USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 27
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W. F. B. Lynch was renominated by the republicans for county superin- tendent. In response to a call he said, "When I came into the office of super- intendent of schools six years ago, there were but 3,764 children in the county ; now there are 9,330." A voice called out "You have done well!" This brought down the convention in a tempest of laughter. He retorted pleasantly, "If any man can do better, I say let him try it."
Mr. Goodrich who was nominated for Governor withdrew his name from the temperance reform party ticket on July 23, 1876. In July the republican soldiers and sailors of Oakland organized with Capt. E. B. Jerome as chairman. Judge Daniels and Mr. Jerome addressed the assemblage. At a large mass meeting of the republicans of Brooklyn, July 21st, with J. J. Pensam in the chair, a permanent organization for the campaign was effected. Addresses were made by A. A. Moore, A. C. Henry and Henry Vrooman.
An immense mass meeting of the democrats ratified the nomination of Til- den and Hendricks in the open air at Broadway and Ninth streets, on July 16, 1876, Judge Ferral, R. M. Clarken, Judge Lamar and others addressed the crowd. Bonfires and rockets brilliantly lighted the principal streets. The repub- lican county convention of 1876 met August 6th and J. G. McCallom served as chairman. Delegates to the state convention were chosen. In their resolutions the convention promised 1,500 majority for Hayes and Wheeler and recom- mended the renomination of H. F. Page for Congressman.
A large anti-coolie mass meeting was held in the city hall on September 12th. The principal addresses were by C. C. O'Donnell, E. J. Kelly, Philip Roach and Mr. Mather. About this time a conspiracy was formed at Oakland to burn the Chinese quarters and kill a number of Mongolian inmates. It was checked by Captain Rand of the police department, who put on enough extra patrolmen to prevent such a calamity. At this time the Chinese quarters were between Grove and Jefferson streets near the railroad and comprised seventeen buildings. They had stores of various kinds and a joss house. Four of the houses were devoted
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almost wholly to gambling and called "Chinatown." Farther up from the creek at what was known as the Tuttle tract near San Pablo avenue and Twenty-sec- ond street was North or Upper Chinatown.
Oakland, in the fall of 1876, was the scene of the largest popular political demonstration ever witnessed in the county since the memorable campaign which elected Abraham Lincoln President of the United States. It was a complimen- tary reception tended to Hon. H. F. Page and a meeting called to listen to the matchless oratory of Thomas Fitch. The meeting was held at the big republi- can tent on Fourteenth street. Many ladies were present. Bonfires, rockets and a torch-light procession enlivened the occasion. Mr. Page, as usual, was received with stirring enthusiasm and Mr. Fitch's electrical oratory surpassed anything of the kind ever before heard here. Nearly all listeners were astonished and held breathless by the linguistic beauty and rhetorical fascination of his speech.
The democrats held a big mass meeting at Dietz hall late in October, and listened to an able speech from S. J. Carpenter, democratic candidate for Con- gress. As the news was received of the election returns in Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia, eager crowds gathered around the bulletin boards to learn the results. United States Senator Oliver P. Morton of Indiana, one of the famous "War Governors," spoke to a vast audience at the skating rink, Oakland, late in October. The speech was spoken of as one of the most masterly ever deliv- ered in this city.
On March 3, 1877, the committee of 101 met for the purpose of nominating candidates for the approaching municipal election. R. C. Gaskill served as chair- man. For mayor Dr. E. H. Pardee was nominated. A full ticket was placed in the field. Nearly one hundred republicans later addressed a public letter to Gen. George S. Dodge, requesting him to become a candidate for the office of mayor. The paper stated that the request was made because the signers believed a grave injustice had been done the people of Oakland by the republi- can convention which had convened here on March 3d. General Dodge gra- ciously accepted the call and consented to become a candidate. Livermore was divided on local issues in the election of May, 1877; there being a citizens' ticket and a peoples' ticket, each of which named candidates for town trustees.
It was realized in July, that for about ten years a small clique of politicians who had become chronic office seekers, were endeavoring to perpetuate their fran- chise on the city offices and had formed a ring to that effect. The greenback party of the county held its convention July 20th, in Armory hall; Col. A. E. Redstone presided. The state platform was adopted and a full county ticket was nominated. Among those who participated were John M. Horner, B. V. Lowe, Joel Russell, A. E. Redstone, E. C. Farley, A. S. Hubbard, C. E. Pal- mer, Alonzo Crawford, John Doherty, William Halley, William Helmer and Henry Vrooman.
