USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 31
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There was much excitement over the municipal election in Alameda. A non- partisan convention met at. Harmonie hall in February and named a full ticket. The excitement was confined to personal ambitions and contests. In a large measure they were opposed by the Alameda Municipal League which suddenly grew very popular just before election. The Young Men's Republican Club was
232
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
prominent in this contest. The municipal league made almost a clean sweep at the election. The total vote was 2,517. The result was the downfall of a num- ber of men who assumed they owned the town.
In 1900 local politicians took intense interest in the redistricting of Oakland into new wards as provided in the constitution of 1880. Weeks before the divi- sion was necessary they studied the situation with the view of so sizing and shaping the ward boundaries as to secure the greatest possible partisan advan- tage. The formal action of the council to redistrict was taken on January 15th. The most radical change was to give four wards a western water frontage and to place all that part of the city south of Seventh street from the lake to the bay in one ward instead of distributing it among three as before. The Fifth ward was made to include the Linda Vista section.
In July an ovation was tendered Victor H. Metcalf by the republicans of Oakland, on which occasion a Young Men's Metcalf Republican Club of over 700 members was organized. His record was approved. At the republican primaries Mr. Metcalf received in this county a large majority over H. P. Dalton for Congress from this district. At the convention he was nominated by acclamation.
On September 1, 1900, the republican county convention met and filled out the ticket. Judge Barrows was chosen chairman. On the same day the demo- crats likewise named a full ticket. On October 8th, at a large republican mass meeting in Exposition hall, United States Senator Perkins explained the issues of the campaign. W. R. Davis of Alameda county was one of the presidential electors this year.
The absence of populism from the campaign of 1900 was a notable event. At the November election every candidate on the republican ticket was elected. Metcalf (R.) for Congress received a plurality of 7,142 votes. John Ellsworth and Frank B. Ogden, republicans, were elected to the superior bench. The social democrats and the prohibitionists had tickets in the field. The vote for President and Congressman in this county was as follows:
President
Congressman
Republican
14,324
Metcalf (R.) . 13,756
Democrat
6,677
Freeman (D.)
6,614
Social democrat
828
Dague (S. D.)
725
Prohibition
341 Holt (Pro.) 236
Late in December, 1900, the republican city central committee met and named twenty-eight republicans to plan the city convention for the coming municipal ticket. This early and definite action was taken in view of the change in the ward boundaries. Much power was delegated to this committee. This step encountered considerable opposition in party ranks. The prohibitionists assembled on January 23, 1901, and nominated Allen Shorkley for mayor. The usual platform was adopted. Reference was made to the recent humiliating experience of Berkeley in trying to execute anti-saloon laws with pro-saloon men to enforce them.
The republican municipal convention met in Elite hall on January 26, 1901, and nominated a full ticket with Anson Barstow for mayor at the head. The
233
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
platform expressed the opinion that the republican party could name a city ticket that would if elected give abundant satisfaction ; declared that every munic- ipal reform movement should end when its mission was accomplished and not be permitted to gain unwarranted control of public affairs with no worthy object in view; favored such amendments to the city charter as would remove the mayor, city attorney and city engineer from the board of public works and would give to the council the power to control the assessment for city taxes upon city property without the consent of the county assessor ; pledged an eight- hour day for employes on public works; favored the consolidation of city and county governments for Oakland and vicinity ; pledged reduced water rates if practicable; promised to prosecute to final conclusion the city's interest in the water rate case then pending; pledged support to competing railroad lines ; favored the early improvement of the park donated to the city by private sub- scription lying south of the Twelfth street dam; and promised to submit to the electors the proposition for municipal ownership of the water works and other public utilities. Several prominent men left the municipal league at this time and returned to the ranks of the republicans, among whom was R. H. Chamberlain who said in that connection, "The reason for my withdrawal was because last night I became convinced of what I had for some time feared, viz: That a spirit of narrowness, bigotry and extreme partisanship had gained the ascendency in the councils of the league, that it no longer stood for the high principles avowed in its constitution and in its platform, but had been prostituted to save the purposes of a mere faction of the republican party whose grievance dates back to the congressional campaign of last summer. There was a strong effort made last night to pledge the convention in advance not to nominate for any office any man who would also accept a nomination at the hands of the republican convention today. I wanted the league to be free to indorse good men wherever they could be found."
