Alameda County, CA History

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Past and Present of Alameda County California
Joseph Baker, Editor, Volume I, Illustrated
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1914 
 
CHAPTER XII
POLITICS
 
        When the vote for the old constitution was taken on November 13, 1849, 
there were but three precincts within what was then known as Contra Costa 
county, namely at the Moraga Redwoods, Martinez and San Antonio (Brooklyn, 
Alameda county). For the election of April 1850, the precinct of New York was 
added to those already created. On October 7th of the same year the precincts 
were Martinez, San Antonio, San Ramon (Dublin) and New York. The first record, 
however, of a distribution of voting precincts is for the election called for 
September 3, 1851, when the following polling places were established: At the 
courthouse in the town of Martinez, and the house of Jose Maria Amador, for the 
township of Martinez; the houses of Victor Castro and Vicente Peralta in and for 
the township of San Antonio; and the house of William W. Smith in Antioch, and 
the lower ferry on the San Joaquin river, in and for the township of New York. 
The polls in Washington township were at the store of H. C. Smith, an election 
being there held on May 4, 1850, when Lone Kemble was inspector. These, with a 
few additions, continued until the creation of Alameda county, when, August 1, 
1853, the following were declared the first election precincts: In Washington 
township—at the mission of San Jose at the room next easterly of Howard & 
Chamberlain's store, and at the town of Alvarado at the room there used for a 
courthouse. In Eden township—at the house of William Hayward and at the house of 
T. H. Cowles. In Clinton township—at the house of James B. Larue, at the house 
of Charles Ray and at the sawmill of Tupper & Hamilton. In Oakland township—at 
the office of A. Marier. In Contra Costa township—at the house of Seth R. Bailey 
and at the house of A. E. Hutchinson. In Murray township—at the house of Michael 
Murray.
        At the first constitutional convention called by Governor Riley in 1849 
to form the state, the present county of Alameda, then belonging to the 
jurisdiction of San Jose, was represented by Elam Brown of Lafayette. Brown had 
come to California in 1846; bought the Acalanes Rancho; was juez of the Contra 
Costa in 1848. He served not only in the constitutional convention, but in the 
first two Legislatures of the state, and lived to a ripe old age, rich and 
highly respected. Two other persons, since connected with the county, namely, 
Charles T. Botts, of Oakland, and J. Ross Browne, took a prominent part in the 
labors of that body. In the first Legislature W. R. Bassham was the senator from 
the San Jose district, to which the present Alameda county still belonged, and 
Joseph Arm, Benjamin Corey and Elam Brown represented the district in the 
Assembly.
        Before Alameda county was formed an election for the position of member 
of the Assembly was held on March 26, 1853, when three candidates, viz.: Horace 
W. Carpentier of Oakland, Robert S. Farrelly of "Squatterville" or San Lorenzo, 
and B. R. Holliday of Martinez, entered the field. The election was subsequently 
contested in the House. The highest number of votes were polled by Mr. 
Carpentier, against which Mr. Farrelly protested on the ground of fraud. A 
certificate of election was refused to Mr. Carpentier by the county clerk, and 
the matter was unraveled by the committee on elections of the Legislature. Mr. 
Carpentier claimed 519 votes; Mr. Farrelly 254, and Mr. Holliday 192, thus 
showing a majority of seventy-three votes in favor of Carpentier. S. J. Clark, 
attorney for Mr. Farrelly, presented various grounds of objection and alleged 
fraud on the part of Mr. Carpentier, as well as collusion on the part of the 
board of judges, inspectors and clerks of Contra Costa or Oakland township. In 
the examination it was ascertained that the whole number of votes cast in the 
township was 377, while, according to the testimony of the agent who took the 
census of the township but ten weeks before, there were only 130 votes within 
its limits. It was also declared that it took almost two hours to count the 
Carpentier tickets which lay in a compact yellow mass at the top of the box, ere 
any white ones, representing Farrelly, were reached, and yet three of the last 
voters who cast their ballots at sundown swore positively that they had voted 
white tickets for Farrelly. The board of supervisors of Contra Costa county, 
however, took the view that Mr. Carpentier was duly elected and made affidavits 
to that end, and a majority of four to six of the committee on elections were of 
the like opinion, and reported in favor of his taking his seat, in which he was 
duly confirmed and sworn in, April 11, 1853.
        The first election for officers under law of April 6, 1853, was affected 
in May. Politics did not enter into it. There were several candidates for each 
office, some of whom had never been known before but by their nicknames. A. H. 
Broder, chosen sheriff, had been known as "Tom Snook." The other officials 
elected were: A. M. Crane, county judge and judge of the court of sessions; W. 
H. Combs, district attorney; A. M. Church, county clerk; J. S. Marston, 
treasurer; J. S. Watkins, public administrator; W. H. Chamberlain, coroner; H. 
A. Higley, county surveyor; G. W. Goucker, county assessor; W. W. Brier, 
superintendent. Jacob Grewell, chosen in 1853, for two years, joint senator for 
Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara, continued acting until 1855. Joseph S. 
Watkins was Alameda's first Assemblyman. The district judge was Craven P. 
Hester. The Third judicial district then comprised the counties of Alameda, 
Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey. This election was long known as the 
"steeple chase," for there were from five to six candidates for each office, 
while many of the would-be county officers appeared in the poll lists under 
nicknames. On September 9, 1853, the following officers were elected: Asa 
Walker, S. P. Hopkins, H. M. Randall, B. F. Ferris, A. Marshall, William 
Fleming, Calvin Rogers, and S. H. Robinson, justices of the peace; A. B. Atwell, 
D. N. Van Dyke, William H. Walker, constables. The court of sessions makes no 
record of this election. In October following these justices convened and 
elected A. Marshall and S. H. Robinson from among their number as associate 
justices.
        When first created Contra Costa county was attached to Santa Clara 
county for senatorial purposes, and when Alameda county was created it was 
united with Santa Clara to form the Fourth senatorial district. Later it was in 
the Ninth senatorial district and in March, 1874, in the Fourteenth and was 
given two senators. When first created Alameda county was part of the Second 
congressional district, but in 1883 became part of the Third.
        At the election of March 5, 1855, Charles Campbell succeeded Mr. 
Carpentier as mayor of Oakland, and a new council was chosen, all of whom held 
their offices intact until the 28th of April, when Messrs. Gallagher and 
Williams were succeeded on the 29th of May by Messrs. E. Gibbons and Robert 
Worthington.
The general election of 1857 took place on September 21st, but there is no 
record of the returns ever having been canvassed. The supervisors elected were 
F. K. Shattuck, for Oakland; Jonathan Mayhew, for Washington; J. A. Griffin, for 
Eden; S. M. Davis, for Alameda and Brooklyn; and Charles Duerr, for Murray. Mr. 
Shattuck was chosen chairman; he was the only member of the outgoing board 
returned.
        In the year 1861 there were no less than three political parties in the 
field, namely, the republican, democrats and union democrats, the first being 
successful in all parts of the state. For the office of State Senator, A. M. 
Crane, republican, received 1,274 votes, H. Linden, democrat, 288, and N. 
Hamilton, union democrat, 616. There were no less than six candidates in the 
field for the office of members of Assembly, the successful competitors being 
the two republicans, S. B. Bell and J. M. Moore.
        On June 14, 1862, a union county convention was held at San Leandro when 
delegates to the state convention to be held in Sacramento on the 17th were 
selected as follows: A. M. Church, A. M. Crane, W. W. Crane, Jr., A. J. Kelly, 
William Kennedy, S. W. Levy, William Meek, J. M. Moore, F. K. Shattuck. The 
presiding officer at the state convention was Walter Van Dyke, of Humboldt, but 
subsequently, for many years, resident of Alameda. For the purpose of nominating 
candidates for the Assembly, a second union convention was held at San Leandro 
on August 13th, when there were present over fifty delegates, who were about 
equally divided between democrats and republicans. At this convention 
resolutions of unswerving loyalty were passed, and some opposition to the 
candidature of Milton S. Latham for United States Senator was expressed. Henry 
Robinson of Alameda, republican, and Thomas Scott of Washington, democrat, were 
nominated for the Assembly. The election in the month of September resulted as 
follows: For Assembly, Robinson (union), 914 votes; Scott, 834; Johnson (union 
democrat), 777; Fallon, 640. The creation of the union democratic party was due 
largely to Alfred A. Cohen, a lawyer of San Francisco, and a wealthy resident of 
Alameda. Notwithstanding the republican ticket carried all before it at the 
general election in 1862 the democracy held sway at the charter election for the 
officers of the city of Oakland.
        On June 13, 1863, a union party convention assembled at San Leandro; Asa 
Walker was president, F. .M. Campbell, secretary. The following delegates to
the union state convention at Sacramento were appointed: Alameda township, Henry 
Robinson; Brooklyn township, A. W. Swett; Eden township, William Meek; Murray 
township (no delegate); Oakland township, John McMann; Washington township, H. 
Overacker. The democratic county convention was held at the same place on the 
27th of June, and among those who took a part in its affairs was Ex-Governor 
Weller, who in 1863 was a resident of Fruitvale. On August 1st the union county 
convention met for the purpose of nominating the county ticket, which at the 
election was triumphant. At this election the vote in Alameda county for 
governor was Low (union), 1,392 and Downey (democrat), 805. At the judicial 
election October 21st, Judge McKee defeated Judge Brown of Contra Costa, who had 
received the union nomination by 333 votes.
        Under the chairmanship of Dr. W. Newcomb, of Oakland, and S. S. Saul, 
secretary, a union county convention was held at San Leandro on March 19th, at 
which time delegates were appointed to the state convention to be held in 
Sacramento. This convention selected delegates to the national union convention. 
The democratic county convention met at the same place on the 7th of May with 
William A. Moss presiding, and Harry Linden, secretary. William S. Moss, P. E. 
Edmondson, W. H. Glascock and Harry Linden were appointed delegates to the state 
convention. These political meetings culminated on the 29th of October, when a 
very numerously attended and enthusiastic gathering of union followers at San 
Leandro—the largest then that had been had in the county—met to do honor to 
their popular nominees. I. A. Amerman, president of the Lincoln and Johnson Club 
of San Leandro, officiated as grand marshal of the day, with E. M. Smith, 
Lysander Stone and E. C. Jacobs as aides-de-camp. The procession, it was 
positively stated at the time, was eight miles in length. This vast concourse 
passed in review before General McDowell, who stood in his carriage, with 
uncovered head as they filed past, making the welkin ring with their loyal 
cheers. Hon. Edward Tompkins was president of the day; he made a most eloquent 
and soul-stirring speech, and was followed by Hons. Delos Lake, Nathan Porter, 
F. M. Pixley, J. G. Callum, Attorney-General McCullough, W. H. L. Barnes and 
Judge Tyler. This demonstration was in every sense a most enthusiastic one.
        About this time Hon. J. B. Felton was a prominent candidate for the 
position of United States Senator. His cause was warmly espoused by the Oakland 
News, and as strenuously opposed by the San Leandro Gazette. On the 5th of 
August the union county convention was held in San Leandro. The democratic 
convention was held at the same place on the 24th. The platform adopted by the 
latter favored a hard money currency, with an extension of the specific contract 
act, to include verbal contract for workingmen's wages; opposed negro or Chinese 
suffrage; and favored the reconstruction of the southern states on the 
principles of President Johnson's policy. At the general election which followed 
the union candidates were successful in every instance. At the judicial election 
held in the following month S. W. Sanderson, the republican nominee for judge of 
the supreme court, received, in Alameda county, 390 more votes than did Hartley, 
the democratic candidate.
