USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 34
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The temperance revival created in this city by Colonel Woodford at this time swept all before it, and did more than any other cause to control and restrict the liquor traffic. At one of his lectures on the subject of "Our Boys" he said, "My friends, what would we not do for our boys? There's not a father in this city who would not work against the saloon if he knew his boy was to be a drunkard, but its never our boy; its always the rude boy that lives down in the worst part of town. But that boy is just as much to the heart of his mother, though she be a washerwoman, as is your boy to you and your home. Somebody's boys must be drunkards if the saloon still exists and why not your boys? The temperance tide is rising in Oakland. Let us not only pray and work for the home, but let us vote for it as well.". Colonel Woodford ascribed the great success of the temperance movement to the W. C. T. U. To that organization was due the introduction of scientific temperance instruction in the public schools of twenty-two states. He said "We talk of women as non-legislators. No legislation since the war will produce more wonderful effects upon our national life than this law inspired by woman's brain and carried and enforced by woman's work and influence. By it they are drilling into the very heart of this hellgate of the liquor traffic and filling the crevices with the dynamite of temperance truth. By and by the explosion will come and the rocks of intemperance upon which so many have been wrecked will be blown to atoms and every child shall find a safe passage from the deep water of mother love out into the ocean of life." His pleadings to the young men to sign the total abstinence pledge were moving and effective, and as he depicted the sorrow and shame which had cursed his own life through drink
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many eyes beside his own were dimmed with tears. Scores came forward and took the pledge.
The West Oakland Athenaeum was inaugurated January 14, 1889, in Hansen's hall. The object was to provide a place of recreation and reading for boys and young men, too many of who roamed the streets till late at night. It had a read- ing room, a gymnasium, debating society and educational branches in business pursuits. At the opening, speeches were made by S. P. Meads, Rev. C. W. Wendte, Mrs. Johnson and John P. Irish the latter of whom said that whenever he was wanted he would gladly come down and help the boys and if necessary would mount the horizontal bars and skin the cat.
The W. C. T. U., in April 1889, sent a strong committee to the Oakland council to secure if possible a rule or law prohibiting saloons. This committee consisted of Mrs. R. R. Johnston, Mrs. A. C. Sanford, Mrs. Robert Bentley, Mrs. H. H. Havens, Mrs. M. K. Blake, Mrs. Dr. Van Kirk, Mrs. Julia Wilson, Mrs. E. S. Cameron, Mrs. E. B. Cutting, Mrs. Chamberlain, Mrs. G. C. Edholm and others. Mrs. Johnston voiced the sentiments and purposes of the union when she said, "We represent a band of 500 white ribboners who are here to ask you to give us a law prohibitory of saloons. We look upon Oakland as the great educational center and a coming railroad and manufacturing center. We come to speak for the wives and mothers of Oakland. No man has the right to injure his neighbor, each must respect the rights of the other. All arguments from the saloon people represent only the side of the liquor interests-do not tell the trage- dies of the homes. We plead with you and pray with you to give us local saloon prohibition. There are many women in Oakland who go to bed drunk every night and we ask you for their sakes to give us local prohibition. They are leading women down as well as men; then close them. We ask you to close the ladies' entrances that are dragging our women and men down. They say there are 250 drunken men in Oakland. It is easy to count 250 drunken men on the streets any evening. Wherever grapes are grown and wine is made, schools go down, churches go down and the whole city goes down. Out of the thirty-five most prominent wine growers in the state, nineteen have gone into drunkards' graves and the sons and daughters of every one of them have gone to drink and oblivion. The secretary of the viticultural society said that the wine men are blue and must teach the youth to drink wine. That is why I am sorry that there is a viticultural chair at the university. It has been said that in one yard twenty-five young women were ruined. If it is not twenty-five a month I miss my guess." Mrs. Cameron of the Y. W. C. A. also addressed the council. Rev. H. H. Rice, repre- senting the local option committee, requested the council to pass the pending ordinance without delay. He said they did not like license at all, but in any event wanted the restrictions of the proposed ordinance. T. L. Barker was present and represented the high license contingent. Action was deferred until the liquor men could be heard from.
