USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 30
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225
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
In the campaign of 1896 woman suffrage was brought to the front and made conspicuous. A thorough organization carried on a spirited campaign in this county. Susan B. Anthony and Dr. Anna H. Shaw came from the East to assist the movement. The Legislature had previously been asked to pass a law grant- ing suffrage to woman, but that body finally decided to permit the state to vote on striking the word "male" from the constitution which would effect the asked for change if carried. This was the issue in the campaign-to strike the word "male" from the organic law. The Political Equality Club was very active. It consisted of both men and women and carried on operations through numerous committees : lecture committee-Mrs. Lloyd Baldwin, Mrs. Haight and Mrs. Stocker ; press committee-Miss Conners, Mrs. Curtis, Charles H. Shinn and Mrs. Keith; advisory committee-J. D. Dickinson, Green Majors, Clinton S. Dodge, Judge Haight and Colonel Babcock ; committee on lecturers-J. D. Dickin- son, Green Majors, Dr. Kellogg Lane, Millie Comers, Mrs. S. C. Sanford, A. A. Denison, Charles H. Shinn, Burdette Cornell, Judge Haight, Mrs. Ada Van Pelt, Mrs. Alice M. Stocker and Mrs. Eleanor Carlisle. Subscriptions were called for and were forthcoming in sufficient amounts to make a creditable showing and fight. Miss Shaw, Mrs. Chapman-Catt, Miss Mills and other famous suffrage speakers addressed large audiences at several points in the county. Ten-cent badges were sold to raise money for expenses. The county suffrage headquarters were in Central Bank building in Sandford's humanitarian offices.
Alameda county was given the honor of opening the republican presidential campaign in this state. The celebration was held on August 8th and consisted of a street parade and a mass meeting under the auspices of the Alliance Club. At the Macdonough theatre addresses were delivered by General Barnes, Judge R. R. Carpentier and S. M. Shortridge. On the same evening the populists held a big meeting in Germania hall and ratified their national ticket. Speeches were made by J. P. Garlick, Green Majors, Susan B. Anthony, J. C. Butler, C. B. White, Taylor Rodgers, Judge Gibson and others. In this county the campaign was char- acterized by bitter contest for positions on the county board, with numerous can- didates for the three places that were to become vacant. Fred S. Stratton was a candidate for the State Senate. The democrats and populists held several mass meetings together with the idea of fusing as a measure to defeat the republicans. They finally fused and declared in their platform that posterity should not be weighted down with obligations that should be liquidated in this day and genera- tion ; that county highways should be improved to meet the needs of advancing civilization ; that assessments should be suitably equalized; and that the conduct of Congressman S. G. Hilborn in, having passed a bill by which the people of Oakland were permitted at their own expense to purchase a lot and build a post- office for the use of the United States should be condemned. This convention and platform bore the marks of fusion and amalgamation. The fusion of the democrats and populists was sufficient warning for the republicans to avoid wrangling and bickering and fight as a solid body for all the local offices. The entire county was fully organized for the contest and the best speakers practicable were secured to educate or influence the voters. Interest centered on the races for Senator, superior judge and county supervisors.
The silverites held an immense meeting at the Tabernacle on October 31st, on which occasion speeches were delivered by Burdette Cornell, W. W. Foote, W. B.
226
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
English, E. M. Gibson, M. F. Tarpey and others. The republican county conven- tion assembled September 21st and named a full ticket. During this memorable campaign Colonel Irish gained wide prominence by his advocacy of sound money before the gold democratic convention at Indianapolis and later on the stump in many cities. At a political meeting of the socialists held in Hamilton hall early in October, on the occasion of an address by Walter T. Mills, a 10 cent admission fee was charged and over eight hundred persons paid to hear the speech. He argued that there were really only two political parties: (I) socialists, and (2) all others.