The republican committee of twenty-eight encountered so much criticism that it called a primary election, though at the same time recommending the delegates which it believed should be supported. This was a reversion to the former custom and met all charges of bossism. About 1,500 votes were polled.
In an address to the public the republican committee called attention to the imperative need of a harmonious, progressive and politically responsible govern- ment, to the fact that the city had obtained an unenviable reputation abroad as a silurian city and to the further fact that the internecine squabbles and demoral- ized condition as a community had made the place a reproach in the state. It was declared that for many years every plan of public improvement had been rendered abortive by being made secondary and subsidiary to grievances against some one or to more special interest ; that such a report spread abroad carried the impression that the city was not a desirable place in which to settle, and led capitalists to believe that there existed here a spirit or public opinion hostile to capital and inimical to the safety of investment. On the other hand the opinion had gone out that the city was in the grip of corporations which virtually and habitually confiscated the substance of the inhabitants. For a full decade such things had gone on and scarcely a substantial step had been made in either munic- ipal betterment or public improvements. Every measure to better the city had been cast aside to make room for the empty quibbles and personal quarrels of
234
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
partisan or monopolists. It was declared that the proper thing to do was to place public affairs in the hands of a responsible political party. As two-thirds of the voters were republicans and as they had named an excellent ticket, it merited support. It was declared that the republican ticket stood for progress, justice, party honor, economy, public improvements and encouragement to indus- try and enterprise. It was believed that this movement was instigated by the wish of the party to evade the yoke of the municipal league and to present a party ticket under the plausible guise of a citizens' reform.
The municipal league selected as its candidate for mayor, Walter G. Man- uel and named a full ticket. The platform renewed the devotion of the league to the high principles upon which it was organized at a time when waste, ineffi- ciency and corruption were the dominant characteristics of the city government; stated that its non-partisan ticket was placed in the field in order to prevent the election in March of any man who was not known to be entirely unfettered by any corrupting political or corporate influence; favored an economical govern- ment; advocated a comprehensive policy of public improvement and the issu- ance of bonds ; pledged that the library building should be furnished in a suit- able manner; favored assistance to worthy manufacturing establishments; asked for a consolidated city and county government; favored municipal control of certain public utilities; pledged a continuance of the water rate suits; and expressed the belief that the action of the majority of the republican city central committee in delegating their duties to a committee of twenty-eight was in the interest of certain corporate powers and not for the welfare of the people, and that the selection of such committee was given into the hands of the agents of such corporate powers and deserved the unqualified condemnation of every good citizen of every political faith. On the following day sixteen prominent men who bolted the municipal league convention declared in an open statement to the public that the proceedings were the prearranged program of a faction and not the untrammeled action of the convention.
The republican newspapers and speakers declared that this was an underhand movement of the municipal league to secure control of the election machinery. When the matter was brought to a test in the council six votes were rounded up in favor of the charges thus made.
The' democrats met in convention and nominated for mayor Warren English. The latter objected to the slight put upon the democracy of not giving the party suitable representation on the election boards. He said that practically all such officers were selected by the municipal league which claimed to be a non-partisan organization.
At the polls the republicans were in the main victorious, electing the mayor, city attorney and city engineer, but losing the auditor and treasurer. The republicans won also the school board. The new council consisted of four repub- licans, one independent republican and six municipal leaguers. The municipal league secured a majority of the library trustees.
VOTE FOR MAYOR, 190I
Barstow (R.)
2,944 London (S. D.) 247
Manuel (M. L.)
2,808
Davie (Indp.) 2,47I
English (D.)