Ebell Society closed its first thirteen years of existence in April, 1889. It then had 250 members. Fifteen sections were engaged in literary work and nine new sections were just organized. The sections were as follows: 2 art, I music, 5 literature, I tourist, 3 French, 2 German and I Egyptian. Mrs. D. B. Condron was president.
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The first county convention of loyal temperance legions was held by the Alameda County Woman's Christian Temperance Union on October 5, 1889, at Highland park. The various legions, juvenile societies and temperance cadets from all parts of the county were well represented. It was the first county con- vention of the little temperance folks. Mrs. B. Sturtevant-Peet, president of the union in Alameda county, presided and delivered an interesting address. Other speakers were Mrs. S. C. Borland, Miss Edna Olney, Mrs. Farrish, Mrs. R. R. Johnston and Mrs. Emily Pitt Stevens. The latter was state secretary and gave a stirring speech for prohibition and woman suffrage. Her remarks roused the children to great enthusiasm.
In December 1889, a petition signed by 625 men and women of Berkeley was presented to the trustees protesting against granting a license to any saloon within one mile of the university. The matter was determined later at a secret session of the trustees.
In 1890 all the temperance organizations of Oakland were formed into a union in order to secure more effective temperance work and the more certainly to crush or cripple the saloons. The committee of conference to bring this about were Mrs. S. C. Borland, Mrs. M. K. Blake, Mrs. H. L. Chamberlain, Mrs. E. S. Snow, Mrs. Dr. Childs, Mrs. J. H. Mathews, Mrs. H. L. Bradley and others. About twenty different temperance organizations joined the new union.
During the temperance lectures of Mr. Murphy in 1892, it was shown that Oakland spent about $2,880 per day or over $1,000,000 a year for intoxicating liquor. Mr. Murphy's pictures of the ruin caused by liquor brought tears to hundreds of eyes.
At the Ebell Society in November, 1892, Doctor Knox after noting the progress women had made in the last fifty years said, "Although it has been claimed that as woman's sphere widened she would grow less domestic, she is still the home maker and can discover perfections in the average man of which his mother is ignorant and his sister never dreamed, but she does draw the line at being called a relict at his death." Mrs. Buckingham of Vacaville told what she had done at fruit raising-from the purchase of the raw ground to the marketing of the fruit-an orchard of 225 acres at the Rancho de la Honda.
The Fred Finch Orphanage in Fruitvale was dedicated by Bishop Fowler on February 22, 1892. It stood a mile northeast of the Herritage on an eminence at the base of the foothills. The donor was Capt. D. B. Finch and the institution was named in honor of his son Fred. The first matron was Miss Smith.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children did excellent service in 1896. Mrs. Prescott, for the society, righted many wrongs in all parts of the city ; the cases were settled before Judge Greene.
In January and February, 1895, the Woman's Suffrage bill in the Legislature received unexpected support and endorsement and speedily passed to engrossment in the Assembly. It seemed certain of passage in view of the facts that the republi- cans controlled the Legislature and that the republican state convention had placed a plank to that effect in the party platform. The suffragists held an immense mass meeting at Mills tabernacle on September 17, 1896, the hall being filled to overflowing. A majority of the audience was women, but many men were present. Rev. Dr. Wendte and Reverend Hudson occupied seats on the platform. Mrs. Chapman-Catt implored the men to give the women the ballot in the light
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of reason and expediency, but Miss Shaw demanded it in the name of justice. Mrs. Lloyd Baldwin presided. The speech of Mrs. Chapman-Catt created a sensation; it was witty, convincing and logical. In addition she possessed an attractive personality that added much to the effects of her eloquent and elevat- ing remarks. Miss Shaws' address was likewise witty, logical and in addition anecdotal, sarcastic and sweeping.
Early in November the county board passed the following preamble and resolutions : Whereas, A great many residents and citizens of this county are interested in seeing that the count of the votes cast for and against the amend- ments is properly canvassed and returned and desire to have at least two repre- sentatives in each polling place in the county of Alameda, now, therefore, be it Resolved, That two representatives designated by the president of the Alameda County Political Equality Society be allowed to be in attendance at each polling place throughout the county after the polls are closed and until the canvass is finished; and be it further Resolved, That this board requests the boards of election throughout the county to extend to the said representatives all possible attention and courtesy. Supervisor Talcott voted against the resolution.