        On November 8, 1864, the presidential election showed a majority in this 
county for Lincoln of 658 votes, while his plurality throughout the state was 
16,634 votes. For Congress, Higby received 1,458 votes, as against 797 for 
Coffroth.
        On June 8, 1867, the union county convention convened at San Leandro, 
but discord had crept into the ranks of the party, and there was an undoubted 
diversity of opinion as to party policies and measures. Judge A. M. Crane was 
chosen chairman, and A. M. Church and William Gagan, secretaries, while there 
were some fifty delegates in attendance. The following delegates were appointed 
to the state convention at Sacramento: John W. Dwinelle and B. F. Ferris, 
Oakland township; A: M. Church and B. F. Marston, Washington township; William 
Meek, Eden township; S. Milbury, Brooklyn township; A. M. Crane, Alameda and 
Murray townships jointly.
        On the 15th of June the democratic county convention was held at the 
same place. J. West Martin, C. H. Cushing, J. W. Dougherty, William Moss and 
John Threlfall were appointed delegates to the state convention. When the 
republican convention met at Sacramento George C. Gorham was nominated for 
governor. It was afterwards charged that his nomination was secured by smart 
tactics and trading. The union men who were expected to make the republican 
ticket successful became disaffected, and at the election held in the month of 
October, the ticket was ingloriously defeated. The democrats seeing this 
weakening of the opposing host, published a platform denouncing the Mongolian 
influx, declaring labor to be the true foundation of all prosperity, and placing 
at the head of their ticket Henry H. Haight of Alameda as democratic candidate 
for governor, who, amid much enthusiasm, obtained a signal majority over Gorham 
of 8,527.
        The union county convention assembled at San Leandro on March 18, 1868, 
and elected delegates to the state convention at Sacramento. The democrats 
convened there on the 25th of April and passed resolutions highly complimentary 
to Governor Haight, and strongly urged him as the next democratic candidate for 
the Presidency of the United States.
        On July 22d, the union county convention met at San Leandro for the 
purpose of nominating county and judicial officers, the democrats meeting for 
the purpose on the l0th of August. In the ticket presented by the last-mentioned 
party for the office of district attorney was George M. Blake, a convert from 
the union ranks, while in Captain Mayhew, who had been a prominent member of the 
other party, the democracy also found a new follower, yet notwithstanding these 
recruits the union ticket won.
        On Saturday, July 18, 1868, a democratic ratification meeting at San 
Leandro, in honor of the nomination of Seymour and Blair as candidates for the 
Presidency and Vice-Presidency of the United States, was held, among the 
speakers being Governor Haight and Lieutenant-Governor Holden. The chair was 
occupied by William S. Moss; the secretary was W. J. Collier, editor of the 
Democrat.
        There was much enthusiasm among politicians during the Presidential 
election of this year, mass meetings of both republicans and democrats being 
held throughout the county, while the ablest speakers were arrayed on both 
sides. Grant and Colfax received a majority in Alameda county of 536 in a total 
vote of 3,123. In this year there were enrolled on the great register, after the 
cancelled names were struck off, 4,623 names, while there were recorded on the 
poll list only 3,596 names.
        In 1870 the union county convention was held in San Leandro. The 
democrats made no nominations, but an independent party was formed and a ticket 
put in the field, headed by Edward Tompkins for State Senator. On the 1st of 
September the election was held and portions of both tickets were successful. 
For the office of county recorder there was a tie vote between P. S. Marston and 
M. W. Levy, which at a special election held on October 25th resulted in favor 
of the former.
        On May 4, 1870, an election of trustees in Brooklyn was held and 
resulted as follows: H. A. Mayhew, Hiram Tubbs, Adam Cannon, Charles Newton, 
Henry Turn Suden, board of trustees; A. W. Swett, F. Buel, C. C. Knowles, school 
directors; J. F. Steen, clerk and treasurer; C. E. Webster, assessor. Mr. Mayhew 
was elected president of the board of trustees on May 7th.
        The Young Men's Republican Club was organized for the Grant and Wilson 
campaign and continued an influential political power for many years. The large 
republican majorities were ascribed to the efforts and influence of this club. 
The membership was about two hundred in 1875. It was united and harmonious, and 
could not be distorted nor purchased by private politicians. In their 
announcement was this plank: "We firmly believe in the integrity of the rank and 
file of the republican party to choose such state officers as will be free from 
corrupt influences and are fully capable of righting any wrongs that may exist 
within the party, independents to the contrary notwithstanding."
        There was a time when the Federal faction ruled affairs in Alameda 
county. This was immediately succeeding the Civil war when others than 
republicans were presumed to be in disfavor. George M. Pinney was the head and 
front of this faction. The arbitrary methods of this faction became at last 
unsufferable and an independent movement was organized, succeeded, and changed 
the order of affairs.
        On July 28, 1873, the republican party held a convention at San Leandro 
to elect delegates to the congressional convention at Sacramento. After a keen 
contest Hon. Nathan Porter of Alameda was put forward as the choice of the 
republicans of the county. Although Mr. Porter appeared to be the favorite at 
Sacramento, there was present an unseen influence that gave the nomination to 
Horace F. Page of Placerville.
        On August 11, 1873, the republican county convention met at San Leandro 
under the presidency of George M. Pinney, when C. W. Howard, W. J. Gurnett and 
I. A. Amerman were nominated as state senator and members of the Assembly. On 
the 23d a meeting of the independent reform convention was held at the call of 
the democratic county committee at the same place, Dr. Beverly Cole being 
chairman and J. M. Estudillo, secretary of the convention. Edward Gibbons, 
independent, received the nomination for state senator and J. W. Dwinelle, 
republican, and Daniel Inman, democrat, both former representatives of the 
county, were nominated for the Assembly. For treasurer, Robert D. Farrelly was 
nominated by acclamation. Ellis E. Haynes, a republican, was nominated for 
sheriff; J. M. Estudillo, democrat, for county clerk; Eben C. Farley, democrat, 
for recorder; Henry Evers, republican, for auditor; W. W. Foote, democrat, for 
district attorney; Newton Ingram, democrat, for tax collector; Thomas W. 
Millard, democrat, for assessor; V. S. Northey, independent, commissioner of 
highways; John Doherty, democrat, surveyor; Eugene Thurston, democrat, for 
superintendent of schools; S. W. Mather, republican, for coroner; and Dr. W. P. 
Gibbons, republican, for public administrator. At the election, which took place 
on the 3d of September, the entire republican ticket was elected save for the 
offices of state senator and county treasurer.
        In 1874 two city conventions were held in Oakland. The republicans met 
April 24th and nominated a full ticket headed by Henry Durant for mayor, and 
succeeded in electing their entire ticket. The democrats or liberals assembled 
April 25th and also nominated a full ticket. Each convention named a central 
committee. Durant, republican, in 1874 received for mayor a majority of 572 in a 
total vote of 1,593. In 1875 Webber, republican, received a majority of 164 over 
Gurnett, democrat, out of a total vote of 1,760. As a whole the election of 1874 
was a republican success. The temperance alliance attempted to make a showing at 
this election but failed.
        Henry Durant, who had served as mayor of Oakland with conspicuous 
credit, died in January, 1875, and was given memorable obsequies by his 
sorrowing fellow citizens. At the time of his funeral the university, all the 
schools and many business houses were closed. The democrats nominated what they 
called a citizens' ticket in February for municipal offices. W. J. Gurnett was 
nominated for mayor. Among the resolutions adopted was one favoring the 
administration of municipal affairs along non-partisan lines. The republicans 
selected a committee of five to whom was submitted the task of naming a party 
ticket for the municipal election in the spring of 1875. That E. C. Sessions was 
the choice of three-fourths of the voters irrespective of party none disputed; 
but Mr. Sessions did not want the place, or rather his business activities were 
so important and vital to him as to prevent his acceptance. The Young Men's 
Republican Club was an important factor at this election; also in 1874.
        The new Republican Club organized at Oakland in May, 1875, elected the 
following officers: J. V. B. Goodrich, president; William Bartling, J. E. 
Farnum, vice-presidents; W. M. Gilcrest, recording secretary; F. D. Hinds, 
corresponding secretary; W. B. Hardy, treasurer; Perry Johnson, marshal. At a 
public meeting the club endorsed the principles and purposes of the national 
union republican party; encouraged the efforts to improve the harbor; pledged 
itself to support no candidates that were not honest and capable; expressed the 
belief that all qualified voters should exercise the privilege, and said: "We 
look with unmingled pride and satisfaction upon the rapid growth of our pleasant 
and beauteous city."
        Early in 1875 a large faction of the people openly demanded the 
nomination and election of E. C. Sessions to the office of mayor. He was 
familiar with the real wants of the city, was young, strong, cultured, honest 
and public-spirited, had no political aspirations to warp either his rectitude 
or his judgment, was in business here—the construction of houses—was always at 
home and was almost an ideal man for the office, because he was interested in 
the rapid, legitimate and harmonious growth of the city; but he positively 
declined the honor.
        The republican committee convention met February 18, 1875, and named a 
full city ticket. It was claimed, though denied, that this ticket was a cut and 
dried affair, but the nominees were all good reliable men and citizens who could 
be expected to give the city a wise administration. At this convention a 
communication was received from Emma Temple, Jennie Walbridge and Mary Phelps, 
who presented a petition signed by 565 women and 350 voters of the city, 
requesting the nomination of two ladies for members of the board of education. 
The list of the voters who signed the petition was published in full in the 
newspapers; also the list of ladies. The democrats failed to nominate a woman 
for member of the board of education; the republicans were lukewarm or 
indifferent on the subject and the woman movement thus well started died 
ingloriously at the outset. Mrs. T. C. Carr withdrew her name from the candidacy 
and the movement then totally collapsed. At the county convention Mrs. L. P. 
Fisher was nominated on the independent ticket for county superintendent.
        The charter election in San Leandro in May, 1875, resulted in a victory 
for the high license advocates; it meant the advance of licenses from $15 to $50 
per quarter, the same as in Oakland. The high license faction elected their 
assessor, clerk and justice of the peace, while the low license wing captured 
the marshal and treasurer. Three high license trustees were chosen: A. T. Covel, 
(high) 98 votes; J. A. Estudillo, (low) 96 votes; George Smith, (high) 93 votes; 
A. Baldwin, (high) 93 votes.
        In the first partition of the state, Contra Costa was attached to Santa 
Clara county for senatorial purposes. On the creation of Alameda county it was 
joined to Santa Clara, and formed into the Fourth senatorial district, and thus 
it continued until created into the Ninth senatorial district. By the act 
approved March 16, 1874, Alameda county was designated as the Fourteenth 
senatorial district, to have two Senators, and as such it remained until the 
session of the Legislature in 1875 when the state was redistricted, and Alameda 
county formed into the Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Eighteenth senatorial 
districts, with one Senator for each. The First, Fourth and Sixth wards of the 
city of Oakland, together with the election precincts of West Berkeley, Bay and 
Ocean View, constituted the Sixteenth senatorial district; the Second, Third, 
Fifth and Seventh wards of the city of Oakland, together with the election 
precincts of East Berkeley, Temescal and Piedmont, constituted the Seventeenth 
senatorial district; and that portion of Brooklyn township outside of the city 
of Oakland, together with the townships of Alameda, Eden, Washington and Murray 
constituted the Eighteenth senatorial district. When originally created, Alameda 
county with those of Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Mono, Calaveras, 
Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento, Placer, Nevada and Alpine were defined as the 
Second congressional district, but by the act approved March 30, 1872, Mono was 
segregated therefrom, and embodied in the Fourth district. The Legislature in 
1883 constituted the counties of Yolo, Sacramento, Solano, Contra Costa, Marin 
and Alameda into the Third congressional district.