982
Shorkley (Pro.) 60
235
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
In September, 1901, meetings were held in all the leading towns and cities of the county to express the grief of the people over the death of President McKinley and the indignation and horror at his assassination. Many eloquent orators addressed sorrowing audiences in halls and churches and everywhere the flag hung at half-mast and buildings and streets were draped with the emblems of death.
At the April election, 1902, Pleasanton polled 107 votes out of 256 registered and elected the old officers. Emeryville did the same. The old trustees were reelected because they had kept the tax levy down to 50 cents and had over $6,000 in the treasury. There were cast 228 votes. At Livermore the regu- lar republican ticket won. There were cast 356 out of 420 registered votes. At San Leandro there was a sharp contest over the town trustees, clerk, attorney and treasurer. Over 400 votes were polled. At Haywards there were charges and countercharges, which fact caused a spirited contest with much personality. Previous to 1901 partisan lines were not drawn in Alameda at municipal elec- tions, but in that year the republicans and the non-partisans squared off in savage contest. In February, 1901, the republicans of Berkeley met and nominated a ticket for the municipality; opposed to them were the non-partisan taxpayers. . In January, 1902, the socialists prepared a new plan of organization and opera- tion in this county. M. W. Wilkins became local organizer and proceeded to form clubs in every Assembly district. The district clubs were directed to hold weekly meetings and all to hold a general rally once per month in a centrally located hall.
What was called the "postage stamp" primary system was tried for the first time in Alameda county in August, 1902, and gave satisfaction. Republi- cans, democrats, socialists and prohibitionists voted for their delegates at the same time. Nominees of the united labor party were placed on the ticket by petition. The general scheme of the Australian ballot was followed. At this election the republican party were a unit for the nomination of Dr. G. C. Pardee for Governor. There was no suggestion of another candidate. At the republi- can county convention held August 16th, in Germania hall, Dr. P. C. L. Tisdale presided. The platform favored encouragement of home products and the eight- hour law; endorsed the course of President Roosevelt, Senator Perkins and Congressman Metcalf; opposed the reciprocity principle, and endorsed the can- didacy of Doctor Pardee for Governor. A full county ticket was nominated. At the congressional convention the next day Mr. Metcalf was unanimously renominated for Congress. The socialists, selected a full ticket at a county con- vention held in Grand Army hall on August 20th. The democratic county con- vention convened on August 23d, with George Beck of Livermore as chairman. The platform condemned the trusts; favored public ownership of public utilities ; the abolition of the poll tax; the enforcement of the eight-hour law on all public contracts; free text books in the public schools; condemned several illegal practices; approved the policy of forest preservation; favored the enlargement of commercial schools; advocated state control of water supplies for irrigation purposes, and condemned the extravagant administration of county officers.
At the republican state convention held in Sacramento on August 26 and 27, 1902, John A. Britton nominated Doctor Pardee for Governor "in the name of the impregnable fortress of republicanism of the State of California,-Alameda
236
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
county." He recalled Doctor Pardee's withdrawal, four years before, per- mitting the nomination of Mr. Gage to be unanimous, that Alameda republicans did not sulk in their tents, but gave Gage the largest majority of any county in the state and promised a majority of 10,000 from Alameda county in case Par- dee was nominated. Endorsements of Pardee's nomination came from Solano, Calaveras and Napa counties. Judge Mckinley renominated Henry T. Gage, C. F. Lacy nominated Thomas Flint, Judge Lewis nominated J. O. Hayes and S. R. Taylor nominated Mr. Edson, for Governor. On the sixth ballot Doctor Pardee received the nomination of the state convention, the following being the last ballot : Pardee 51712. Flint 2381/2, Hayes 47, Gage 13, Edson 12.
The democratic state convention nominated Franklin K. Lane for Governor. On September 5th the republicans held a demonstration in honor of Doctor Pardee and the whole republican county and state tickets. Later at an immense republican meeting in Mechanics' pavilion, San Francisco, Doctor Pardee, Sen- ator Perkins and Senator Beveridge delivered addresses.