It was declared by the newspapers that 50,000 people gathered in Oakland to witness the closing scenes of the republican campaign on Monday, November 2d. There were 300 vehicles in line-all with floats, flags and mottoes. It required an hour and a quarter for the parade to pass a given point. There were eleven divisions-all portions of the county being represented. The republicans closed their campaign with a speech from Thomas B. Reed, of Maine. As no hall in this county was likely to hold one-half of the voters who wished to hear him, the race track grounds and buildings were secured. It was estimated that 15,000 people gathered there to hear Mr. Reed. All due preparations were made and the parade was elaborate, large, gay and enthusiastic in the extreme. His speech was short, but direct and comprehensive. It was a fitting finality to one of the most brilliant campaigns ever witnessed in the state. As a whole there was never in this county a more closely contested nor silently determined election than in 1896. The registration and the number of votes polled were the largest in history. Election day was quiet and uneventful, the voters silently going home.
An enthusiastic meeting of free silver advocates was held at Livermore on October 27, 1896. The meeting was held under the auspices of the California silver campaign committee. All the leading citizens in that portion of the county gathered to hear the able speakers and to hear what the silver advocates had to offer. The addresses were delivered in Farmers' Union hall. The leading speakers were Charles D. Lane, G. W. Baker, Dr. E. H. Woolsey, Reel B. Terry and others. Every speaker favored woman suffrage. In that connection Doctor Woolsey said : "I am now in favor of female suffrage and it is for the first time in my life. I became a convert at St. Louis. What changed my mind was a speech by Miss Helen Gougar who spoke at the same time for free silver and Bryan."
The republican electors received 13,429 votes ; the fusion electors, 8,394; the prohibition electors, 135; the national or gold democratic electors, 127; the socialist electors, 101; and the national electors, 56. The republican candidates for superior judges, Greene and Hill, were elected.
At one of their meetings in January, 1897, the republicans passed a resolu- tion asking the Legislature to appropriate $15,000 for a monument in Golden Gate park to Col. E. D. Baker, who fell at Balls Bluff at the commencement of the Civil war.
The populist city convention was held on January 18th, and S. Goodenough was named for mayor. The platform favored municipal ownership of public utilities; demanded that all streets be opened to the water front; opposed the granting of special privileges ; opposed the restriction of free speech on the streets ; earnestly asked that employes be paid in coin so that they should not suffer by shaved warrants; favored the elimination of public patronage from politics;
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
insisted that there should be no censorship over literature of any kind in the free libraries and reading rooms with exceptions; favored improvement of the streets; urged the prosecution of the water front suits; supported direct legislation in national, state, county and municipal matters; and favored the referendum in order that the wishes of majorities expressed at elections could be carried out.
On January 19th the republicans met in convention and nominated a full partisan city ticket with W. R. Thomas candidate for mayor at the head. The convention favored good roads ; opposed any compromise of the water front suits ; expressed satisfaction over the defeat of the Powers funding bill (a railroad meas- ure) ; insisted on a strict regulation of the liquor traffic ; declared that corporations should conform to law and keep out of politics ; opposed dividing the fire hydrants between the two water companies, but to alternate between the two; favored the retention of honest public servants, and pledged the ticket to a generous policy of public improvement.
In January the Citizens' Municipal League took a stand against the proposed legislative bill that was designed to restore to the state the water front given to the town of Oakland in 1852 and resolved to prosecute the pending water front suits to find judgment in the courts, and demanded that all candidates for mayor, city attorney and city councilmen should be pledged to this policy.
The democrats held their municipal convention on January 28, 1897, and nominated a full ticket. Seth Mann was named for mayor. The convention was brief and harmonious. T. C. Coogan was chairman. The platform enjoined a vigorous prosecution of the water front suits; pledged the nominees to an eco- nomical administration ; favored the improvement of the streets as planned ; com- mended the reclamation of West Oakland marsh; favored the construction of a comprehensive and efficient system of sewerage; advocated the development of a system of parks and boulevards which should be an ornament to the city so far as was consistent with an economical administration; favored the alternation of fire hydrants between the two water companies; reiterated party devotion to free speech, free press and free conscience; declared that no partisan nor sectarian influence should be permitted to impair the usefulness of the public schools; and pledged a free and liberal support and management of the public library and free reading rooms.