        The political campaign of 1875 was one of the most remarkable in the 
history of the state. The issues were vital, the candidates able, the people 
intensely interested and the newspapers caustic and personal. Such speakers as 
Booth, Gorham, Sargent, Phelps, Bidwell, Lovett, Haymond delivered brilliant 
addresses to the populace. They were strong enough to tear the issues to tatters 
and eloquent enough to draw immense and enthusiastic audiences. At one of the 
republican meetings bonfires were lighted at Broadway and Fourteenth streets. 
The Young Men's Republican Club marched through the streets with band and 
banners, halted in front of the Grand Central hotel, and escorted Mr. Phelps to 
the tent at Thirteenth and Washington streets. The meeting was called to order 
by J. J. Porter, chairman of the county central committee. F. K. Shattuck served 
as chairman. Mr. Phelps then spoke for about an hour and a quarter on the issues 
of the day. In early years the republicans in Alameda county were so largely in 
the majority that the democrats had no show on straight tickets, but there were 
usually enough soreheaded members of the former to elect a few of the latter 
every year. The independents of Alameda county were fully organized in the 
spring of 1875. Their county central committee were as follows: Henry Robinson, 
A. W. Sinett, Walter Blair, William Meek, D. Inman, Eben C. Farley, General 
Bowie, William Linfoot, Captain Wilcox, C. A. Tuttle and W. W. Winn.
        The republican county convention met early in June, 1875. Thomas Eager 
of Brooklyn township served as chairman and John Ames as secretary. The 
committee on resolutions were A. W. Bishop, N. W. Spaulding and W. Whidden. The 
resolutions adopted affirmed allegiance to party principles and the delegates 
elected were instructed to vote for the renomination of H. E. Page for Congress 
from this district, and his acts were warmly endorsed.
        The county democratic convention met in the Academy of Music July 23, 
1875, and was called to order by Judge Blake; Joseph Dement served as chairman. 
The convention put out a straight ticket—resolved to stand or fall on principle. 
It endorsed the state platform, favored the Oakland harbor improvement, 
advocated the strictest economy in the management of the city affairs and 
declined to appoint a committee to meet a committee from the independent 
convention with a view of possible amalgamation.
        The people's independent convention assembled in the city hall in July, 
1875, and was called to order by William Meek of the county committee. Col. G. 
W. Bowie served as chairman. Upon motion a committee of ten was appointed to 
present to the convention nominees for the different offices; this committee 
consisted of William Meek, W. Blair, D. Inman, H. G. McLean, J. T. Walker, 
Socrates Huff, C. T. Hopkins, E. M. Smith and A. J. Snyder. Steps to confer with 
the democratic convention then in session were taken. A committee was appointed 
to meet General Bidwell at the station and escort him to the Grand Central 
hotel.
        The convention of the temperance reform party was held here on August 
20, 1875, and consisted of the central committees of state and county. J. H. 
Redstone served as chairman and A. Crawford, as secretary. Any person present in 
sympathy with the objects of the party was, upon motion, regarded as a member of 
the convention. The following committee selected the candidates to be placed 
before the convention: Joel Russell, Rev. Mr. Wills, J. M. Horner, Mr. Ricks, 
Mrs. Dr. Carr and Mrs. G. M. Blake. A full ticket was nominated. The platform of 
the state temperance reform party was adopted.
        At the republican county convention on August 2, 1875, a full county 
ticket was nominated and the utmost harmony prevailed. The platform adopted 
pledged economy in local administration, favored the reduction of the salaries 
of county officers, opposed monopolies, especially the land monopoly, endorsed 
the state and national platforms, instructed state representatives to exert 
their influence to reduce expense, and endorsed the official career of 
Congressman Page and recommended his reelection. Upon the appearance here of Mr. 
Page on August 12, 1875, he was greeted with an ovation that few men ever 
receive on
earth and fewer still sincerely merit. Not alone the republicans but the 
democrats and independents and ladies assembled at the station, along the line 
of march and at the tent to do him honor. The entire line of march was a 
bewildering display of banners, fireworks, bonfires and shouting people. Nothing 
surpassing it was ever before witnessed on the streets of Oakland. The 
enthusiasm culminated at the campaign tent which was densely packed long before 
the distinguished speaker arrived—a much larger assemblage than had thus far 
greeted any other orator of the campaign. A splendid glee club kindled the fires 
of enthusiasm by singing a political adaptation to the tune "That's What's the 
Matter"—the singers being Pratt, Reed, Booth and Farrington. The applause was 
deafening and continued and the singers were forced to repeat. District Attorney 
Moore served as chairman of the meeting. When Mr. Page took the stage he was 
unable to proceed for some time because of the tumultuous and continuous 
applause which greeted him. It was a speech of great power and interest touching 
local affairs and revealing the details of his fight in Congress for the 
improvement of the harbor and the welfare of this community.
        The Ward bill of 1876 was a democratic measure and was followed 
generally by democratic success in Oakland. The Oakland Democratic Club 
reorganized in February, 1876, and elected "Uncle Billy" Hoskins, who had been 
its secretary for twenty-six years, to a life membership and also elected the 
following officers: William Van Voorhies, president; F. J. Brearty, L. 
Wintringer, S. D. Crowin, Col. John Scott, vice-presidents; H. E. Wilcox, 
William Moore and A. E. Castello, finance committee; W. M. Graham, secretary; 
Patrick Scully, treasurer.
        At this time there was considerable dissatisfaction in the democratic 
ranks against the usurpations and dictatory policies of the Democratic Club. It 
was proposed in the club, much to the indignation of outside democrats, that the 
city nominations of the democracy be made by the club and not by the regular 
democratic committee. So much indignation was expressed that the club at its 
next meeting rescinded the action it had already taken, but passed another 
equally objectionable to the outside democrats, that the members of the club in 
ward delegations select seven democrats from their respective wards, the whole 
to constitute a nominating convention. This act made the club still the 
nominating power.
        The Oakland democratic convention nominated John A. Stanly for mayor in 
March, 1876. The republicans nominated Doctor Pardee. The defeat of Mr. Stanly 
was not an expression of sentiment in regard to the Market street railroad 
franchise then under consideration. The people had found Pardee honest, able and 
reliable and knew nothing of Stanly.
        The republican county convention assembled in Oakland on April 22, 1876, 
and appointed delegates to the state convention at Sacramento. On the 21st of 
May the democratic party held their convention for the like purpose, and also 
elected a county central committee. On the 12th of that month a great 
anti-Chinese mass meeting was held in Oakland, on which occasion, a resolution 
addressed to Congress praying for relief from the Mongolian incubus was adopted. 
The first campaign meetings of the republicans and democrats were held 
respectively on June 19th and July 15th.
        In 1876 the republicans of Alameda organized for the state and 
Presidential campaign and elected Dr. W. P. Gibbons president of the movement; 
meetings were held once a week. On June 11th the republican county convention 
was held in Oakland, and was called to order by George M. Pinney, chairman of 
the county central committee. Thomas Eager was chosen temporary chairman and A. 
W. Bishop, secretary. Confidence in the national administration was declared, 
and appreciation of the services of Congressman Page was expressed. Delegates to 
the state convention were appointed. On the 19th of the same month, the 
democrats held a primary election in Oakland, when two tickets were placed in 
the field and the largest vote ever polled at a democratic primary was cast. The 
democratic county convention was held on the 26th, when the best harmony did not 
exist, a result which brought about the defeat of the Oakland delegation, who 
lost control of the convention. In this month the independent county convention 
held their session in Oakland and declared their principles to be reform in the 
administration of public affairs, the correction of local abuses, opposition to 
monopolies and the reconciliation of the North and South. The meetings of the 
convention for the nominations of legislative and county officers, were held as 
follows: That of the democrats on July 24th, at the Academy of Music on Fifth 
street, Oakland, with James Beazell at its head as State Senator; the 
independents met on the same day in the city hall, and named Henry Robinson, of 
Alameda, for State Senator, endorsed M. W. Dixon (democrat), of Washington 
township, for the Assembly, and added the name of Walter Blair of Oakland and 
Joseph Tayor of Murray; on the 2d of August the republican convention held their 
meeting in the Academy of Music, with 115 delegates. Their ticket had at its 
head, E. B. Mastick, of Alameda, for State Senator, but this gentleman 
subsequently declined the nomination. James W. Shanklin was nominated instead, 
and John L. Beard of Centerville, A. T. Coville of San Leandro and J. V. B. 
Goodrich of Oakland were named for members of Assembly.
        W. F. B. Lynch was renominated by the republicans for county 
superintendent. In response to a call he said, "When I came into the office of 
superintendent 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 
Tilden 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 republican 
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 recommended 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 
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-second 
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 
complimentary 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 
republican 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 
Congress. 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 delivered 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 
chairman. 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 republican convention 
which had convened here on March 3d. General Dodge graciously 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 franchise 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. Palmer, Alonzo Crawford, John Doherty, William Halley, William Helmer and 
Henry Vrooman.
        In 1877 the democrats of the county in convention opposed Chinese 
immigration, favored the prevention of imported Chinese laborers; demanded 
justice for the working man; asked for a land tax; demanded punishment for 
malfeasance 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.
        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 
lawlessness 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 
newspapers were manifest to all readers. The result was the election of the 
entire republican county ticket with one exception by reduced majorities. The 
republicans 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 
question, 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 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 outdoor 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 
September, 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 
dominated, 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 pan for 
Congressman 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 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 
Germania 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 
follow 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. 2 and 3; 
Brooklyn township—Brooklyn, No. 1 (two precincts), Brooklyn No. 2; Oakland 
township—Berkeley, West Berkeley Bay precinct, Temescal, Ocean View, Piedmont; 
Oakland City—First ward (three precincts), Second ward (two precincts), Third 
ward (two precincts), Fourth ward (two precincts), Fifth ward, Sixth ward (two 
precincts); Eden township—San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Haywards, Mt. Eden, Castro 
Valley; Washington township—Alvarado, Centerville, Mission San Jose, Niles, 
Newark; Murray township—Sunol, Pleasanton, Dublin, 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 
excellent. 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 
superintendent 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 republican 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 victory for Mr. Gibson. Even the 
most sanguine democrats were surprised. Martin (democrat) received 2,514 votes; 
and Gibson (republican) received 2,206. Gibson carried wards 2, 3 and 7. For 
city clerk and treasurer Dods (republican), received 2,697 and Booth (democrat), 
2,036. The total vote was 4,733.
        At the November election, 1882, the democrats fought to secure the 
offices of sheriff and county clerk. The republican machine and boss rule forced 
independents to vote the democratic ticket. The result in the county was as 
follows: For Governor—Stoneman (democrat), 4,617; Estee (republican), 4,239; 
McDonald (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 
superintendent, 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. Martin for mayor; Bernard McFadden for city attorney; Judge Roseborough for 
police judge; E. H. Hamilton for marshal; T. O. Crawford for school 
superintendent; 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; Martin (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 treasurer 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 
convention 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-compliance with election 
pledges.