Immediately after the election a powerful sermon on woman suffrage was delivered by Rev. Dr. E. S. Chapman. In this eloquent and critical address he lashed the men of the state with intense severity for refusing to permit women to vote. Among other pertinent things he said, "The most ignorant men have voted to disfranchise the most learned and intelligent women; indolent and worthless men have voted to disfranchise women who are among our largest tax payers ; low, vicious men have voted to deny suffrage to our most exalted and noble women. It is a shame that such things are possible; it is a greater shame that they are realities. *
* Let us continue this struggle with increased earnestness and vigor. We have made great progress-fully as much as could be reasonably expected. The solid ranks of vice and crime are massed against us and their manifest hostility will cause the friends of good and pure govern- ment to see the righteousness of our cause and to aid us to achieve the glorious victory, which under God, will surely and speedily come."
Early in 1897 the Society of Associated Charities of Oakland comprised about forty subordinate societies in this and neighboring counties and worked under a perfected system that accomplished the greatest good. Numerous committees with definite duties fully set forth accomplished astonishing results in helping the fallen and disconsolate. A concerted and powerful effort to close the Oakland saloons was made by all the churches and many of the clubs and societies of the city. The Christian Endeavor, Woman's Christian Temperance Union and pro- hibition organizations all united in a desperate effort to control politics to such an extent as to secure an anti-saloon municipal administration. An anti-saloon ticket, with W. R. Thomas at the head for mayor, was placed in the field, and strenuous exertions were made to win. As never before, the women took part in this cause, speaking publicly and otherwise working actively and persistently for success. They declared that women of this city once before had won a similar success and that it could and should be done again. It was in 1874 that they won against saloon license after a desperate fight by a majority of eighty-four.
In March, Mrs. Clara Hoffman delivered a powerful lecture on "Why Suf- frage is Denied" at the First Methodist church to a crowded hall. The lecture
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was delivered under the auspices of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, of which she was a renowned and brilliant speaker and thinker. She showed in trenchant periods the insincerity, unfairness, hypocrisy and shallowness of the position taken by the majority of men through force of habit and through per- sonal and brutish desires. Among other things she said, "If women are enfran- chised all the bad women will have a vote, they say. But every bad man has a voice in the Government. There are thousands more good women than good men and thousands more bad men than bad women. I don't think the millennium will come the next morning after women are given the right to vote-we've associated with men too long. But add the good men-and there are plenty of them-to the good women, and you can sweep out every saloon and gambling place in Oakland."
The progressive women organized in 1897 to help bring about the reforms demanded in public improvements. It was admitted that Oakland owed the existence and success of its annual exposition to the Ebell Society. They were welcomed warmly as members in the army of civic reform and advancement. The action of the Oakland ladies in turning their attention to city improvements was soon emulated all over the state. It was one of the most momentous acts in the general movement for the advancement of woman, though not recognized as such for a long time afterward and never given credit for its actual import- ance. It brought them out to fight for improvement in the ranks of the men; made them conspicuous advocates for betterment in civic affairs; proved that they were interested in the upward trend of municipal virtue; conquered a place in the judgment of men for their public spirit and unselfish devotion to all aspects of human improvement ; and gave them a prestige that won a place at the polls as a golden finality.
In October, Mrs. E. S. Chapman of Oakland was elected first vice-president of the Woman's State Suffrage Association, and Rev. J. O. Bushnell, Mrs. S. C. Sanford and Albert Elliott, also of Oakland, were thanked by resolution for their speeches. In October, Mrs. John F. Swift, president of the State Suffrage Association, called the annual meeting on the fiftieth anniversary of the first woman's suffrage convention ever held in the United States. There was a large attendance from Alameda county, notably from Oakland, Alameda and Livermore.
As a matter of fact the Ebell Society in 1897-8 did more for the improve- ment and advancement of Oakland than nine-tenths of the improvement societies of which there was one in nearly every subdivision of the city. It was not neces- sary for the progressive and eminent women here to have suffrage in order to do vast public and civic good. Both socially and publicly they were foremost in all betterment movements.
