USA > California > Santa Barbara County > History of Santa Barbara county, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 42
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"A few of the ladies labored earnestly, but most of them seemed afraid of the work they had under- taken. Embracing our privilege of having one day of freedom, when the bars of society were let down, and we were allowed, on account of the urgeney of temperance, to go out and talk to our fellow-men, indiscriminately face to face, we ventured into a little earnest talk. This was for what we had come. But, immediately our friends were alarmed. One pulled us by the sleeve, and another drew us by the shoulder, and begged us to retire to the women among the trees, lest if we talked to these men, we should be insulted.
Now we don't like petitioning men for their votes. In this we humble ourself. We are of right a citizen of the Republic, and it is not our place to come in sup- plication to others to do for us what we should do for ourself. But we did like to go out into the crowd and speak with those who were upholding and ad- vancing what we believed to be wrong. Wherever humanity is, there is our place. Wherever there is work, there let us go. The world is our sphere. The ladies who went to the polls to gather beneath the trees, huddled behind the protecting shadow of each other from contact with the rude world, seeking the company of good men who did not need us, who were exalted beyond our power to improve. O women, sisters, we know no boundaries within whose limits alone we must lift our voice. In the purliens of the city, in gamblers' hells, in the places of drunkenness, in the haunts of pros- titution, wherever man is, wherever vice is to be re- formed. error to be corrected, despair to be encour- aged, hope to be inspired, there is our place, and there we would go, and there would our voice be heard. No woman need fear insults. Man is not a brute. If you have a spark of divinity within your- self, so has he; aye, even the most degraded of men. If you are in earnest, if your soul is in your work, you will waken none but the corresponding principle in those to whom you address yourself. Like re- sponds to like, and you will hear nothing that an angel might not listen to without reproach and with- out shame. . . Instead you huddle together in sets and circles and sects, daring not to speak to com- mon humanity, and holding back your immaculate skirts lest, in your saintly pilgrimage to heaven, you should touch the garment of the poor and the igno- rant, the degraded and the fallen. Your journey to heaven is a disdainful march over the struggling, suffering souls of your brethern who perish every hour, sinking into deeper and blacker depths of infamy and woe for want of the knowledge you might give them, and your death is the abandon- ment of work never performed, though God-given.
" (Signed) VIRGINIA F. RUSSELL."
The " no license" carried the Montecito by a majority of one.
At a local option election in the Patera, 97 out of 128 legal voters were in favor of no license. It is said that up to this time it never had a liquor saloon. The residents claim that the valley is one of the most beautiful, fertile, and healthy in California. The place is also noted for being the residence of Colonel Hollister and Elwood Cooper.
VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.
The business of selling liquor went on much as as before. Five complaints were sworn out by Win. II. Johnson against persons for selling intoxicating liquors in less quantity than five gallons. The first two plead guilty, paid their fines, and were dis- charged. The third was discharged from custody at the request of the District Attorney, before the wit- nesses were examined. The fourth was also dis- missed. The fifth went to trial, and was dismissed at the close of the examination on the part of the State, for want of evidence. Clarence Gray was employed by the defense; J. H, Kincaid, District
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174
HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
Attorney, assisted by C. E. Huse and Judge Hupp, for the prosecution.
A case from some other county was appealed to a higher court, and the law was declared unconstitu- tional on the ground that the Legislature had no right to delegate its powers to another body or municipality. When the news of the decision reached Santa Barbara, the saloon-keepers held a jollification with bonfires, speeches, and other demonstrations of joy.
WANTED, A SEWER.
Efforts were made years since to arouse the people to the necessity of constructing sewers.
"A GROWING HORROR-HEED IT.
"Just as sure as time moves on, Santa Barbara will gradually lose her present high reputation as a health resort. If we continue to outrage the laws of nature, we shall reap the penalty in an abundant harvest of disease and death. The modern tem- ple of Cloacina is a pest-house, wholly disgrace- ful to any community claiming to be civilized, to say nothing of making pretentions to scientific enlight- enment. Why is it not abolished, and a sensible, decent, sanitary substitute adopted? How can a people who assume to be delicate and refined in their tastes and sensibilities endure the abominations of the present system ? The antidote is not unattain- able. The remedy is within the reach of every one. The editor made quotations showing the danger of epidemics and typhoids from the common, careless habits, and recommended the use of dry earth until a system of sewerage could be adopted."
MOVEMENT FOR A NEW COUNTY. .