        The assembly districts in Alameda county in 1884 were as follows: 
Fifty­first—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‑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 
permitted 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, G. 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 resolutions 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. Mayrisch, 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 Dusterberry, 
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 hoped to capture some 
of the offices through the apathy or folly of the republicans. The democrats 
nominated John S. Drum for mayor. This campaign was remarkably free from 
personalities. The result was the election of the following 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 followed, there were many cases of scratching through personal 
prejudices. Newspapers 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 independent 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.
        At the San Leandro town election in 1886 a war of races resulted in the 
election of a mixed ticket. The Irish and Portuguese were unfriendly. The 
republicans cut and slashed their own ticket or it would have won in spite of 
the fact that the town was really democratic by about thirty-five majority. At 
the town election in Haywards two tickets were put up—people's and citizens'. 
The anti-boycotting sentiment was represented by the people's, which was elected 
by about 3 to 1. The voters evidently did not believe business men should be 
boycotted because they employed Chinese laborers. At the Berkeley town election 
in May there were two tickets in the field—citizens' and people's; the greater 
portion of the former was elected.
        An assemblage of republicans and others called the taxpayers' convention 
met on March 8, 1887. Several inflammatory speeches were delivered and 
immediately thereafter the following action was taken: "That it is not for the 
best interests of the city to return Pardee, the incumbent, to the office of 
mayor, and that should General Dodge consent to become the candidate of the 
taxpayers this convention will give him their hearty support." In a spirited 
speech W. M. Graham thereupon formally nominated General Dodge. The acceptance 
by that gentleman was received with great applause by the convention. This 
opposition movement of the alleged taxpayers was against the so-called "ring" in 
the municipal government—against a packed convention and a cut-and-dried ticket. 
It was claimed that when Henry Durant ran on the regular republican ticket for 
mayor, Doctor Pardee bolted the ticket and ran in opposition, doing his best to 
defeat Durant, and that now that same Doctor Pardee had so grown in influence in 
certain political quarters that he could pack the convention and laugh at any 
one shrewd enough to understand his game. It was claimed that it took the "ring 
committee of seven" three nights to prepare a list of favorable delegates who 
would be sure to renominate Doctor Pardee.
        The issues were: (1) a clearly defined system of public improvements; 
(2) a park; (3) a boulevard around Lake Merritt; (4) a broad avenue skirting the 
base of the foothills; (5) a thorough sewerage system; (6) and a definite 
settlement of the water front problem. As a matter of fact the republican party 
as such did not renominate Doctor Pardee. All of this was denied by the 
committee of 101 and the republican press. The old administration supported 
Doctor Pardee with great unanimity and vigor. Not a single serious charge was 
made against him or his supporters. The Democrat supported Pardee and the 
Tribune supported Dodge. Parties were split. It was local faction against local 
faction and no doubt personal reasons and private gain cut something of a figure 
in this spirited contest. But people were tired of professional and omnipresent 
office seekers. The result was the reelection of Doctor E. H. Pardee, by a 
majority of 145 votes. In 1876 his majority over Ex-Judge Stanly was 615. At the 
presidential election in 1876 the republican majority in the city was over 
1,300. The result showed that the administration under Doctor Pardee was not 
seriously condemned. He received 1,830 votes and General Dodge 1,685. The former 
carried the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Seventh wards and the latter the 
Second and Sixth. A majority of the republican ticket was elected. As a whole 
the contest was one of the closest and warmest ever held in the city.
        In i887 the vote of the American party before the election was a 
doubtful and serious problem in local municipal politics. It was seen that the 
party was sure to poll a large vote and the republicans, at least, were scared. 
At the election, although they won, the republicans realized that they had a new 
and formidable enemy to encounter in future elections in all probability. W. R. 
Davis, the republican candidate, won but did not have a majority of all the 
votes polled. This was food for serious thought. The result was—for mayor, W. R. 
Davis, republican, 2,761; Henry. Hayes, democrat, 2,009; J. W. Martin, American, 
1,357; scattering 35.
        The republican city convention in 1888 nominated Dr. S. H. Melvin for 
mayor; he was chosen on the second ballot against Mr. Shattuck and Mr. Brown. 
The convention reaffirmed the resolutions adopted by the republican city 
convention in 1887 that "the republican party has and now declares a local 
policy which is in favor of every legitimate enterprise calculated to develop 
the resources of the community and the interests of the city." The democrats 
nominated Charles D. Pierce for mayor and a full party ticket. The convention of 
the American party nominated for mayor, J. West Martin, who, though a member of 
the American party, at first declined, but finally accepted when he was 
nominated again by acclamation and with intense enthusiasm. The convention named 
a full city ticket and otherwise prepared for a stirring campaign. The city 
nomination convention of the American party assembled March 1st, in Camron hall. 
The convention consisted of all the club members of that party in this city. 
There were in all ninety-seven delegates. The result of the election was as 
follows: Melvin, republican, 2,309; Pierce, democrat, 2,376; Martin, American, 
858; Gregg, independent, 67. The remainder of the republican ticket was elected.
        The democratic county convention in 1888, approved the democratic 
national platform, endorsed President Cleveland's course on the reciprocity 
problem, demanded ward and township registration in this county; promised to 
contribute in every way to every movement that would assist in the construction 
of good roads and generally the prosperity of the county, and favored the total 
exclusion of the Chinese from this country. The convention was harmonious and 
placed a full ticket in the field. The republican county convention in September 
adopted resolutions favoring free common schools, the construction of better 
roads and highways throughout the county, the proposed public improvements in 
Oakland, and encouragement to any railroad company that would build a road 
across any portion of the county. The convention named a full ticket. The 
republicans constructed a large campaign wigwam at Fourteenth and Broadway. It 
was built by subscription. While the democrats were slow to organize for 
campaign purposes, they were not slow to secure the registration of all members 
of their party. By July l0th they had but one club in Oakland, while the 
republicans had about a dozen. The prohibitionists were also active in effecting 
complete registration and the necessary naturalization. Alfred A. Moore was a 
candidate for the republican nomination for chief justice of the supreme court. 
At this time he was the recognized leader of the Alameda county bar. He was 
peculiarly fitted for this high place, but in July retired from the contest. 
There was for the first time a law for ward and township registration which 
closed thirty days before election.
        The formation of political clubs became fashionable—transcended the 
impure bounds of political mud slinging and mounted the stage of society, comedy 
and tragedy as the participants should elect. It was popular for the young men 
to join the clubs and popular for the young ladies to join the young men. It 
then seemed necessary for the mothers to put in a dignified appearance 
occasionally and join both, and soon martial music and the nursery lullabys were 
blended in the sweetest nuptial harmony.
        In 1888 W. D. English, of Oakland, chairman of the democratic state 
central committee, a shrewd and able politician, directed all his efforts to the 
election of one or two democrats in this republican stronghold for the effect 
such an accomplishment would have on the approaching state and presidential 
elections. He directed his utmost efforts to the election of Mr. Pierce, 
democrat, for mayor; and Mr. Crawford for city school superintendent. He had the 
assistance of the best and brainiest democrats in this city and county. Again 
the contest was triangular as it had been in 1887. The republicans were so 
certain of victory that they went to sleep and the result was a democratic 
victory in the essentials. The republicans were defeated by their own apathy and 
by the massed forces of the democrats.     During the campaign the republicans 
of Haywards made an excellent showing with a uniformed club, a crack drill corps 
and unabated enthusiasm. Elmer Welch was their drill master.
        In the political campaign of 1888 Berkeley, Haywards and San Leandro 
were very active from the start. A large wigwam was built at Haywards by the 
republicans and was the only one in the state outside of San Francisco. It 
seated, 2,000 people. J. L. Scotchler was at the head of the republican 
activities in Berkeley—was president of the Harrison and Morton Club. A large 
mass meeting there ratified the republican ticket. At San Leandro the 
republicans made desperate efforts to carry that town. W. C. Wright was 
president of the republican club of West Berkeley. Every ward in Oakland had its 
republican and democratic clubs. Up to July l0th, the democrats had done little 
or nothing in campaign matters. The Iroquois Club was busy and two or three 
bandana clubs were organized. Their efforts were thus far spent in selecting a 
ticket that would win. The republican banner was borne to Los Angeles by a 
committee of Oakland republicans in December, 1888, E. L. Denison, W. E. Hale 
and W. E. Dargie originated the idea and custom. The voters in November, 1888, 
were called upon to vote twice at different booths on the same day—once for the 
national party ticket and once for the new Oakland charter.
        The contest at the municipal election in 1889 centered on the selection 
of mayor and the four councilmen at large, because upon them would rest much of 
the responsibility of organizing and putting at work the board of public works 
provided for under the new constitution. All realized that the success of the 
charter would depend largely upon the manner in which it was set in operation. 
Upon the new mayor rested the responsibility of appointing the board of public 
works which would control absolutely all public improvements and thus be wholly 
a new power and consideration in all municipal elections and affairs. The 
election contest in the spring was probably the most exciting ever held in 
Oakland up to that date. The new charter completely revolutionized municipal 
conduct and control and private interests fought hard for supremacy. The war of 
ideas and candidates began at the primaries and ended only after the successful 
factions and party had duly and grandiloquently celebrated their victory and 
perhaps had counted the spoils. There was a hot fight in the republican ranks at 
the primaries —to such an extent that it was said that "Peace spread her wings 
and flew weeping away." The mayor and the board of public works were bull's eyes 
at which all the official aspirants aimed their lances and their partisan hopes. 
The following republicans were candidates for mayor: J. P. Ames, H. A. Powell, 
F. K. Shattuck, A. C. Henry and M. J. Keller. Each candidate had his supporters 
and the pledges and betrayals were numerous and glaring. Charges of fraud flew 
fast like rain drops on a wintry day. Thus the primaries were anything but 
conclusive and clearly not harmonious. The trouble was in the Fourth ward. At 
the convention, a faction of the republicans bolted the regular convention—the 
first time in history. The delegates of the Third and Seventh wards went out, 
and the others nominated Judge A. P. Ames for mayor. The two wards bolted on the 
ground, as they claimed, that political chicanery ruled the convention. The 
platform ,adopted favored industrial education, promised enforcement of the new 
charter, sustained the public schools, favored a free and untrammeled ballot, 
encouraged manufacturers, thanked congressmen for the harbor appropriation, 
hailed with delight the passage of the Scott Chinese exclusion bill and 
recognized the demands of the laboring community. Concerning the bolt Doctor 
Pardee said that the act sounded the bugle against corruption. N. W. Spaulding 
said that he had seen trouble coming from the Fourth ward for a long time and 
knew that the corrupt practices exhibited there would cause trouble in the 
party. The two ward delegations met later, Mr. Spaulding presiding.
        They were joined by the delegates of the American party. On the platform 
were five ex-mayors: N. W. Spauding, E. H. Pardee, J. E. Blethen, J. West Martin 
and E. W. Playter. In resolutions they endorsed the bolt on the ground "of a 
packed convention with delegates from the Fourth ward fraudulently elected in 
violation of law by ballot-box stuffers," and further resolved that citizens of 
the Fourth ward had been practically disfranchised at the primary by dummies in 
line who kept out legal voters until too late to vote—and who had obstructed the 
polls.