The largest union labor demonstration that ever took place in Oakland was the occasion of the visit of Samuel Gompers and the executive council in July, 1902. Mr. Gompers delivered an address at the Tabernacle. The labor party convention met in Germania hall on August 4th and selected a full ticket for county officers. The platform disapproved of extravagance in county affairs ; considered that public officials should be largely selected from the ranks of labor; favored public ownership of public utilities; demanded an eight-hour day ; advocated arbitration to settle disputes between employer and employe; asked for the abolition of the poll tax; urged all voters to support the union labor ticket; pledged to work for the initiative and referendum, and demanded manual training in the public schools.
During the campaign complaint over the course of Mayor Pardee in 1894 at the time of the strike of the American railway union was made. It was declared that he played the fire hose on the industrial army, that he had said that a glass of water and a piece of bread was a good meal for a working man, and that he pickhandled the railway strikers. Thomas Roberts who was leader of the strike in West Oakland in 1894 stated publicly that there was no truth in these charges. He said, "if any one tells you Pardee is an enemy of organ- ized labor, tell that party he is mistaken, or you can use stronger language if you see fit."
Early in August, 1902, the executive committee of the Berkeley Republican Club congratulated the republicans of the county on the fact that the various party factions had disappeared and that harmony at last again prevailed. They ended with this resolution: "That this committee commends the efforts of Dr. George C. Pardee and Victor H. Metcalf in accomplishing these ends and that this committee heartily endorses the candidacy of George C. Pardee and Victor H. Metcalf for Governor and Representative in Congress respectively." This com- mittee consisted of Messrs. Elston, Kelly, Mills, Weir, Easton, Finney, Spear, Wiggin, Foy, Shaw and Greene. Various ward and other clubs passed similar resolutions in favor of Pardee and Metcalf.
In 1902 Alameda county was well represented by eminent republicans. George C. Perkins was United States Senator. Dr. George C. Pardee, republican candi- date for Governor. Victor H. Metcalf was Congressman and Frank C. Jordan
237
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
was candidate for clerk of the supreme court. The union labor party opposed George C. Pardee for Governor. In response to an inquiry he stated that should he be elected Governor the union labor party would receive its share of appoint- ments at his hands. The vote in Alameda county for Governor in 1902 was as follows: Pardee (R.), 13,924; Lane (D.), 9,022; Brower (S.), 1,009; Kanouse (P.), 238. Pardee was elected.
In December, 1902, the municipal league began the city contest by appointing a campaign committee, endorsing the action of a minority of the council and condemning that of the majority, declaring that the great issue before the people was water-the city waterworks. It was a serious question at the time-how to buy out the Contra Costa Water Company for approximately $10,000,000 when the constitution permitted a bond issue of only $6,000,000.
The primary election for all parties was held January 27, 1903, and great interest was taken that the men wanted should be chosen delegates. The primary election, it was considered, determined the views and actions of the coming municipal administration upon which depended the advancement of public improvements. The right delegates would select the right candidates, it was argued. So the newspapers and orators began anew the campaign of education that was considered necessary in order to awaken the great mass of citizens to the imperative needs of the city. The situation was considered critical-there would result either a boom or a reverse. At this time it cost more for city water than for all the municipal expenses. The water bills were heavier than the taxes. It was therefore of supreme moment for the voters to secure an administration that would improve the water situation. The water company prepared to fight for its life at the polls. The taxes levied and collected by the city during the last fiscal year were $544,327.58, and the amount paid the Contra Costa Water Com- pany during 1902 was $597,798.63. It was further shown that the citizens of Oakland paid more for water than. any city in the country in proportion to popu- lation. The newspapers were strong in their showing of the true state of water affairs. The republicans were divided into two factions-one which called their organization the anti-ring republicans and one which was in office. The demo- crats, socialists, union labor party and prohibitionists came out with more or less complete tickets representing all phases of municipal hesitation or improvement. The two great questions were (1) municipal control of the water supply and (2) bonding the city for public improvements. The municipal league entered the race for improvement, bonds and all.