A petition was in circulation for the formation of a new county out of the Third Township, for the fol- ing reasons :--
There is a voting population of 800. The popula- tion exceeds 3,000. The recent subdivision in small farms is bringing about a great increase of popula- tion. Eleven-twelfths of them reside more than sixty miles from the county seat; one-half is more than seventy-five miles from county seat, while a por- tion is distant more than ninety miles. That the county seat is twenty miles from the nearest por- tion of the territory proposed to be incorporated into the new county. That there is a natural division of uninhabitable territory along the coast where there is no probability of much popula- tion, i. e., from Gaviota to the dividing line of the proposed county. That the assessed value of said township is $1,200,000, with a cash value of $3,000,- 000. The superficial area is over 1,100 square miles. The great distance from Santa Barbara materially interferes with obtaining justice, preventing, by the costs of travel, jurors, witnesses, and officer's fees, attendance at Court.
It is a fact that even in '82 the persons attending court from the west end of the county generally . camp out on the way, taking two days for the trip. It was said that the fees of the Sheriff, in making
arrests and serving legal papers, were more than the entire fees of the new county officers would be, or in other words, the mileage of the Sheriff would be suf- ficient to run the county Government.
The ranches in this township are as follows :-
ACREAGE.
VALUE.
Guadalupe
32,408
$324,000
Punta de Laguna
22,000
220,000
Casmali .
8,000
40,000
Todos Santos
22,000
88,000
Los Alamos
48,000
300,000
La Purissima
14,000
28,000
Santa Rita
13,000
50,000
Jesus Maria
42,000
84,000
Lompoc
46,000
280,000
San Julian
48,000
240,000
Concepcion
24,000
72,000
Refugio
26,000
52,000
Las Cruces
12,000
24,000
Nojaqui
13,000
39,000
Jonata
26,000
130,000
Purification
13,000
26,000
College
35,000
140,000
Santa Rosa
15,000
120,000
Laguna
43,000
129,000
Corral de Quorti
13,000
39,000
La Zaca.
4,000
12,000
Tinaquaic.
8,800
20,000
Sisquoc
35,000
35,000
Tepusquet
9,000
18,000
Suey
30,000
60,000
Government Land
300,000
150,000
Salsipuedes
6,500
30,000
ATTEMPT TO BUILD UP MANUFACTURING INSTITUTIONS.
Santa Barbara never was wanting in enterprising and brilliant plans. Public meetings were held, resolutions adopted, and speeches made setting forth the merits of the plan proposed. Now it was a rail- road, then a steamboat, a woolen factory, or a fish- ery, which was to bring permanent prosperity. A speech delivered by C. E. Huse on the benefits of having a woolen factory is worth preserving.
Mr. Huse on the subject of a woolen factory :-
66 Poor men cannot come here unless they are farmers, who can go to work upon the land. Operatives cannot come here, because there is noth- ing for them to do; but now, if we want to fill up the country with population, we must inaugurate manufacturing enterprises, and then there will be a chance for many of the multitude of spinners, weavers, and artisans of the East in the woolen and other factories. They would rather come here than work there. If we build mills they can come. The population will increase; they must have houses to live in; that will give work to carpenters; make a population for a market at home. So it will benefit the former. We can bring the labor here to manu- facture every pound of wool that is produced, and this product may be increased. There are advan- tages of manufacturing wool here over other places. Contrasting this place with New England, see the dis-
175
HIGH TIDE OF PROSPERITY.
advantages they have. They take our wool raised here, carry it to Boston, and from there by railroad into the interior of Massachusetts, and manufacture it into fabrics. In the winter season they have to heat up their factories; fuel is expensive. If coal is used they have to bring it from Pennsylvania; or if wood, from Nova Scotia. Here the woolen mills would not need to be heated at all. Then, too, it is cool on the coast in summer; operatives can do more work here in the summer season than they can where they are sweltering with heat. I am told that a mill runs better where the temperature is more even. The cold contracts the machinery; it does not run as true as it does here where the tem- perature is nearly uniform. . . Wool can be man- ufactured here as cheaply, if not cheaper, than in the Eastern States. Cheaper, I say, on account of the advantages spoken ot. The agricultural pro- ducts are cheaper. It won't cost much for the operative to feed his family. The fuel is low. We are handy on the coast to the ocean; the manufac- tured article can be easily transported to any port of the world, and we have the world for a market. We cannot overstock the market for wool. If this coun- try were filled up with woolen factories it would find a market for all they could produce. There is no danger of this branch of manufacture being over- done. Look at the vast amount of woolen goods imported into the United States every year from abroad. See the French broadcloths that are brought in, and cloths of different kinds, carpets, and other fabrics made from wool.