        The result was that the bolting delegation fused with the democratic 
party, each naming half of the fusion ticket, with John R. Glascock as candidate 
for the mayoralty. Separate conventions were held and each named candidates for 
the offices agreed upon. The independent republicans, as the bolters called 
themselves, favored a liberal construction of the new charter and the nomination 
of men who would give it a fair trial, pledged an election to vote upon the 
question of raising money for public improvements, advocated such an extension 
of the city limits as would embrace all outlying and contiguous territory and 
farms, and asked the cooperation of all citizens in an effort to prevent 
filibustering at the polls. As a matter of fact, the course taken by the Fourth 
ward was due to the failure of that portion of the city to defeat the new 
charter when it was first voted for and afterwards in the Legislature. Having 
suffered total and inglorious failure in the opposition, they now sought by hook 
or crook to place in the mayor's chair and on the board of public works 
officials who would practically kill or disgrace and make odious the new charter 
and everything and everybody connected with it. The democratic wing of the 
fusion alliance passed. resolutions discountenancing every act of fraud at 
elections, favoring public improvements, sustaining the public school system, 
promising a fair trial for the new charter, favoring competitive lines of 
railways, encouraging manufacturers, pledging the party to honest 
administration, and promised the laboring people of Oakland the support of the 
democratic party in all honest and lawful efforts to advance their interests and 
promote their material welfare. The American party reinforced the citizens' 
ticket as the fusion nominees were called. They nominated Mr. Glascock for mayor 
by acclamation and chose other fusion candidates for subordinate places.
        The fusion of the independent republicans and the democrats (in 1889) 
caused the prohibitionists and Americans to name separate tickets. The nominees 
for mayor were as follows: Republican, J. P. Ames; citizens', John R. Glascock; 
American, John R. Glascock; prohibition, Galen M. Fisher. The result was the 
complete success of the citizens ticket. For treasurer Mr. Gilpin was the 
nominee of the republican, citizens' and American tickets. John R. Glascock 
carried every ward. The vote was as follows: For mayor—Ames (R), 2,131; Glascock 
(Cit. & Am.), 5,148; Fisher (Pro.), 119; Glascock plurality, 2, 987. The result 
was a blow at boss or ring rule which the citizens of this city did not forget 
for many years. At the Alameda. municipal election on April 1, 1889, there were 
polled a total of 1,196 votes. There was no contest nor excitement.
        The Alameda County American Citizens Equal Rights Association, an 
organization of the African race, made strong efforts to secure a place on the 
republican ticket. There were in the county at this time nearly nine hundred 
colored voters. In view of this fact and their faithfulness to the party they 
asked that a colored man might be named on the ticket as a candidate for the 
state legislature. They asked that J. B. Wilson, managing editor of the San 
Francisco Elevator, might be so nominated. At this time the association above 
named numbered 325 members.
        In the campaign of 1890 the democrats concentrated on Charles McCleverty 
for sheriff, John Hackett for assessor, and C. Lionel Dam for clerk. In 1882 
McCleverty was elected sheriff by a plurality of 580 votes. The democrats 
thought his popularity would again enable him to win and so again nominated him 
in 1890. It was believed also that Mr. Hackett's popularity would enable him to 
win. They nominated T. O. Crawford for county superintendent for the same 
reason. They had nominated him for that office in 1882, but he had declined on 
the ground that the democratic party in this county was against the so-called 
Sunday law and he refused to follow them. The speech of the campaign of 1890 at 
Oakland was delivered by Colonel Markham, republican nominee for Governor, at 
Germania hall, which could not hold the audience that assembled. There were 
bon-fires, Roman candles, parades and much partisan enthusiasm. Judge Gibson 
was, severely criticised by the republican journals for deserting the republican 
party merely because they decided to nominate an equally good and deserving 
member of the legal profession for superior judge. The republicans had made him 
district attorney for five years, superior judge for nearly six years, named him 
mayor of Oakland, railroad commissioner and Indian commissioner, etc. For nearly 
twenty years he had occupied office through votes or appointments of 
republicans. Now it was said of him that he was nothing if not a politician. The 
republican ticket was elected throughout. This result was certain in view of the 
enormous republican majority in the county and the harmonious and united nature 
of the campaign. The bitter and scurrilous fight against Judge Greene utterly 
failed to accomplish his defeat. There was considerable scratching of tickets, 
but as a whole voters clung to their party nominees. The personal popularity of 
certain democratic candidates enabled them to make deep inroads on the 
majorities of their opponents, but not deep enough to win success. For Congress 
McKenna (R) received in the county 9,190 votes; Irish (D. & A.), 6,979; and 
Felkner (Pro.), 388. For Governor, Markham (R) received 9,333 votes; Pont (D.), 
6,274; Bidwell (A. & P.), 1,080. For superior court judges (2) Henshaw (R), 
9,266; Greene (R. & A.), 8,996; Gibson (D), 7.955; Roseborough (D), 5,809. The 
democrats elected a justice of the peace at Haywards, and a constable at 
Pleasanton.
        From the start the political situation in Oakland in the spring of 1891 
presented many complex and baffling features which no politician however astute 
could solve in advance or in any effective way untangle. The Americans wooed the 
board of trade, the improvement associations and the citizens committee; the 
democrats proclaimed the right of the combination to the favor and franchises of 
the voters, and the republicans sought to rally their scattered flock into the 
party fold once more. Unquestionably the latter had the advantage, because the 
necessity of the combination had already disappeared and republicans were sure 
to come back wiser and holier to the fold. The prohibitionists prepared to 
contest the field with any and all parties that did not pronounce against the 
liquor interest. It was generally agreed that the combination had not during the 
past two years done such striking and pronounced good, that it should without 
question be returned to power and glory. The local option alliance figured well 
at this time.
        In March, 1891, amid great ceremony, the banner won by Los Angeles 
county in 1886 was brought to Oakland and presented to the banner republican 
county of the state in 1890. Eloquent speeches rendered the occasion memorable. 
Attorney Kelley, of Los Angeles, read an interesting history of the flag from 
October 20, 1775, down to date.
        The republicans nominated Melvin C. Chapman for mayor and named a full 
ticket. W. R. Davis was chairman of the convention. The platform declared for a 
local policy that encouraged and aided every legitimate enterprise calculated to 
develop the city; sustained the public schools, favored for teachers graduates 
of the Oakland schools and actual residents of the city; favored street, sewer, 
plaza, drive and park improvements; demanded the reclamation of the West Oakland 
marsh, a boulevard around Lake Merritt and the proper dredging of that sheet of 
water; expressed the opinion that the mercantile and manufacturing license tax 
was an unwise and unnecessary system of taxation; opposed any reduction of the 
liquor license; pledged the party to the encouragement of all legitimate 
industries and promised strongest restrictions on all occupations or practices 
that interfered with the peace, harmony and order of the community. The party 
was united, was out in full panoply and force and at once prepared for active 
work to secure the election of the whole ticket. A ticket of well known and 
substantial men was named. The party was determined to regain the power and 
confidence which in a large measure it had lost two years before.
        The democrats nominated Charles G. Yale for mayor and likewise named 
nearly a full ticket. The convention was harmonious, though there were some 
differences on local option matters. Cary Howard acted as chairman of the 
convention. The platform favored the reclamation of the West Oakland marsh, the 
construction of the lake boulevard, a complete system of sewerage, the dredging 
of Lake Merritt, and the issuance of bonds to secure these improvements; 
sustained the public schools and favored home teachers; expressed the opinion 
that the streets should be opened to tide water; supported the present license 
system; promised support of an election to determine the continuance or 
discontinuance of the drinking saloon; expressed the belief that the water 
supply could be improved by filtering, etc.; promised that the estuary touching 
the Sixth ward should be improved; and deplored the death of George Hearst. 
Admittedly, the democratic ticket and platform were strong and popular, so much 
so that the republicans were spurred to united and heroic methods during the 
rest of the campaign.
        The American party invited the East and the West Oakland Improvement 
Clubs, the citizens committee of one hundred, the board of trade, the local 
option alliance and a large number of representative citizens to meet them in a 
non­partisan convention to name a municipal ticket. But as there appeared to be 
no hurry to accept this invitation, the American party resolved to hold a 
strictly party convention and name a straight party ticket. With the Americans, 
the prohibitionists, the local option alliance, the combination, the straight 
democrats and the straight republicans, Oakland experienced lurid times just 
preceding the municipal election in 1891.
        Under the reform ballot law popularly known as the Australian system, an 
entirely new and different order of procedure was necessary. All the parties 
preferred statements of what should be done by their organizations and 
followers. In 1891 many citizens and business houses requested L. W. Kennedy to 
become a candidate for mayor. He granted the request. The campaign was spirited, 
quiet and free from personal abuse. The local option faction threw much doubt on 
the result. Pledges had been signed by 5,000 citizens; the question thus arose, 
how far such obligations would be binding upon the signers. The result of the 
contest was as follows: For Mayor Chapman (R) 4,240; Yale (D) 2141; Reed (A) 
207; Gregg (Pro.) 59. Concerning this election (1891) Rev. J. K. McLean said to 
the temperance women: "Your wish may not prevail, but hope on. It is only a 
question of time when the silent influence you possess will conquer." Rev. C. W. 
Wendte said that the paramount issue was not city improvements, but was the 
overthrow of the saloon power. Rev. C. H. Hobart told the voters to elect men 
who represented purity and right—local optionists. Rev. E. R. Dille recommended 
voters to scratch for the best men and against the saloons. Rev. Dr. Coyle aided 
the battle at the polls for men who favored a local option election. Rev. Frank 
Dixon said those who favored local option would find themselves about to sit 
down without a chair, that the politicians obscured the real issue which was 
temperance, that many men prominent in the campaign favored high water and low 
whisky. Rev. Dr. Chapman declared that the real question was temperance—whether 
the liquor traffic should be continued in the city or not. Of the thirty 
officers elected only three were democrats—councilmen.
        In the spring of 1891 two tickets were in the field at Berkeley, viz.: 
non­partisan and independent taxpayers. It was the most exciting election ever 
held in that town. Desperate efforts were adopted to defeat the non-partisan 
ticket; one objection was that eight of the candidates were of foreign birth. 
However the ticket, with one exception, was successful. The platform of the 
winners espoused public economy and improvement with individual liberty and 
social order, ample school facilities, moderate taxation, electric lights, 
enforcement of the university liquor law, public franchises not to be granted 
without due restrictions, protection against fires, establishment of a general 
system of improvement, and streets and drives to be beautified. The North 
Berkeley Club took an active part in the election, but failed to win a point. 
The independent taxpayers attributed their defeat largely to the fact that the 
temperance people did not vote. It was really a partial victory for the saloons. 
The independent taxpayers ticket was called "Burst the Ring ticket." The highest 
number of votes polled for any one candidate was 763 for McVey for constable. At 
Haywards there were two tickets in the field, the taxpayers and an unnamed 
ticket.
        The former being public improvement advocates, they elected their entire 
ticket, there being polled 283 votes.
        In June, 1892, the republicans in all parts of the county assembled and 
ratified the renomination of General Harrison for president. The political 
campaign of 1892 in Alameda county was unexampled for its quietness and lack of 
subterfuges and surprises. Although the county was stumped by the parties, there 
were small crowds and little enthusiasm. The Dark Lantern Municipal League was 
the term applied to all persons who opposed the issuance of bonds for the public 
improvements demanded generally in 1891-92. It was declared the organization 
proper comprised only thirty members. The league declared their object was 
solely political and had nothing to do with the bond question. The league was 
active and powerful. Its president was Giles H. Gray. Its standing committee of 
twenty prepared lists of desirable delegates to the municipal convention in 
December, 1892. Fifty-six delegates were elected to the convention.