In 1877 the democrats of the county in convention opposed Chinese immi- gration, favored the prevention of imported Chinese laborers; demanded justice for the working man; asked for a land tax; demanded punishment for malfea- sance in office ; requested Congressmen to secure help from Congress to improve Oakland harbor; approved the removal of Federal troops from the South; opposed monopolies and sumptuary laws; and supported a tariff for revenue and the common school system.
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In view of the strikes all over the country and the labor and Chinese riots in San Francisco in particular, the Oakland council held a special meeting late in July, 1877, to adopt measures to insure the prompt suppression of any law- lessness that might break out in this city. Every member of the council and a large number of prominent citizens were present. An address calling for law and order was prepared and circulated. At this meeting there was expressed much diversity of sentiment and judgment. J. H. Redstone maintained that there existed a general movement in favor of labor throughout the whole country that could not be laughed down and advised that steps should be taken to abate the Chinese nuisance or settle the coolie question, because the white workingmen of the country were opposed to the Chinese. The police prepared for trouble and were reinforced by the Oakland Guard and many private citizens. In a street speech J. H. Redstone demanded that the Central Pacific Company should at once discharge their Chinese employes. Violent resolutions were adopted. The citizens formed a committee of safety to meet any unlawful emergency. Five hundred special policemen were called for by Mayor Pardee and $5,000 was quickly subscribed to meet expenses. Oakland was divided into seven safety districts which were patrolled and guarded. The Redstones were leaders of the strike movement here and strong speakers at the street meetings.
The local political campaign in August, 1877, was a mean one-full of trickery and lying abuse. An attempt to change two candidates on the republican ticket was indignantly opposed by the ring republicans who resorted to every measure to defeat the attempt. The insolence, defamation and chicanery of the news- papers were manifest to all readers. The result was the election of the entire republican county ticket with one exception by reduced majorities. The repub- licans now had three representatives and the democrats two.
On the 22d of January, 1878, a special election was held to choose a state senator in the place of Nathan Porter, deceased, which resulted in the election of the workingmen's candidate, John W. Bones. George M. Pinney was political boss of this congressional district. He controlled the Mare Island navy yard from Oakland and was the real author of the famous Tapeworm ticket of the yard. He was clever and crafty, and finally became involved in serious difficulties.
In 1879 Col. E. M. Gibson was appointed to the position of district attorney, upon the resignation of Henry Vrooman, who, on retiring, received the highest encomiums from the board of supervisors.
For several years previous to the creation of the workingmen's party as a political organization, there had been more or less agitation of the Chinese ques- tion, and the competition of Mongolian with white labor. The steady influx of coolies from China, the employment of this cheap labor by manufacturing firms, and the consequent driving out of white laborers from many of the branches of mechanical employment, aroused the working classes to the highest pitch of resentment. Early in 1877 Dennis Kearney, an Irish drayman of San Francisco, commenced holding public meetings on the vacant lots near the new city hall in San Francisco-since known throughout the length and breadth of the land as the Sand Lot-and in his declamatory harangues, worked upon the passions of the multitude, denouncing all men of wealth, and preaching the extreme doctrines of communism. Others who saw a chance for political preferment by catering to the evil passions of the mob, followed in the wake of Kearney, holding out-
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door meetings all over the state. Clubs were formed, and out of these in better form sprang the workingmen's party. Alameda county in 1878 gave a majority of 2,000 against the new organic act, and a majority of 9,336 against Chinese immigration. The first election under the new constitution occurred in Septem- ber, 1879. Three candidates for Governor took the field. The republicans nominated Hon. C. Perkins; the democrats and new constitution party put up Dr. Hugh Glenn, and the workingmen's party nominated William White, a farmer of Santa Cruz county.
The republicans, gaining control of the state government, the years 1879 and 1880 being prosperous, and there being plenty of work for all who wanted it, the sand-lot party gradually died out, and the large majority finally went back to the democratic party in the presidential election of 1880, from which it had cut loose during the exciting period of over two years. Oakland succumbed to sand-lot rule for two years-the workingmen electing their mayor in 1878 and 1879-in 1878 electing not only their candidate for mayor, but police judge and city attorney, and in 1879, the mayor, two members of the city council, and two members of the board of education.