At a convention of the Citizens' Municipal League on February Ist, W. R. Thomas was supported for the office of mayor. The platform congratulated the city on the success of the movement inaugurated by the league to secure a clean and business-like administration; denounced the abuse of confidence reposed in public officials; invited competing railroad lines ; favored the remission of taxes for a period of years to all desirable new and large manufacturing enterprises ; advocated at the earliest possible day the dredging of Lake Merritt and the construction of a comprehensive sewer system; favored good roads and streets and proper drainage; opposed any compromise of the water front suits; insisted on the restriction of liquor selling; favored alternating the fire hydrants between the two water companies; pledged the party to a generous policy of public improvements under business rules and sustained the public schools. Their ticket was taken almost wholly from the other party candidates.
Among the smaller taxpayers there was a strong movement to secure the renomination of Mayor J. L. Davie as an independent candidate to succeed him-
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
self as a reward for keeping down the tax levy. A petition to that effect was cir- culated and signed in a few hours by 500 voters. Mayor Davie himself took part in circulating the petition and declared he could without trouble secure 2,500 signatures to it. The Davie movement resulted in an independent ticket named by the so-called taxpayers' party with Mr. Davie renominated for mayor.
The American Protective Association being displeased with all the other tickets, prepared to nominate candidates of its own for municipal offices in 1897. They declared that recent developments affecting their interests made a separate ticket desirable and necessary. During this political campaign Prof. E. E. Brown, of the university, in a lecture to the institute of the county, made the statement that the teachers here, in many instances, secured their places by the political pulls they could control. This remark caused much comment as it reflected in a great degree upon the efficiency of the schools by showing that political views and not scholastic methods influenced the education of the youth.
Early in February, reports having been circulated that the Army and Navy League would split on the municipal tickets, the members met and organized as a camp of the army and navy republican league of California and pledged them- selves to support and vote for the national, state and municipal candidates of the republican party. The statement that the league was united as one man for the republican ticket was circulated. At this time the county had at Sacramento a strong lobby to influence the shaping of the county government bill so that it would suit the officials of this community. The Alameda County Labor League, a new organization, supported J. L. Davie for mayor. The Rev. Mr. Goodenough was also candidate for mayor.
The mayoralty petition of A. C. Henry was filed about the middle of February, and was signed by over 1,500 voters. There was so much confusion in the minds of the voters-so many circumstances to distract their attention and bias their judgment, that many supported the man and not the schedule issued with so much eclat and gusto by political factions that apparently desired to sacrifice themselves for the vast good of the dear people. The result was that the republicans car- ried a majority of their ticket, electing mayor, auditor, treasurer, city attorney, a majority of the board of public works and others. The proposition to close the saloons was lost by 1,371 votes. This was a bitter disappointment to many of the best people of Oakland, but was fought to a finish by the saloon men to whom it was a matter of life or death .. When the polls closed the saloon men believed they were defeated, so strenuous was the fight against them. All later believed that if the issue had been Sunday closing alone it would have carried. For mayor, Thomas (R.) received 3,071 votes; Mann (D.), 2,260; Davie (Ind.), 2,962 ; Goodenough (P. P.), 802; Henry (Ind.), 419; Lorenz (A. L.), 58; McCargar (Pro.), 39. On the question "shall the saloons be closed all the time?" the vote was-for closing, 3,732 ; against closing, 5,103.