        The republican delegate convention of July, 1892, was one of the 
liveliest ever held. It was the first for twenty years in which a straight fight 
was made for an Alameda county man for Congress. The Congressmen supported for 
many years in Alameda county were Joseph McKenna and H. F. Page, both of whom 
were excellent and satisfactory, but now this county at last demanded its own 
Representative in Congress. The county convention of the people's party 
assembled in San Leandro in August, 1892. They declared in favor of having the 
water front returned to the Government, denounced the state board of 
equalization for allowing the Water Front Company's property claims in Oakland 
valued at $12,000,000 to be assessed at a little over $100,000 and the 
improvements of the Southern Pacific Company valued at several millions to be 
assessed for $8,000. The convention named nearly a full county ticket. The 
republican county convention met in the Tabernacle at Eleventh and Harrison 
streets on September 19th; George E. Whitney served as chairman. The platform 
declared in favor of education, temperance, morality, the administration of 
public office for the benefit of the whole people and made the following 
pronouncement: "Partisanship in the republican party means patriotism and it 
includes all the elements of wise, conservative and sound citizenship." There 
was good feeling, but there were sharp contests for several of the offices, 
including that of sheriff. The convention demanded that county business should 
be conducted upon business principles and George C. Perkins was recommended for 
the United States Senate. At the November election nine constitutional 
amendments were submitted to the people. Six were carried in this county and 
were to limit debts of counties, cities, etc.; to tell how cities could adopt 
charters; to elect Senators by direct vote of the people, to sustain the San 
Francisco depot act, to require an educational qualification for voters, and to 
provide for refunding the state debt.
        The election of November, 1892, was the first in the state to put the 
Australian system, of voting into practice. There was some confusion resulting 
from a misunderstanding of how to mark, and otherwise prepare the ballot. The 
result of the election in Alameda county astonished and dismayed the 
republicans, surprised and delighted the democrats and caused no unusual nor 
alarming emotions in the breasts or brains of the prohibitionists or peoples' 
party advocates. The vote for presidential electors was as follows: republican 
8,712; democrat 7,109; people's party 2,110; prohibitionist 442 Robert 
McKillican (D.) was elected sheriff. The Australian ballot was successful and 
liked. In 1892 Judge Samuel G. Hilborn (R.) ran for Congress from the third 
district for both short and long terms, his opponent being Warren English (D.). 
Judge Hilborn carried this county, and at first it seemed that he had carried 
the district. As the reports came in it seemed first as if one and then the 
other led in the race. The final count showed Hilborn in the lead by three 
votes. Mr. English contested and in the democratic house of Congress was 
victorious.
        The local election in Alameda surprised the wise men of that town. 
Democrats were successful and old, reliable and entrenched office holders were 
shaken up or turned down. At the county election P. L. Bassett, C. D. Bennett, 
A. C. Fray, J. W. Riley and A. Schrayer were elected members of the sanitary 
board of the Fruit Vale Sanitary District.
        In May, 1892, there were three tickets in the field in Berkeley: 
non-partisan, independent taxpayers and prohibition. The latter accomplished 
little, though polling eighty votes. Generally the non-partisan candidates were 
elected. The Australian system was used and about sixty ballots were thrown out 
for irregularity. Although East Berkeley was a temperance district drunken men 
were seen there on election day. Nearly a thousand votes were cast. At Livermore 
there were two tickets; citizens' and independent. Generally the former won. The 
number of votes polled was 255. The Australian system was used and worked well. 
The town election of San Leandro was lively and resulted in the selection of a 
mixed ticket. Only two tickets were in the field—republican and democratic. 
Personal popularity determined the victors. The total number of votes cast was 
382. Sturtevant, Eber, Goodman, Hansen and Quinn were the trustees chosen.
        In January, 1893, the Citizens' Municipal League, a non-partisan 
organization expressed dissatisfaction with the city government; declared that 
official position and influence were unblushingly used for personal profit 
rather than for the public good; stated that $20,000 of the people's money had 
been dumped into the mud of Lake Merritt without any real benefit to the city; 
denounced the subserviency of the city officials to the dictation of a venal 
press; denounced the establishment of poolrooms and the awarding of illegal 
printing contracts; congratulated the citizens of Oakland upon the decision of 
the United States supreme court in the Chicago lake front case whereby it was 
recognized that a public harbor could not be monopolized by a private 
corporation; favored the speedy recovery of the Oakland water front by the city, 
the entry of competing railroad lines, the dredging of Lake Merritt, the 
construction of an efficient sewer system, larger returns to the city for 
railroad franchises, cheaper and better water and light, strict enforcement of 
liquor laws, suppression of gambling and exclusion of saloons from residence 
districts; declared that the boulevard as then projected and commenced should 
never be completed—that if should be built upon the shores of the lake without 
diminishing the area of the water park, the abutting lands to sustain the cost; 
and insisted that public printing should be done by the lowest bidder.
        The republicans of Oakland nominated a straight party ticket and refused 
to accept any compromises or plan alterations. Great pressure was brought bear 
to induce them to accept candidates from other factions, but to no avail. As a 
matter of history it was admitted that the municipal league pleaded with the 
republican managers to endorse their ticket. This they did after villifying the 
party for months, first abusing and threatening and then palavering and 
pleading. Their pleadings were coldly and indignantly turned down.
        The prohibitionists in their platform called for reform in municipal 
affairs, asserted that the city should possess its own water front and 
monopolies, arraigned the non-partisan ticket supporters for discriminating in 
favor of the liquor traffic and gambling and for their "cowardly silence on all 
moral issues," and denounced the members of the council who had betrayed their 
trust.
        The democratic convention of 1893 was harmonious and determined. There 
was no contest in the convention. Mr. McFadden served as chairman and said they 
had met to complete the work so well begun. T. C. Coogan nominated for mayor R. 
M. Fitzgerald and the nomination was made unanimous. The platform adopted 
promised a reduction in taxation, favored the eight-hour labor law and endorsed 
improvements in schools, streets, sewers, administration, street franchises, 
letting of contracts, water front, etc. The platform said, "We are opposed to 
all sumptuary legislation and believe that no license should be required for any 
business which would render the same onerous and burdensome." At the republican 
convention Timothy L. Barker was nominated for mayor. George E. Whitney was 
chairman. George C. Pardee was candidate for mayor but was defeated in the 
convention. Strong speeches of Moore and Chickering were called out by the 
threat of a bolt from a faction of the party. The platform was long and 
contained the usual pledges on schools, streets, sewers, bonds, water front, 
saloons, franchises, etc. The populists nominated for mayor J. L. Davie; the 
prohibitionists, F. W. Sawyer and the municipal league George C. Pardee. Thus 
there were five tickets in the field. The republicans and the democrats 
nominated party tickets. The municipal league and the populists announced that 
they were out for reform. Late in March, 1893, Dr. E. H. Woolsey was announced 
as an independent candidate for mayor. At his meetings he exposed the political 
defects and characters with lantern slides. His speeches were the sensation of 
the campaign. His meetings were attended by the largest audiences of the 
campaign, were wholly original and unique, and went to the bottom of the 
political sins of this community. More than a hundred lantern slides were 
exhibited—some serious, many comic and humorous and all interesting and thought 
producing. His was the most lurid, original, spectacular and sensational 
candidacy ever presented here, but he got few votes.
        The convention of the people's party was held in Liberty hall in 
January, with Frank Dixon presiding. Its platform promised that the government 
of Oakland should be removed from the hands of men and parties who made traffic 
of the sacred interests of the people and had done what they could to make 
citizenship itself infamous; that the Contra Costa Water Company should be 
arrested in its robbery of the public; that the city should proceed at once to 
take possession of the water front through its proper officers, treating present 
occupants as trespassers on the ground that said water front never had been and 
never could be alienated from the people; that the act of the present city 
council in appropriating the money of the people to the improvement of private 
property bordering upon Lake Merritt should be denounced as shameless treachery; 
that a suitable sewer system should be built; that the granting of further 
franchises or special privileges to individuals or corporations should be 
resisted, and that the public school system should be expanded and perfected. 
The result was the success of the municipal league ticket with a few exceptions; 
George C. Pardee was elected mayor on the non-partisan ticket. The vote for 
mayor was as follows: Barker (R.), 946; Davie (Pop.), 2,328; Fitzgerald (D.), 
2,191; Pardee (Non-P.), 2,776; Sawyer (Pro.), 42; Woolsey (Indp.), 47. In July, 
1893, George C. Perkins was appointed to the United States Senate vice Mr. 
Stanford deceased.
        The citizens of Berkeley interested in prohibition formed the citizens' 
league and nominated a town ticket in 1893. The aim of the league was to make 
the municipal laws conform to the statutes, to reinforce the university mile 
liquor act by an ordinance making it easier to secure evidence, to provide more 
fully for sanitary and street improvements and for the needs of the public 
schools. The law and order league and the prohibition club merged into the 
citizens' league.
        In Alameda two municipal conventions, in 1893, each claiming to be 
non­partisan, but tickets in the field and the platforms favored the same 
objects with striking similarity. However, there was an inside fight on the 
question of control of the saloon traffics
        The republicans in 1894 nominated for mayor J. W. Nelson and named a 
full city ticket. The platform opposed boss rule, pledged an economical 
administration, promised a generous policy of public improvements, favored an 
early settlement of the water front question, congratulated the citizens that 
the water rate question had been finally and permanently settled by competition, 
advocated a rigid enforcement of the liquor laws, favored the dredging of Lake 
Merritt and the conveyance of the material to the West Oakland marsh and 
recommended the establishment of a public crematory for the disposal of garbage, 
etc. The populists declined to fuse and nominated a full ticket with John L. 
Davie as candidate for mayor. An attempt of the American Protective Association 
to inject matters concerning religion into the platform was defeated by the 
convention. The municipal league or non-partisan convention nominated for mayor 
J. W. Nelson, thus endorsing so much of the republican ticket. They announced no 
particular policy or platform except wise administration and advancement. The 
democrats named a full ticket with T. C. Coogan for mayor. The platform favored 
public improvements, endorsed the project of constructing the valley railroad, 
favored the appointment of a non-partisan commission to investigate official 
corruption, denounced official favoritism; insisted that the water front 
question should be speedily settled in the courts of last resort and favored a 
crematory and a city sanitary system, etc. The non-partisan convention named a 
full ticket with J. W. Nelson for mayor at the head. The prohibitionists named 
for mayor Dr. P. McCargar. At a later stage the democrats endorsed the 
nomination of J. W. Nelson for mayor. Davie was elected.
        The county populist convention was held in Oakland on July l0th ; C. N. 
Hitchcock served as chairman. The platform urged that the issue between capital 
and labor be squarely met; advocated government ownership of railroads and 
county or municipal ownership of water, gas and electric plants, and declared 
that public franchises should be for public benefit. A strong county ticket was 
nominated. The convention after declaring its principles and policies upheld 
"the right of every American citizen to proceed to Washington to enter the 
grounds and the capitol and to present their grievances and demands," thus 
endorsing the movements of Coxey's army. The prohibition state convention met in 
Hamilton Hall on May 16th; George B. Kellogg of Placer county, served as 
chairman. There was a large attendance of prominent temperance advocates from 
all parts of the state. The usual resolutions were passed—among them being one 
demanding suffrage for women, one favoring the election of President and United 
States Senators by direct vote of the people, and one advocating a graduated 
land tax. The convention nominated Henry French, of San Jose, for Governor. The 
democratic state convention nominated James H. Budd for Governor. W. R. English 
of Oakland was nominated for Congress.