The vote for mayor in March, 1879, was closely contested, W. R. Andrus, workingmen's, receiving 2,563 votes, and D. W. Standiford, citizens', 2,353. The voters divided into the parties : citizens' and workingmen's, the latter being domi- nated, it was alleged, by Dennis Kearney of San Francisco.
On Saturday, March 4, 1882, in response to the proclamation of Governor Perkins, the citizens of California closed their business houses and assembled to consider again the anti-Chinese movement. This act was caused by the wish to inform Congress what the people of the Pacific coast thought of the bill pending in Congress to curtail coolie immigration to this country. In Oakland there was a total cessation of business and a determination to express the deep- seated antipathy of the people to the great Chinese peril. Masonic hall was crowded to its utmost capacity. Mayor J. E. Blethen presided. Colonel Gibson made the principal speech-depicting all the evils of the existing system. A full series of resolutions was adopted, one being as follows: "That the evil complained of is present and pressing, and that the people of the Pacific coast will be content with nothing less than the immediate passage of the bill now before Congress restricting further Chinese immigration." There was a general feeling that unless Congress gave relief the people would take the law into their own hands and speedily abate the nuisance, but this sentiment was promptly checked and rebuked by the speakers at this meeting and by the press.
On March 23d the anti-Chinese bill passed the House by the vote of 177 to 65. Congressman Page was given the chief credit for this success. It provided that after ninety days from the passage of the bill and until the expiration of twenty years after its passage the coming of Chinese laborers to the United States should be suspended. President Arthur vetoed the bill and sadness fell upon all the Pacific coast. Through the efforts of Congressman Page and under a suspension of the rules the House passed the bill over the veto. A ten-year suspension bill was later signed by President Arthur.
At the state election in 1882 John R. Glascock of this county ran for Congress- man at large; his vote in this county was 4.562 against 4,603 for Morrow, his opponent. In 1882 E. M. Gibson, republican, was elected railroad commissioner
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over Foote, democrat, by the vote of 4,599 to 4,445. Vrooman, republican, and Whitney, republican, were elected to the state Senate over Lawton, democrat, and Dixon, democrat.
The republican municipal convention, in March, 1882, assembled in Ger- mania hall. The call was for the nomination of good men and the restriction of coolie immigration and for the encouragement of manufacturing enterprises. The convention nominated for mayor, C. K. Robinson; city attorney, John Yule ; city marshal, M. E. Clough; superintendent of schools, J. C. Gilson; police judge, S. F. Daniels. The democrats nominated for mayor, Israel Lawton ; city attorney, Thomas Carneal; police judge, Asa Howard; city marshal, T. F. Jenkins ; school superintendent, D. S. Hirshberg. The republicans elected their entire ticket by a large majority. For mayor, Robinson (republican), received 2,444 votes and Lawton (democrat), 2,061 votes. The average republican majority was 1,278.
At the election for town trustees of Alameda in the spring of 1882 the fol- low was the result: William Simpson 504, J. M. Gray 528; E. B. Dunning 188, Louis Meyer 416, C. A. Edson 515, William Midden 549.
At the election called for November 7, 1882, the number of precincts in the county were forty as follows: Alameda township-Alameda Nos. 1, 2 and 3; Brooklyn township-Brooklyn, No. I (two precincts), Brooklyn No. 2; Oak- land township-Berkeley, West Berkeley Bay precinct, Temescal, Ocean View, Piedmont ; Oakland City-First ward (three precincts), Second ward (two pre- cincts), Third ward (two precincts), Fourth ward (two precincts), Fifth ward, Sixth ward (two precincts) ; Eden township-San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Hay- wards, Mt. Eden, Castro Valley ; Washington township-Alvarado, Centerville, Mission San Jose, Niles, Newark; Murray township-Sunol, Pleasanton, Dub- lin, Livermore No. 1, Livermore No. 2, Altamont.
