way by which I can prevent the expressiou of my political predi- lections except by steering entirely clear of politics, therefore, the Union will maintain politically a wise and masterly silence.
For the many favors I have received at the hands of the citizens of San Diego I return my sincere heartfelt thanks, and only bespeak of them the same kindness, courtesy and con- sideration for my little pet, to be born on next Saturday.
WM. JEFF GATEWOOD.
The first number of the Union came out, as announced, on October 10, 1868. It was a four-page 6-column quarto sheet, contained 151/2 columns of reading matter, and was well set up and printed. In his salutatory, Colonel Gatewood said of his paper :
Its influence shall be used in urging the people to lay aside the animosities engendered within the last few years, and so sedulously fostered by the selfish political aspirants of the present day-to foster and encourage fealty to our political institutions-obedience to the laws of the country, and charity towards all mankind. We .
. pray that our lives may be spared to see the waters of our bay fretting beneath the burdens of busy commerce-to hear the shrill whistle of the iron horse as it spurns the sand of the desert-toils over the mountains and shoots through the valleys in its flight from the Atlantic, to meet in our harbor the rich cargoes from the ancient Orient-to see our bay surrounded by mammoth manu- facturing and mercantile houses, princely residences, domes
481
STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE
and spires of churches and schools of learning-the streets teeming with a prosperous and industrious people, and our lovely valleys lifting to our genial skies flowers and fruits, in tints as varied and gorgeous as our incomparable sunsets.
In the first two years of its existence, the Union had a hard struggle. The subscription list was nearly a thousand, which was very good for the time, but the advertising patronage was entirely local and not very remunerative. In May, 1869, Gate- wood sold out to Charles P. Taggart, and the style of the pub-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.