        The democratic county primaries were held September 18, 1894; there was 
little contest or enthusiasm. The county convention assembled at San Leandro 
September 22d, in St. Joseph's Hall, which was beautifully decorated. J. J. 
Scrivner presided over the convention. The platform favored low taxation and 
pledged the candidates if elected to a reduction of salaries 25 per cent from 
those then paid. On September 15th the republican primary election was held at 
Haywards. The main fights were over delegates who would favor certain candidates 
for superior judge, county assessor, county clerk, county treasurer and sheriff. 
There were sharp contests in the wards and smaller towns. Haywards felt greatly 
honored by the presence of this convention and was decorated in gala attire, 
particularly Native Son's hall where the proceedings were held. The surprises 
were the new candidates nominated. The convention opposed the railroad refunding 
bill then before Congress, favored a rigid retrenchment in county expenditures, 
and pledged the ticket to improve and keep in repair the principal county 
roads—particularly the Contra Costa county road.
        The republican campaign of 1894 opened in this county on August 18th, 
with the appearance of M. M. Estee, republican candidate for governor, who 
delivered a comprehensive and telling speech to a large audience. 'He thoroughly 
reviewed the labor troubles and declared he had been warned as to what he should 
say in Oakland, because of the strike and the academic air that prevailed here. 
He did not mince words nor restrict thought, but attacked every disturbing and 
unfair element before the public. The Alameda county non-partisan convention 
assembled in Hamilton hall on September 11th; C. R. Lewis presided. The 
convention demanded that every department of the county government should be 
kept free from partisan politics. Nearly a full ticket was chosen. The election 
was a surprise to the members of all parties. With a few exceptions the 
republican ticket was elected, several candidates by a very narrow margin. 
Sanford, populist, was elected treasurer and Garlick, populist and non-partisan, 
was chosen superintendent of schools; Collins, republican, was defeated by 
McDonald, democrat, for the Assembly. C. B. White, populist, had a large 
plurality over Schaffer, republican, for sheriff. Several other surprises 
occurred. The irregularities of the pluralities of the successful candidates 
betrayed the working of agencies wholly foreign to partisanship. The popularity 
of Judge Renshaw was revealed by the result. The existence of personal 
considerations and factional leanings was shown in every precinct. For Governor: 
Budd (D.), received 6,786; Estee (R.), 8,150; French (Pro.), 616; Webster 
(P.P.), 4,531. Fred M. Campbell, who ran independently for county school 
superintendent, received 3,380 votes and D. M. Pugh (Pro.), received 336. It was 
seen that old methods of candidacy, convention and tickets were seriously 
invaded. While party nominations were still of supreme importance, they no 
longer possessed the sanctity of former years. No sooner was this election over 
than politicians and parties began to decipher and weigh the influences and 
issues of the approaching municipal campaign in the spring of 1895. All the nine 
amendments except one were carried. A public improvement campaign was next on 
the program, it was said.
        The vote for judge of the supreme court in the state convention was as 
follows: Henshaw, 659; Torrence, 516; De Haven, 422. Judge Henshaw was a 
graduate of Oakland high school and of the University of California in 1879.
 
        In 1892 the great register contained 22,873 names; in 1894 it contained 
29,362. This great increase was a surprise to many who did not know how fast the 
county was growing.  This registry was as follows:
 
      Oakland                       15,481
      Alameda           3,442
      Berkeley           2,638
      Oakland township         1,842
      Brooklyn township                    1,222
      Eden township 1,934
      Washington township    1,232
      Murray township          1,571
      Total                29,362

 
        The elections in Haywards and San Leandro in April, 1894, followed party 
lines very closely, with enough personality to add zest to the occasions. San 
Leandro was really a democratic town. In both towns the sharpest contest was 
over the town marshal who was assumed to be an important factor in the liquor 
question.
        In a close contest George C. Perkins was elected to the United States 
Senate in January, 1895 ; his strongest competitor was M. H. De Young of San 
Francisco.
        Early in 1895 the populists were particularly active in their 
preparations for the municipal fight approaching. The republicans were active 
early, but the democrats were slow. The municipal league prepared to put a full 
ticket in the field. Late in January there was held the special election to 
determine the will of the voters of Oakland regarding the proposed amendments to 
the city charter; they decided in favor of the measures, which fact was 
recognized as an open endorsement of the course of Mayor Pardee whose 
renomination was strongly recommended by a large faction. The municipal league 
had grown in favor and the old parties found it necessary to defer to its 
dictum.
        The municipal election of 1895 was a surprise to almost everybody. No 
one properly estimated the strength of the people's party platform or the 
popularity of its candidate for mayor. The result of the election proved that 
the people did not believe that the non-partisan administration had fulfilled 
its pledges made at the time of election and carried forward the reforms 
demanded. It thus came to pass that J. L. Davie was easily elected mayor, though 
the non-partisans secured a good working majority in the council. The other 
successful candidates were scattered among the four or five parties which had 
tickets in the field. For Mayor Davie (P.P.), received 4,543 votes; Nelson (M. 
L., D. and R.), 3,861 ; McCargar (Pro.), 93. No doubt the attitude of Mr. Davie 
against the Water Front Company and in favor of cheap trans-bay transportation 
had much to do with his popularity and his triumph at this time. Although after 
a while the Davie ferry service was forced to withdraw, the benefits of reduced 
fares which it established still remained and were appreciated and not 
forgotten.
        The fight over the tax levy in September, 1895, was bitter and 
protracted. Mayor Davie who had been elected to office largely by the low tax 
people, declared he would veto any levy above $1. Although it was shown that the 
funds of many departments would have to be seriously cut, the mayor stood firm 
and in the end the $1 ordinance was passed. During the inflammatory meetings of 
the council the lie was passed more than once. Many called the council the "Bear 
Garden." The facts were that the faction which demanded a generous taxation for 
the schools, library, and street and park improvements were out­voted and 
outmaneuvered by the low-tax and no-improvement masses who still stood with 
their feet on the neck of progress and betterment. Akin to this low tax policy 
was the act of the masses in voting against the refunding of the $140,000 in 
city bonds about to become due.
        In January, 1896, the populists became so disappointed with the course 
of Mr. Davie that they concluded he had fallen from grace and accordingly 
expunged his name from their rolls. The campaign of 1896 was characterized by 
great confusion over the kinds of money and the rights of labor and as a 
consequence there was a general demand for a campaign of education in order that 
voters might be enlightened on the obscure and perplexing problems. Partisanship 
in this county was cut to pieces by the side issues of gold, silver, socialism, 
populism, woman suffrage, rights of labor, etc. The politicians were in their 
elements—could advocate anything and at every meeting had listeners and 
sympathizers. A demand arose from the interior of the county for the selection 
of G. W. Langan as candidate for superior judge on the republican ticket. He was 
supported by the newspapers of Livermore, Haywards, Irvington, Alameda, 
Pleasanton and Berkeley. The latter demanded a superior judge outside of 
Oakland.
        The congressional contest was eventful and full of fusions and other 
surprises and apparent incongruities. The gold democrats had a large following 
in this county. The nomination of John M. Palmer for president met their 
approval and they prepared to put up a ticket and make a fight for place and 
power. Much complaint was made that although public improvement had been 
discussed for many years and had been pledged time and again by the various 
successful city tickets, nothing of consequence had been yet done—a great deal 
of money had been spent, but in such a meager and stinted fashion that the 
results were scarcely visible. Many wanted a large sum raised through bonding 
measures to make a notable advance in a vast and creditable system of 
improvements that would beautify the city and attract permanent residents. Many 
declared that the era of public improvement had arrived and that effective 
action on a large scale was the duty of the people to future generations. But 
the great mass of the people were still blind to the golden and glorious 
possibilities of coming decades—saw only the mercenary present. In fact there 
arose a decided movement for curtailment and retrenchment. Teachers' salaries 
were cut and other unwise steps taken. In September, 1896, the state board of 
equalization raised the assessment of Alameda county 5 per cent; other counties 
were raised or lowered as seemed required by the board.
        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 granting 
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. Dickinson, Green Majors, Dr. 
Kellogg Lane, Millie Corners, 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 characterized by bitter contest for positions on the county 
board, with numerous candidates 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 generation; 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. English, E. M. Gibson, M. F. Tarpey and others. The republican 
county convention 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: (1) 
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 
resolution 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; 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 
measure); 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 economical 
administration; favored the improvement of the streets as planned; commended 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 1st, 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 himself 
as a reward for keeping down the tax levy. A petition to that effect was 
circulated 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 themselves 
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 carried 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 should participate in the business of any other organization 
nominating candidates 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 municipality. 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 
Alameda 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. Gradually 
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       505          Totals               6,907       
3,143
 
        The proceedings of the republican state convention in August were 
exceedingly interesting to Alameda county voters. Mr. Pardee was a candidate for 
Governor and a strong lobby from this county attended the convention at 
Sacramento to aid him all in their power. The cry was "On to Sacramento." The 
Young 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. 
Burdette Cornell served as chairman. The platform favored direct legislation in 
county and municipal matters, supported the past Dalton assessments on 
franchises, 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 republicans 
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 surrender 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 treatment 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 Alameda county in 1898 
was as follows: Gage (R), 12,080; Maguire (D), 8,208; Harriman (S), 496; McComas 
(P), 220; Ellert (Ind.), 1. Generally the republican 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 administration of the municipal government by holding its officers to a 
strict accountability 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.
        On January 11th, 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 
republican 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 
nominated 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 purchase 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; 
Buckland (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. 
        There was much excitement over the municipal election in Alameda. A 
non­partisan 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 
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 number 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 
division was necessary they studied the situation with the view of so sizing and 
shaping the ward boundaries as to secure the greatest possible partisan 
advantage. 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 democrats 
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 
platform expressed the opinion that the republican party could name a city 
ticket that would if elected give abundant satisfaction; declared that every 
municipal 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 
subscription 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 
government, 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 demoralized 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 municipal 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 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 industry 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. 
Manuel 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, 
inefficiency 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 government; advocated a comprehensive policy of public improvement 
and the issuance of bonds; pledged that the library building should be furnished 
in a suitable 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 
republicans, one independent republican and six municipal leaguers. The 
municipal league secured a majority of the library trustees.
 
VOTE FOR MAYOR, 1901
 
Barstow (R )        2,944         London (S D.)      247
Manuel (M. L.)    2,808         Davie (Indp )      2,471
English (D.)            982         Shorkley (Pro.)        60
 
        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 
regular 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 
elections, 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 
operation 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. 
Republicans, 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 republican 
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 candidacy 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 convention held in Grand Army 
hall on August 20th. The democratic county convention 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 
county." He recalled Doctor Pardee's withdrawal four years before, permitting 
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 Pardee 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 517½, Flint 
238½, 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, Senator 
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 organized 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 
committee 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 
candidate for Governor. Victor H. Metcalf was Congressman and Frank C. Jordan 
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 
appointments 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 Company 
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 population. 
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 
democrats, 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 
dominated 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, 
presumably 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 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 
ownership 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 betterment. 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 principle. 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 termination 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 eloquently 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 
considered 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.
        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 candidates 
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.