In January, 1883, the state passed from the republicans to the democrats, yet all admitted that the administration of Governor Perkins had been excel- lent. The bill for the regulation of municipal corporations applied directly to Oakland; it provided that municipal elections should be held every two years for seven councilmen, a mayor, a treasurer, a city attorney, a school superin- tendent and a street superintendent. The republican municipal convention was held March 5th in Germania hall. E. M. Gibson was nominated for mayor ; James Dods for city clerk and treasurer; Joseph M. Dillon, city assessor. As a whole the ticket was pronounced satisfactory and good, but subsequent events proved it otherwise in part. The democrats nominated J. W. Martin for mayor,; James A. Booth for city clerk and treasurer and O. R. Johnson for assessor. Both parties nominated full council tickets. There was a general demand for honest men, but party lines governed the voters. The election was quiet and uneventful. The result was the election of eleven candidates on the republi- can ticket and four on the democratic ticket, including the mayor. Mr. Martin proved to be more popular than Mr. Gibson and drew many republican votes. This election surprised the quidnuncs who had predicted an overwhelming vic- tory for Mr. Gibson. Even the most sanguine democrats were surprised. Mar- tin (democrat) received 2,514 votes, and Gibson (republican) received 2,206. Gibson carried wards 2, 3 and 7. For city clerk and treasurer Dods (repub- lican), received 2,697 and Booth (democrat), 2,036. The total vote was 4.733. Vol. 1-14
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At the November election, 1882, the democrats fought to secure the offices of sheriff and county clerk. The republican machine and boss rule forced inde- pendents to vote the democratic ticket. The result in the county was as follows : For Governor-Stoneman (democrat), 4,617; Estee (republican), 4,239; Mc- Donald (people's), 369; McQuiddy (greenback), 20. But the county cast a majority for the republican candidates. The democrats elected their county clerk and sheriff as they had planned. Thus the republicans met a political tornado.
The republicans nominated for mayor, A. C. Henry; clerk and treasurer, F. M. Fisher; attorney, C. T. Johns; police judge, S. F. Daniels ; school super- intendent, J. C. Gilson; city marshal, George Atkinson. The platform pledged the party to an economical administration, to no favoritism, and to the furnishing of all supplies in the public schools. The democrats renominated J. W. Mar- tin for mayor; Bernard McFadden for city attorney; Judge Roseborough for police judge ; E. H. Hamilton for marshal; T. O. Crawford for school superin- tendent ; John Madens for clerk and treasurer.
The municipal election of March, 1884, demonstrated that Oakland was a republican city when that party was united and put up good men. The result was due to the energy and good judgment shown by the city central committee- W. W. Camron, J. W. Ballard, E. G. Cram, R. M. Apgar, H. Griffin, H. Fiege and W. T. Gibbs. The vote stood : For mayor-Henry (republican), 2,531 ; Mar- tin (democrat), 2,216. The remainder of the republican ticket was elected by larger majorities, Gilson (republican) for school superintendent receiving 755 majority over Crawford ( democrat ) and Fisher (republican) for clerk and treas- urer 788 over Madens (democrat ).
The republican county convention met in Germania hall on April 27, 1884. O. C. Miller of Alameda served as chairman. The resolutions adopted instructed the delegates to the state convention to vote for no one to the national conven- tion who would not support James G. Blaine for the Presidency, and warmly commended the administration of President Arthur. Delegates to the state convention were chosen. The republican state convention assembled in the same hall two days later. This was a distinction of which the whole county was proud. The hall was appropriately decorated for the occasion and the hotels were crowded with the delegates and their attendants. A. E. Davis served as temporary chairman. The resolutions asked for such amendments to the Chinese exclusion act as would prevent any evasion in letter or spirit, supported James G. Blaine for president, and recommended that the office of commissioner of agriculture should be made a cabinet office.
The democratic county convention met June 7th, in Germania hall, with H. Dusterberry in the chair. The resolutions favored the nomination of Samuel J. Tilden for the presidency; denounced monopoly; demanded the payment of taxes from the Central Pacific Railroad Company, and condemned Carpenter, Humphreys and Marshall of the railroad commission for alleged non-compli- ance with election pledges.
The assembly districts in Alameda county in 1884 were as follows: Fifty- first-Murray and Washington townships, the towns of Haywards and Castro Valley ; fifty-second-Remainder of Eden township outside of Oakland and all of Alameda township; fifty-third- Fourth and Sixth wards, Oakland; fifty-
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fourth-First ward, Oakland and a portion of Oakland township; fifty-fifth- Second and Third wards, Oakland; fifty-seventh-Fifth and Seventh wards, Oakland and part of Oakland township.
In July the Army and Navy League held an immense campfire in Germania hall. The cry was "Blaine, Logan and Victory." Among the speakers were Henry Edgerton, Joseph McKenna, Mayor Henry C. Cook, L. W. Allum, L. B. Edwards, George W. Tyler, Captain Huley and Col. E. M. Gibson.
There was much excitement here in July over the proceedings of the national republican convention at Chicago. Large crowds surrounded the bulletin boards. When the nomination of Blaine was a certainty the republican hords of the county went wild for a few days and held rousing ratification meetings at which the best local orators in eloquent terms voiced the approbation of the party.