.
Los Angeles was referred to as having a successful woolen mill; that all the goods manufactured there were sold at home, except two bales of goods that came to Santa Barbara. He thought if one factory was built it would induce the building of others. It was hard to get the first hotel built; a block of land had to be donated for it. One made the way plain for another, until a block of land costing $9,000 could be purchased, and a hotel erected costing $60,000.
" The building of one mill will encourage the build- ing of others. It will bring that class of men here who are familiar with that kind of business. We may utilize the labor that is here. There is a good deal of labor that might be usefully employed in a mill; boys and girls growing up in idleness and many of them in ignorance. If we do not build mills, by- and-by we will have to build almshouses to keep these people, or jails to incarcerate them for crimes committed, perhaps, under the pressure of poverty.
" The manufacturing communities are always pros- perous communities. They may not be wealthy. They are usually well-to-do, self-supporting. They supply themselves with the necessities and many of the luxuries of life, and the manufacturing com- munities are, as a general thing, intelligent, virtuous, and respected communities. If we want to fill this place up with people, why not commence with woolen mills ? Up to the present time (1874) we have man- ufactured nothing in this town except bricks and a little leather. [A small tannery was in operation.] I believe there is a Mexican that makes saddles and a man that makes harness. We manufacture nothing that is sent abroad. . "
Mr. Pickens, who was familiar with manufacturing
in the East, expressed the opinion that manufacturing might be successfully carried on here. At the request of several persons present, he entered into a state- ment as to the cost of a woolen mill :-
A suitable building, 48x56 feet, three stories
high 7,000
Two sets of machinery, 81,900. 3,800
Engines 2,400
Incidental expenses 6,800
Total. $20,000 This might be increased if the working proved profitable.
BOOTH, PACHECO. AND GEO. T. BROMLEY.
Booth made one of his philosophical speeches, and Pacheco related some of his early recollections of Santa Barbara. Bromley amused the people most. As he came down the coast, when he arrived at Santa Cruz he wondered how any one could live at San Francisco who could move to Santa Cruz; reach- ing Monterey, he was surprised that the people of Santa Cruz remained there when Monterey was so close; at San Luis Obispo he was surprised that people were content to live at Monterey; but when he reached Santa Barbara he seemed to be in Para- dise itself. Here he wondered how any one could live in Santa Barbara and not vote the Independent ticket.
The ill-feeling manifested by the several editors and friends of the candidates for the different offices culminated about election time in very bitter person- alities, and a personal attack on the editor of the Press by J. T. Richards, Mayor of the city. The immediate cause of the assault was the following article, published in the Press September 1, 1875 :-
" JOINED TO HIS IDOLS.
" Many of the old friends of' Richards have been sorely disappointed and mortified at the course he has been induced to pursue since his election as Mayor, and during the campaign now closed. It was generally understood and believed, after the death of his father and his return from the East with his mother and sisters, that he would cut loose from the disreputable associates by which he had been for- merly surrounded, would apply himself to his law books, and try to make a man of himself. On the assurance that such was his intention, and that he had the moral courage to crystallize this intention into action, and on this ground alone, the Press was induced to support him as a candidate for Mayor. It was a mistake, and we deeply regret it. He has disgraced the office and dishonored the city in a con- spicuous manner by his open advocacy, in a public address, of the claims of such a degraded, foul- mouthed creature as C. Gray for the exceedingly responsible office of District Attorney, being the only person in this county who has humiliated him- self in this manner during this campaign. With more of embarrassment than we like to admit, with unfeigned sorrow and poignant regret, the Press is compelled at last to concede that it has no hope that Mr. Richards is willing to retrace his steps and
176
HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
return to the position he once occupied in the public esteem. His friends have remonstrated with him persistently, but in vain. He seems joined to his idols, and there let him remain."
Shortly after its appearance, as Mr. Johnson was passing the Occidental Hotel, he met Mr. Richards with some of his friends, and was presented with the following paper, with the request to sign it imme- diately :-
" I humbly apologize to Mr. Richards for the false, uncalled-for, and abusive article that appeared in the Press August* 31, 1875, entitled "Joined to his Idols."