The ladies of the Ebell Society, in the fall of 1899, undertook the task of raising enough money to purchase a site for the free library. They solicited donations from all sources. By November 28th the cash and checks received amounted to $8,889.25. The site that had been selected was at Grove and Fourteenth streets and the total sum required was $20,000. They devised the novel plan of dividing the tract on paper into 150 plots and as fast as money enough was secured to purchase each plot to mark the same on the map, which showing was published daily in the newspapers and created great interest. In fact the plan itself created a determination on the part of the citizens to pay for every plot and thus secure
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the site. Even the children took great interest and were assigned a plot to be paid for by their own exertions. The efforts ended on December 14th with an enter- tainment at the First Presbyterian church. This was the crowning event which was to insure the sum, but the check of C. P. Huntington for $3,000 relieved the situation and on December 15th it was announced that a total of $21,572.76 had been raised or pledged. The success was due almost wholly to the Ebell Society. While the fund was being raised the Ebell Society proclaimed the intimate rela- tionship between the library and the public schools. The old fogies smiled at this claim, looked wise, and gave little. But the best citizens knew that modern schools went beyond mere textbook exercises and invaded the wider and grander domain of every subject connected with human life and endeavor-that the libraries were the real amplified textbooks for widening the cramped horizon of old education.
The annual meeting of the Alameda County Political Equality Society was held in East Oakland, September 14, 1901. The presiding officer was Mrs. Frances W. Williamson. Encouraging reports were received from all the local societies. Tax protest blanks were distributed among which were "Taxation without representation is tyranny." The Berkeley Auxiliary Club had 150 mem- bers. A branch of the Alameda society was the Boys' Society.
Early in 1902 the anti-saloon forces organized for a determined and active campaign throughout the county. Rev. L. M. Hartley was superintendent of the state anti-saloon league at this time and had charge of the general direction of events. A campaign of education was commenced as early as April.
Among the philanthropic organizations were the New Century and Oakland Clubs and the West Oakland Home. Others of a similar nature were the Ladies' Relief, Woman's Exchange, Oakland Social Settlement, Fabiola Hos- pital and Training School for Nurses and the Catholic sisterhoods. In the fall of 1904 the Home Club was congratulated for having risen above the "tea and tattle" level of so many similar organizations and of having given Oakland a high class of lectures, entertainments and university extension courses. The Woman's Civic Club was a prominent factor in all public movements in 1903-04. Mrs. Sarah C. Borland was its president. Vacant lots were looked after, streets and alleys cleaned, sanitation was demanded and children's playgrounds and gardens were provided. At the fifth annual convention of Women's Clubs of the Alameda District, California Federation of Women's Clubs, held at the County Club, Niles, in November, 1905, important business was transacted.
The report of the Ebell Society in 1906-07, showed that it had a membership of 500 and a waiting list of about fifty, was prosperous and expected soon to erect their new building at Fourteenth and Harrison streets. The Adelphian Club of Alameda had a membership of 300, was doing much active civic work and was planning a new club house. It maintained a free bed at the Alameda sanitarium. The Antioch Women's Club had recently done much for local improvements and had secured a lot for a club house. The Town and Gown Club of Berkeley had completed the payments for its building. The Oakland Club reported a membership of 225, and that its cooking school had been taken over by the city ; it had undertaken to raise $600 per year for the salary of the probation officer. The New Centruy Club had done great good in a section of the city where twenty-one nationalities were represented, no churches, no play
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grounds, no parks and thirty-five saloons. The Country Club of Washington township had published a history of Washington township and had taken pre- liminary steps to restore the old Indian cemetery near Mission San Jose. The Book Club of Oakland reported a course of lectures on the books of the Bible by Rev. C. R. Brown. Mrs. J. E. Thane was reelected president. Upon the completion of the organization Mayor Mott was made president and Bernard Miller secretary. The stated objects were the development of the city and its resources.