The Good Government Club of Alameda was a powerful factor in the local campaigns from 1894 to 1897. Its object was to rescue local politics from the domination of professional politicians. It did good work for a time, but finally failed to satisfy the populace because there was no provision to keep politicians from controlling the organization. Soon the ones they were fighting controlled the club. The result was the formation of the municipal league in 1898, with the provision in its by-laws excluding any person who was a member of, or who
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
should participate in the business of, any other organization nominating candi- dates for municipal offices. It grew rapidly and soon numbered its members by the hundreds. The league favored an increase of public school accommodations, the adoption of a freeholder's charter, the retention by the city of the ownership of the electric light plant, municipal ownership of waterworks, the referendum ordinance, and opposed the consolidation of Alameda with any other munici- pality. Perhaps the leading issue was the prevention of the domination of the school department by professional politicians.
In the fall of 1897 W. R. Davis announced that if the republicans of Ala- meda county would unite on him as their candidate for Governor he would accept. At the same time Dr. George C. Pardee issued a statement that he also was a candidate for the same office. The candidacy of two men of such prominence from one county meant lively times in the convention unless some compromise could be effected. It was at this time that the newspapers of this county began to demand that Alameda county should be honored with such an official. Grad- ually it became clear that back of this special movement was the wish that this county should have the Governor while the water front cases were on trial and while the board of harbor commissioners was being appointed and established. It was stated that personal interests in the governorship were trivial compared with these great problems. All agreed that this county should, of course, have but one candidate and that all contests should be concluded before the primaries.
In the congressional primary contest in 1898 Victor H. Metcalf won over S. G. Hilborn by the vote of 7,873 to 4,870. At the same election the vote for Governor was as follows by Assembly districts :
Pardee
Davis
Pardee
Davis
District 46
798
491
District 50
938
579
District 47
1,319
485
District 51
1,453
769
District 48
976
314
District 49
1,523
50
Totals
.6,907
3,143
The proceedings of the republican state convention in August were exceed- ingly interesting to Alameda county voters. Mr. Pardee was a candidate for Governor and a strong lobby from this county attended the convention at Sac- ramento to aid him all in their power. The cry was "On to Sacramento." The Young's Men's Republican League sent a strong delegation. He was not quite strong enough to secure the nomination which went to Henry T. Gage of Los Angeles, who was nominated by acclamation. Doctor Pardee captured the good will of the convention by withdrawing at an opportune time and in a speech pledging his support to the candidate. In fact he received an ovation for the act amidst which there were cries for him to be Governor in 1902. Alameda county stood well in the convention because in the past it had often saved the party from defeat. The convention passed a resolution to hold every foot of territory obtained in the war with Spain. On August 27th the republicans formally received H. T. Gage, who had just been nominated for Governor. There was a large audience at Macdonough theatre where he spoke. He was followed by Pardee and Davis both of whom pledged him the vote of this county.
The populist county convention was also held on September 24, 1898. Bur- dette Cornell served as chairman. The platform favored direct legislation in
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
county and municipal matters, supported the past Dalton assessments on fran- chises, censured the county board for cutting down the assessment, demanded the repeal of the poll tax, promised good roads, and demanded the improvement of Oakland harbor. The populists finally agreed to unite with the democrats and silver republicans, and a fusion ticket was nominated with the hope of defeating the republicans. An independent ticket was nominated by disappointed repub- licans who opposed the proceedings of the republican primaries. The republican county convention met in San Leandro with J. W. Evans in the chair. A full ticket was nominated. The platform favored a primary law, opposed the surren- der of territory acquired from Spain, advocated exemption from taxation for a period of years of desirable manufacturing enterprises. The democratic county convention met on September 24th with M. F. Tarpey presiding. The platform demanded the enactment of a primary law that would make bossism impossible, favored city charters acceptable to the people, supported competing railway lines, pledged an economical administration, demanded an investigation of the treat- ment of the soldiers, urged aid to manufacturing concerns, favored the abolition of one of the justice courts of Oakland and opposed any diversion of the school fund. In September, the prohibitionists named a ticket and adopted the usual platform. In addition it denounced the army canteen and favored the pending ordinance which prevented the sale of cigarettes to minors. In October Berkeley defeated at the polls the proposed charter amendment providing for a justice court ; the vote stood-for, 404; against, 437. The vote for governor in Ala- meda county in 1898 was as follows: Gage (R), 12,080; Maguire (D), 8,208; Harriman (S), 496; McComas (P), 220; Ellert (Ind.), I. Generally the repub- lican county ticket was successful.