Mr. Richards also presented another paper, read- ing as follows :-
" We heard Mr. Richards' speech in front of the Occidental Hotel, August 31, 1875. He did not allude in any particular to the county ticket, or any man on it. His remarks were confined exclusively to State and Congressional affairs."
(Signed)
C. PIERCE, ANDY HORN, S. T. TILLEY, GEO. W. YOUNG, O. N. AMES, GEO. W. CHASE, OTTO KAEDING, M. W. BEARDSLEY, JAMES J. WALKER, S. B. BRINKERHOFF, W. R. TOMPKINS.
" I also so remember Mr. Richards' speech. (Signed)
W. W. HOLLISTER."
Upon Mr. Richards' assertion that the report in the Press was incorrect, inasmuch as he only referred to State and National matters, Mr. Johnson offered to make the proper correction in the paper, remark- ing that he was not present at the meeting, and published the proceedings as given by the reporter. Mr. Richards demanded that he, Johnson, should sign the apology. Upon Johnson declining, a rough- and-tumble fight occurred, which was differently described by the several witnesses or participants, as the case might be. According to the Press, Mr. Johnson had Mr. Richards' head in chancery, that is, under his arm, and was proceeding to amend the Richards countenance, when he was beset by Rich- ards' friends, upset, and most unmercifully kicked, cuffed, and pounded, until rescned by the City Mar- shal.
The Daily News gave another version of the affair. the article was double-headed :-
"A MERITED CASTIGATION-A BLACKMAILER SEVERELY PUNISHED, ??
After describing the meeting and the refusal of Johnson to sign the apology :--
" As he did so, Mr. Richards knocked him down, and was proceeding to give him a well-merited flog- ging, when the City Marshal came up and separated
them. After Johnson was struck he bellowed fear- fully and promised all manner of good actions; but the blood of his pers cuted assailant was up, and the blows fell thick and fast. After they were separated, and as Johnson was sorely getting to his feet, the bystanders gave three rousing cheers for Richards. Johnson picked up his dust-bedabbled and dented plug hat and slunk away. On his way home he went into a meat-market for a piece of beef to apply to his bruised face, and while there stated to the butcher that five roughs had pitched into him; which asser- tion was as truthful as the story Jack Falstaff told to the prince concerning the twelve robbers in Lin- coln Green. . The hypothesis upon which the article was written was totally false, and those who witnessed the encounter agree that the punishment was fully deserved."
The careful reader will perceive the gist of the offensive article to be the statement that Richards recommended a voting of the entire Republican ticket, mentioning especially the name of Clarence Gray. As Gray was a regular nominee, it will sur- prise our readers that the charge of supporting Gray should be considered a mortal offense.
It is not often that newspaper license is made to cover more personal abuse than was customary in the Santa Barbara papers of this period. In the Press of the same date was a reference to Gray in these terms: "The infamous liar of this community, C Gray, with some confederates, started a story last evening for the purpose of destroying the confidence of the community in the sincerity of this paper in sustaining the Republican ticket."
THE "ALTA" (S. F.) ON JOHNSON AND RICHARDS.
"Santa Barbara would be very dull without John- son, of the Press. He keeps up a show of life there by his frisky editorials. Recently he said something in his paper, pertinent or impertinent, about Mayor Richards. The Mayor lay for him and got in one on his knob. Johnson got the Mayor in chancery, and was punishing him, when some outsiders took a hand in it, released the Mayor's knowledge-box, and pounded the editor severely. That wasn't right. One at a time is fair play. If the Mayor couldn't stand the press he oughtn't to have gone in on his muscle. The usual result followed the rumpus. His Honor is catching it hotter than ever in John- son's paper, and Johnson is practicing with Indian clubs and dumb-bells. He does not propose to quit running Santa Barbara."
CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE IN 1875.
Four candidates were in the field for District Attor- ney -- McNulta, Dillard, Thomas, and Gray. The Press did not hesitate to assert that the election of the latter, from his known sympathy for and associa- tions with the criminal class, would result in making the prosecution of criminals a farce, unless it was that of a man who had neither friends nor money. It was recommended that the votes of the respectable part of the community should be concentrated on one of the persons who could be relied upon to pro- tect society against crime.
This feeling was not alone expressed by the Press.
* The date seems to have been wrong.
177
HIGH TIDE OF PROSPERITY.