A convention of the regular republicans of Alameda met in 1884 and nominated a cut-and-dried ticket and assumed that they had done all that was necessary to gain the approval of the voters. But this convention was not per- mitted to have its own way without a fight. A ticket in opposition by persons who were dissatisfied with the former nominees or with the course of the former meeting was put up, the candidates for trustees being as follows: E. B. Mastick, T. A. Smith, ΔΆ. C. Hall, F. H. McCormisk, C. C. Volberg; school trustees-D. J. Sullivan, A. Mayrisch, O. Lubbock, C. A. Brown, T. A. Thomson ; marshal -- F. K. Krauth, Jr .; recorder-J. W. Clark; treasurer-P. L. Shoaff ; assessor-James Millington ; clerk-J. M. Reynolds. It was charged that this ticket was instigated by certain real estate interests. The committee of thirty- three that had nominated the other ticket met on December 16th and by resolu- tions advocated the following measures: The streets should be sewered, paved and lighted; there should be an adequate police force ; the public schools should be kept up to the highest standard; the candidates nominated, if elected, pledged themselves to see the foregoing measures carried into effect. The total vote cast at the Alameda city election was 751-a light one. The result of the election was as follows: Town trustees-E. B. Mastick, T. A. Smith, G. C. Hall, E. F. Rea and R. S. Falconer ; school directors-D. J. Sullivan, Isaac Manheim, A. May- risch, C. A. Brown, T. A. Thomson; marshal-James Cook; recorder -- C. M. Radcliff ; treasurer-N. W. Palmer; assessor-E. M. Smith; clerk-James Millington.
When the news began to arrive from all parts of the country in November, and it seemed as if first one and then the other party had won, the crowds here around the bulletin boards went wild and for several days apparently did not leave the streets. This county of course was not in doubt, but the excitement was over the general result. Alameda county gave Blaine 7,558, Cleveland 4,735, St. John 105, Butler 89. The whole republican county ticket was elected by large majorities-1,000 to 3,000 except, in the case of one-Supervisor Duster- berry, democrat, defeated Musser, republican. The total vote of the county was 12,365, of which 7,331 were polled in Oakland. In 1880 the total vote was 9,837, of which 5,762 were cast in Oakland. In 1884 Haywards distinguished itself by polling nineteen votes for St. John, the prohibition candidate.
The republicans in March, 1885, nominated E. W. Playter for mayor and a full municipal ticket. The election was strictly a party contest. The democrats
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hoped to capture some of the offices through the apathy or folly of the repub- licans. The democrats nominated John S. Drum for mayor. This campaign was remarkably free from personalities. The result was the election of the fol- lowing republicans : mayor, four councilmen out of seven, six school directors out of seven, and all the free library trustees; also treasurer and assessor. The total vote was 5,549. Playter, republican, received 2,901 votes and J. S. Drum, democrat, 2,645 votes.
At the municipal election in Berkeley in May, 1885, the following officers were elected: For trustees-J. M. Creed, H. L. Whitney and W. C. Wright ; school directors-R. W. Andrews, C. H. Burr and Chris. Johnson; marshal-Philip Monroe; clerk-T. F. Graber ; treasurer-Thomas Hann; justices of the peace- C. N. Terry and C. R. Lord; constable-T. F. Henderkin and W. H. Menefee; assessor-R. A. Morse. Two tickets were in the field. The total vote cast was 537-East Berkeley 313, and West Berkeley 224. The two tickets were called people's and citizens'.
In the spring of 1886 the republicans renominated Mayor Playter and put up a full ticket. In the convention there was sharp rivalry, but the best of feeling. The contest was a preference of persons rather than a question of character or ability. Both parties named good men and while party lines were generally fol- lowed, there were many cases of scratching through personal prejudices. News- papers urged voters to stick to their party in order to secure prestige for the approaching state contest. The democrats nominated Capt. John Hackett for mayor and also placed a full ticket in the field. John H. Church ran as an inde- pendent candidate for mayor. He declared that both parties, republican and democrat, had lowered their colors to a railroad company, in other words had ceased to serve the people. There was a conflict between two railroads, narrow gauge and broad gauge and the parties, he declared, had espoused the cause of the one or the other. He also opposed the merchant's license and favored a reduction of official salaries-that of the mayor included to be cut down to $1,000.
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