In its declaration of principles in January, 1899, the municipal league stated that the object of its existence was to exercise a beneficial influence in the admin- istration of the municipal government by holding its officers to a strict account- ability in the discharge of their duties. It claimed to be absolutely non-partisan. All citizens were invited to meet in the league upon a common ground and to redeem the city government from the destruction threatened by the apparent effort of party leaders to parcel out city affairs to incompetent and inexperienced men as a reward for political service. They were not asked to abandon party fealty in elections for county, state or national offices. It maintained that local matters should be avoided by state and national political parties and similar local organizations where party lines should not be allowed to interfere with progress. The league favored the municipal ownership of public works-especially of the" water supply ; declared that the water front litigation was to secure for Oakland a free port-to take away from private individuals and private corporations the right to levy or collect tolls on the commerce to be conducted on its water front ; pledged itself in favor of the consolidation of the city and county government ; promised to assist the city all in its power to gain its rights in the water front suits from a private corporation which claimed the power for all time to collect tithing on the commerce of the city and which had owned such right for more than forty years; and invited the leading citizens named to meet in convention to nominate a ticket composed of men who would devote themselves to a clean, progressive and business-like management of the city's affairs.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
On January IIth, the socialist labor party, nominated J. H. Eustice for mayor and selected a full partisan ticket. The platform demanded the initiative and referendum ; asked for the repeal of all ordinances interfering with or abrogating the rights of free speech and peaceable assemblage; demanded that the city should obtain possession of the water, gas and electric light plants, street car lines and industries not requiring municipal franchises; asked for free dispensaries; requested that so far as possible the city should employ unemployed persons ; demanded that political economy be taught in the public schools; insisted that the contract system in public works should be abolished; condemned the vagrancy laws, and requested free public baths. The democrats supported Mr. Davie and the populist ticket in the main.
The municipal league nominated R. W. Snow for mayor in 1899. The republicans also nominated R. W. Snow for mayor and presented other candidates on the ticket of the municipal league. The platform favored the expenditure of a reasonable sum for permanent public improvements ; pledged an economical administration; requested the enactment of a better and more suitable primary election, law; advocated the consolidation of city and county governments, and called for municipal ownership and control of the city's water supply. To a large degree the republicans deferred to the ticket and platform of the municipal league. But there was, and had been for some time, a defection in the republi- can party ranks known as the independents and composed of men who opposed high taxation and cared little or nothing for civic progress. They met and nomi- nated John L. Davie for mayor. While favoring municipal ownership of the city's water supply, its purchase was then opposed in view of the existing bond indebtedness of the city and the high rate of taxation. They called attention to the fact that the valuation of the two city water plants was about twelve million dollars, that the municipal league and republican platforms called for the pur- chase of these properties and the companies were willing to sell, and that the intention was to saddle this enormous debt on Oakland. The prohibitionists nominated for mayor Dr. W. O. Buckland and declared for the suppression of the saloon, advancement of improvements, and woman suffrage. The result of the election in Oakland was almost a clean sweep for the combined municipal league and republican tickets. For mayor the vote was-Snow (R and C M L), 5,716; Davie (D and Ind.), 3,913; Eustice (Soc. L), 243; Hoensch (P P), 249; Buck- land (Pro.), 86.
In Berkeley the non-partisan and independent taxpayers conventions fought for supremacy. Both named supposedly strong tickets taken largely from the straight republican ticket. The anti-saloon movement was strong and aggressive. The republicans demanded a more vigorous enforcement of the one-mile limit liquor law, the abolition of the office of city superintendent of schools, and asked for a justice court. At this time the town had a population of over 10,000, but had no court of any kind. The republican convention named its ticket largely from the candidates of the Good Government Club.
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