The situation was considered so critical that a mass meeting was held at Lobero's Theater, to devise means for common safety. The Reverend Stephen Bowers was elected Chairman by acclamation. Mr. Fawcett was called upon to state the object of the meeting. Ile came forward and made some remarks on the responsibility of voters and the importance of electing honest men to administer not only our State and National Government, but our home affairs as well.
" We have four candidates in the field for District Attorney, one of whom, by the better class of our community, is considered to be a dangerous man, and to be inimical to the peace of our community; but my opinion of that man is well known. We are here to consider what action we shall take at the polls to-morrow to defeat that candidate: All the officers of our local government look to the District Attorney for advice. It is for him to prosecute criminals; the Grand Jury takes no cognizance, unless it be brought before them by the District Attorney. A Judge, no matter what his wishes may be, cannot prosecute. A jury cannot convict a criminal with- out the assistance of the District Attorney. But if the District Attorney be amenable to the influence of money, or can be bought, you are betrayed. What, therefore, shall we do? One of the four can- didates is inimical to the peace of our community. Either of the other three gentlemen I would like to see, under favorable circumstances, in the office."
Mr. Fawcett then entered into complimentary notices of Dillard, MeNulta, and Thomas; spoke of the merits of each, and the probabilities of support; thought that if we divided the vote of the respecta- able part of the community among the three, the offensive candidate would be elected. He thought, on the whole, that Thomas would be the most avail- able man to defeat the common enemy; that he was a resident of the Third Township, which contained nearly a third of all the votes in the county; that they were dissatisfied with both the Democratic and Republican Conventions, because, as usual, Santa Barbara had taken to itself the most of the nomina- tions; that the Independent Convention, in deference to this feeling, nominated Thomas for Distriet Attor- ney, and that, in his opinion, he was worthy of the office, worthy of our support, and the proper man to unite upon to defeat the hoodlum candidate. Mr. Fawcett was loudly applanded during his remarks.
Dr. Hongh was then called upon. He strongly endorsed Mr. Fawcett's speech. Thought the ques- tion was, whether the people or the lawless element, backed by the whisky ring, should rule Santa Bar- bara. A candidate who persists in dividing the re- spectable vote, would certainly be held to a grave account. If, through voting wrongly, Mr. Gray was elected, he should feel that he had done an act for which the District Attorney should prosecute him. -Mr. McNulta, in response to calls, took the stand, and maintained that he was as available as Mr. Thomas, and thought he could carry more votes in
the west end of the county than any other person. lle retired amid vociferous cheering.
The Reverend Mr. Graham endorsed what Mr. Fawcett and Dr. Hough had said. He thought Mr. McNulta would win the esteem of all good men by retiring from the contest in favor of Mr. Thomas. He thought the applause for Mr. MeNulta during the evening came neither from his friends nor the friends of law and order; that the hoodlums desired to see MeNulta divide the vote of the respectable part of the community that Gray might be elected.
Reverend Mr. Bowers endorsed Mr. Fawcett, Dr. Hough, and particularly the remarks which Mr. Graham had made. Though Mr. McNulta had always been a cordial friend of his, he thought that duty indicated voting for Mr. Thomas.
[Press, September 4, 1875.] " THE REPUBLICAN MEETING.
" Last evening a large and attentive audience were assembled outside the Occidental IIotel to listen to the Republican speaking. Mr. Stone, having obtained permission to use the platform, answered some attacks made by Gray on him at Graciosa and Guad- alupe, and denounced Gray as a ruffian and a perfid- ious man; charged him with violation of the Code; with being guilty of misdemeanor in six months in defending and clearing a man who was indicted, and whom he himself had prosecuted in the lower court, thereby incurring the penalty of losing his right to practice law at all in any of the courts of the State. He pronounced the allegations which Gray had made against him to be utterly false; reviewed the action of the Independent Convention, and declared that he had no hand in causing himself to be nominated, and offered to withdraw if any member of that Conven- tion could be found to say that he had been ap- proached by Stone, directly or indirectly, to induce him to give him his vote as candidate for County Clerk. Clarence Gray made a speech in reply to Mr. Stone, in which he denounced Stone in the bitterest terms, charging him with falsehood, corruption, and dishonesty. He also denounced the leaders of the Independent movement in the coarsest language. He soon became hoarse from the violence of his talk- ing, and many of his utterances were indistinct except to the persons in the immediate vicinity of the stige. He denied that he was Pat McGinnis, but wished that he had half the brains of that cele- brated individual.
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