Fabiola hospital has been in existence many years, having been founded in the infancy of Oakland by a group of generous women. It is not surpassed in appliances and facilities by any similar institution west of the Rockies. Merritt hospital, founded by the sister of Dr. Samuel Merritt and named in his honor, is a well-known and useful adjunct of the expansive and extensive system or problem of human health recovery. It has an endowment fund of $600,000, a free clinic, and treats one-half of its patients free of cost. The Hospital of the Incurables, a charity institution under the management of the King's Daughters, is doing an excellent work. The Finch Orphanage in East Oakland, has a small endowment and is reaching young persons who might otherwise be neglected. The Social Settlement of East Oakland was founded primarily for the benefit of working girls and was endowed by Mrs. F. M. Smith ; it is the owner of much valuable property. Mrs. Smith was also one of the founders of the Home Club and was prominent in the Ebell Club.
The annual meeting of the County Equal Suffrage Association was held in Maple hall in September, 1905, Mrs. Frances Williamson presiding. Reports from the various clubs of the association were received. Many important ques- tions were considered.
In November the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported that during the six months ending November 1, 1905, 4,666 horses had been examined and that 151 had been found unfit for work and ordered out of service, and many old and sick ones had been humanely killed. Out of nineteen arrests for cruelty to animals fourteen convictions were secured.
A mass meeting of 300 representative women of Oakland was held in February, 1907, to discuss ways and means for bettering the conditions surround- ing the young working women of the city. Mrs. J. B. Hume served as chairman. Miss Florence Simms from abroad addressed the meeting; so did Miss Eliza- beth Evans, Mrs. J. B. Richardson and others.
On Ina Coolbrith day of the San Jose Women's Club in February, a letter from Joaquin Miller was read in which he said: "If ever this nation is half way civilized each state will pay some solid tribute to those who, like Miss Coolbrith, have celebrated its glory with pay and pension equal at least to that of an honored soldier."
The women's clubs took much interest in the new charter in 1910 and influenced many of its provisions. Club women were called into council by the charter commission. The New Century Club completed its new gymnasium -all for settlement work. The Oakland Club took up the work of the child's welfare league. Mother's clubs were organized in connection with the various public schools-a splendid movement to bring together mothers, teachers and children for unity of purpose and harmony of action. The Home Club did
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excellent work along educational and cultural lines. The Ebell Society grew wonderfully in numbers and effective work; during 1910 it added the civic section and thus widened women's sphere of interest and action.
In philanthropy was seen splendid work by the West Oakland Home, Y. W. C. A., Ladies Relief Society. The Alameda District Federation of Women's Clubs was established to coordinate the work of the women's clubs of Alameda and adjoining counties. Three women were members of the Play- ground Commission of Oakland. Miss Ethel Moore was president. Mrs. Cora Jones and Mrs. J. B. Hume represented Oakland at the Cincinnati biennial and at other eastern playground conferences.
Early in 1911 the Oakland Equal Suffrage Amendment League held regular meetings and in January duly celebrated the anniversary of the birth of Susan B. Anthony. They prepared to assist in the fight in the Legislature to secure the submission of the suffrage question to the voters of the state. A strong delegation was sent to Sacramento to work for the cause. One of the speakers before the senate committee was Miss Ethel Moore, of Oakland. The Stanford bill was defeated in the Senate by the vote of 21 to 15. The fight continued until on February 2, Senate constitutional amendment No. 8 providing for the granting of suffrage to women by the removal of the word "male" from the constitution passed the House by the vote of 65 to 12. The Senate had passed the amendment a week earlier. It now remained for the voters at the polls to finally settle the question.
The equal suffrage constitutional amendment was submitted to the voters of the state on October 10, 1911. The election was preceded by a stirring cam- paign in all the cities by numerous organizations of suffrage. Many prominent advocates of the measure from the East addressed large audiences in this county. The suffrage organizations of Berkeley and Oakland were notably active and prominent and held rallies in all the halls of the cities and their suburbs. An organization of women in San Francisco opposed the amendment. Numerous street meetings were held just before election. The suffragists ended the cam- paign on the bay with an immense rally in San Francisco and with an open letter of appeal and advice to the voters. The vote in Alameda county on the suffrage amendment was 10,627 for and 12,802 against. San Francisco cast 21,912 in its favor and 25,644 against it. The vote in Berkeley was 2,407 for and 1,899 against. The county gave 15,664 for the initiative and referendum and 5,331 against it, and 16,529 for the recall and 5,627 against it. In the state the suffrage amendment was victorious.
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