It was claimed in 1903 that the last city administration was controlled by the Contra Costa Water Company-that a ring in the interests of that company domi- nated the actions of the council. In the primaries the following parties or factions were represented: municipal league, regular republicans, anti-ring republicans, democrats, labor party, independent republicans, socialists and prohibitionists. The anti-ring republicans elected the largest number of delegates and were thus placed in a position to dictate the nominees of the convention.
Late in January, 1903, the republican city convention met, but adjourned after appointing a committee to confer with the municipal league convention, presum- ably regarding the water question. The republicans finally united on Warren Olney as candidate for mayor and the democrats and municipal league accepted him as their standard bearer. The socialists nominated Robert Vincent for
238
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
mayor. The union labor party named a full city ticket late in January, 1903, with E. L. Bair for mayor. It favored the issuance of bonds, the municipal own- ership of the water system, a new city charter, consideration for working people. The republicans and municipal league agreed on four of the regular councilmen, two of whom were likewise nominated by the democrats. They also united on the candidates for auditor, treasurer and engineer. The democrats accepted their candidate for auditor. It looked as if there was a massing of forces to secure control of the water system and insure the issuance of bonds for municipal better- ment. The platforms of the republicans, municipal league and democrats were much alike on all the vital local issues and only differed on the usual party prin- ciple. One plank of the republican platform was as follows: "We pledge our nominees to use every effort to secure for the city all the water front property and facilities that rightfully belong to the city, and to bring to a successful termi- nation all pending litigation that may accomplish such result." It condemned the action of the "solid seven" of the council in fixing the water rates. The municipal league took about the same action. The democrats favored the bond issue and control of the water supply. Never before in Oakland were there so many parties and so few candidates. There were six tickets, but the candidates interlocked as never before here. In addition all neglected their usual issues in order to unite on candidates who were pledged to carry out the local changes demanded. The socialists and prohibitionists were the only parties that regarded old principles more important than pending local problems. The independent republicans also failed to notice local problems. The county political equality league accepted the situation and took no active part.
It was noticeable how kindly, almost affectionately, the democrats, republicans and municipal leaguers spoke of each other. Each noted persistently and elo- quently the good that had been accomplished by the others in the happy past and painted this community as a joyous family where political differences were undreamed of and corporate temptations were treated with blissful disdain. The united tickets swept the city. The vote for mayor was as follows: Warren Olney (R., M. L., D.), 5,609; E. L. Bair (U. L.), 4,947; Robert Vincent (Soc.), 309; Z. T. Gilpin (Ind. R.), 248; S. B. Littlepage (Pro.), 50. The voters thus decided for an administration that would stand for the policy of public improvement and municipal ownership of public utilities.
In the contest of 1903 Berkeley was divided between the republicans and the non-partisans, who exhibited few if any divergence in opinions, because they named identically the same ticket and ostensibly espoused the same policy-the mile limit law and sufficient taxation to insure desired public improvements. A citizens' club was organized in Berkeley to promote public affairs, discuss topics and shape local public opinion, secure efficient and honest officials and federate the moral forces so as to advance education, order and morals. The club con- sidered the advisability of uniting with Oakland for a general supply of pure water. At the city election the republicans elected ten out of thirteen officials. At the municipal election in Alameda the republican ticket was the only one in the field, but four independent candidates went on the ticket by petition. At the election ' every office was filled with a republican. There was no issue, no excitement.
239
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
At the primaries in August, 1904, the republican delegates received 4,593 votes, democratic 449, union labor 154, socialist 103, prohibitionist 14. Everybody was glad when the election was over. There was no campaign and the few speakers usually apologized for their appearance. About the only interest was in the county board candidates. At the November election the republican candi- dates without exception were victorious by large majorities. Generally the result here was an endorsement of President Roosevelt's administration. The large socialist vote attracted much attention and comment. The result in Alameda county was as follows: republicans, 19,073; democrats, 4,429; socialists, 3,293; prohibitionists, 353.
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