        Why, it was asked, did Oakland elect the existing city administration on 
a platform of civic improvement and then defeat the means that would enable them 
to accomplish that result. The two years for which they were elected would 
expire in March, 1905, and so far they had accomplished nothing of moment in the 
line or their pre-election pledges. As a matter of fact the education of the 
masses had not progressed far enough to enable them to see the importance of the 
reforms so earnestly presented for their consideration and for their betterment.
        The water question dominated the Oakland municipal election in the 
spring of 1905. As a whole the former mayor and council had given a satisfactory 
administration, but Mayor Olney refused a renomination. Second to the water 
question was that of public improvements, among which was the problem of 
beautifying the city which had advanced materially in 1904, largely under the 
influence of the women. In order that all factors of city growth should advance 
proportionately a progressive and broad minded mayor and council were needed.
        The republican municipal convention met at Dewey theater was spirited 
and enthusiastic and named a full ticket. Dr. Frank L. Adams served as chairman. 
The platform endorsed the appointment of Victor H. Metcalf for Secretary of 
Commerce and Labor; commended the course of George C. Perkins in the United 
States Senate; endorsed the administration of Governor Pardee; expressed 
appreciation of the efforts of Joseph Knowland to secure an appropriation of 
$250,000 for the Oakland harbor; pledged the nominees to do all in their power 
to bring the water issue to a successful conclusion, to prevent an excessive 
charge for water rates and to secure the issuance of bonds for the equipment of 
a municipal water supply; and further pledged an economical administration, the 
right of way for a sewer along Cemetery creek, the establishment of the 
boundaries of Lake Merritt, and favored the completion of the boulevard around 
Lake Merritt and the improvement of the parks between Eight and Twelfth streets 
at West Oakland and Bushrod park and Independence square. Frank K. Mott was 
nominated for mayor by Ben. F. Woolner. Then the nomination was closed and the 
clerk was instructed to cast the ballot of the convention for Mr. Mott, which 
was done. In a short speech he said, "If I am elected I shall stand for an 
administration of honesty, of decency and of progress, and an administration in 
harmony with the principles of the republican party." Later a sensation was 
caused by the withdrawal of the nominee for city treasurer. On the same day the 
prohibitionists nominated for mayor, T. H. Montgomery. A striking plank in their 
platform stated the yearly water rate in Oakland was $578,351, while the cost of 
liquor consumed here exceeded $1,000,000. The socialists nominated Jack London 
the novelist, for mayor. The platform stated that the party favored the 
interests of the working class in antagonism to the interest of the exploiting 
class; "that the present municipal ticket is administered solely in the 
interests of the exploiting class in direct antagonism to the interest of the 
working class and is therefore administered so as to subserve the interests of 
the capitalists and the large holders of property." The guiding rule of conduct 
of the party candidates was—Will the municipal measures under consideration 
advance the interests of the working class and aid the workers in the class 
struggle against capitalism?
        The political campaign of 1906 was spirited, befogging and confusedly 
educational. Tickets were placed in the field by the republicans, democrats, 
union labor party, independent league, socialists and the army and navy league. 
In the campaign County Assessor H. P. Dalton filed his petition as an 
independent candidate for the office of assessor, the document containing 11,321 
names when only 827 were required under the law; 1,493 were from Berkeley, where 
his opponent resided.
        The vote of Alameda county for Governor in 1906, was as follows: Gillett 
(R.), 11,029; Bell (D.), 6,561; Lewis (Soc.), 1,922; Blanchard (Pro.), 561; 
Langdon (Ind. L.), 7,725; scattering, 10. Joseph R. Knowland, republican 
candidate for member of Congress, received 15,503, the next highest being 4,415.
        After his defeat at the primary election for the republican nomination 
for mayor, George E. Randolph accepted a nomination for the same place from the 
union labor party. The platform of this party favored a new city hall, 
improvements of streets and the sewer system, public ownership of public 
utilities, particularly the water proposition, inducements for home industries, 
appointment of a building inspector, employment of home labor to be given the 
preference with an eight-hour day, arbitration between employers and employes, 
preference of United States soldiers for public employment, reduction of present 
tax rate, and approved the acts of the officials nominated by the union labor 
party at the last municipal election and pledged support to the Polytechnic high 
school.
        The municipal league favored accepting the water proposition offered by 
the Bay Cities Water Company for $3,750,000; approved the action of the council 
in submitting to the voters the question of the issuance of such bonds; 
advocated the formation of a consolidated city and county government including 
the adjacent cities if they were willing; invited the entry of new and competing 
railroads and of new industries and commercial enterprises; favored the 
exclusion of saloons from the residence districts; pledged the nominees to fight 
to the court of last resort if necessary the Contra Costa Company water suits; 
approved the action of the council in fixing water rates and in opposing the 
litigation begun by the water company and ended with the following plank: We 
still insist on the prosecution to final judgment of the suit begun by the 
officials nominated by us in which the city had recovered a judgment restoring 
to it the water front from a corporation which so long controlled it under claim 
of ownership to the great detriment of the city's commercial growth, and we 
pledge our nominees for mayor, city attorney and city council to continue the 
prosecution until the final establishment of the city's rights thereto. The 
ticket nominated by the league was largely identical with that of the 
republicans and of the democrats, both naming Mr. Mott for mayor. The campaign 
was full of life and variety. Early in March, 1905, John L. Davie announced 
himself an independent candidate for mayor and favored particularly a tax that 
should not exceed $1, the great improvement of the streets and parks and strict 
economy. At the city election two days later the following was the result. For 
mayor—Mott (R., D., and M. L.), 5,562; Davie (Indp.), 3,217; Randolph (U. L.) 
1,803; London (Soc.), 915; Montgomery (Pro.) 129. A large majority of the 
successful candidates were republicans. The new administration was pledged to 
non-partisanship. The large vote for Mr. Davie proved his popularity with the 
low tax people.
        At the republican primaries in August, 1906, the entire 
delegation—seventy­six—were solid for the renomination of Governor Pardee. The 
republican county convention in 1906 approved the passage of the rate bill by 
Congress, commended the action of the Government against trusts, thanked the 
world for assistance "to our beloved city of San Francisco in her hour of dismay 
and distress," pledged remedial legislation to help that stricken city, 
expressed the opinion that the great influx of Japanese and other Asiatic 
laborers was a greater evil than that which induced the people to demand and 
secure the passage of the Chinese exclusion law and urged a similar law for the 
exclusion of Japanese and other kinds of Asiatic labor, favored a tenement house 
law, recognized the rights of both labor and capital, asked for an additional 
federal judge for this district, favored a direct primary law, insisted upon a 
law to protect fruit growers and shippers from the exactions of railroads, 
favored the eight-hour law, and advocated a continuance of the work to improve 
all dairy products. The labor party in 1906 named a full ticket, favored the 
eight-hour law and anti-injunction law, favored raising the age limit for 
working children, endorsed the candidates of the independence 
league—particularly endorsed W. H. Langdon for Governor and endorsed, also, many 
nominees of the republican county convention. The democrats in 1906 nominated a 
full ticket, endorsed the high aims and purposes of organized labor, favored 
economy in county affairs and endorsed many of the nominees on other tickets. At 
the primaries January 29, 1907, four municipal league and democratic factions 
were developed. The primary election showed that the public improvements 
undertaken were endorsed by the voters and was an assurance of the adequate 
expansion of all phases of city development. The large issue of bonds sanctioned 
at the polls proved that at last Oakland could do a little more than pay its 
officers and keep the wolf from the door. At the primaries the administration of 
Mayor Mott was emphatically endorsed by the voters who chose delegates favorable 
to his renomination.
        In February, 1907, the voters' league was organized to promote the 
election to office of honest and able men by means chiefly of the publication of 
the candidate's qualifications, with recommendations to voters, and was not 
designed to make any nomination for office. R. H. Chamberlain was president. In
February, the socialists nominated for mayor, Owen H. Philbrick. In this 
municipal campaign the republicans, democrats, municipal league and labor union 
parties united in the renomination of Mayor Mott. The era of expansion, 
enterprise and progress had dawned, it was joyously admitted by all observers. 
The campaign was without excitement because destitute of contests. The fact was 
that the Mott administration was approved and the republicans were wise enough 
to renominate the leading city officials. The other parties could do no better 
than to endorse the republican ticket, because by so doing they favored a 
satisfactory administration. The vote was as follows: For mayor—Mott (R) 7,239; 
Philbrick (Soc.) 1,234; Daly ( Pro.) 211.
        Early in July, 1908, Taft and Sherman republican clubs were organized in 
all parts of the county and the national candidates were endorsed. An 
enthusiastic rally in Alameda was addressed by Governor Gillett, Congressman 
Knowland, Senator Bates and Representative Otis. As a result of the primaries, 
the republicans placed two Senatorial and seven Assembly candidates in the 
field, all presumably pledged to aid in returning George C. Perkins to the 
United States Senate. The Lincoln-Roosevelt League was signally successful in 
this county, electing 135 out of 225 delegates to the republican county 
convention, but the regulars captured a majority of the delegates to the state 
and congressional conventions. The league endorsed Perkins, Knowland and the 
three superior judge candidates. In September, Eugene V. Debs, socialist 
candidate for President, addressed 3,000 people at the Greek theatre, Berkeley, 
on the principles of socialism. He divided the people into two classes: (1) 
capitalists; (2) thirty million workers. "We stand first for the overthrow of 
wage slavery; all other issues are minor," he declared. The university 
authorities permitted a free discussion of socialism at this time. The Dean 
ballot machine was used throughout Alameda county in 1908  in all 143 machines 
were used. The county owned 150 of the machines, having a number on hand for 
emergencies. As a whole they were satisfactory. The republican county convention 
of August, 1908, was presided over by A. P. Leach. Judges Melvin, Waste and 
Harris were renominated by acclamation. Harmony and enthusiasm prevailed. The 
official conduct of Senator Perkins and Congressman Knowland was endorsed amid 
prolonged cheering. The platform favored liberal appropriations for the state 
university. asked for a modern reformatory institution, advocated the 
prohibition of race­track and other gambling, favored the continued development 
and control of the water front by Oakland, pledged that the nominees for 
superior judges should refrain from active political work while in office; 
favored the election of United States Senators by direct vote, denounced the 
control of the political parties of the state by corporate interests, pledged 
that party candidates should refrain from seeking or accepting corporate favor 
or influence, and favored striking out the five-mile limit of the constitution 
and other legislation so that the people of any section might vote on the 
question of city and county consolidation. The convention named a full county 
ticket.
        The democratic county convention of 1908 met in Germania hall and Clyde 
Abbott served as chairman. The platform adopted as the party slogan, "The People 
shall Rule !" ; pledged the overthrow of boss rule and corporate domination; 
favored legislation by direct vote of the people through the instrumentality of 
the initiative, referendum and recall; pledged action against a United States 
Senator from this state who was dominated by corporate interests; favored the 
election of such official by direct vote; demanded that the judicial ermine 
should be uncontaminated by partisan politics; insisted that school management 
should be non-partisan; favored a modern reformatory; called upon the voters to 
overturn the existing administration of county affairs, which for several years 
had been wasteful, extravagant, and inefficient, the prey of spoilsmen, 
political manipulators and petty bosses, wholly discreditable to an enlightened 
and progressive community; opposed race-track and other gambling devices; 
favored a law permitting county and city consolidation and deprecated the 
entrance of the state university into petty politics. A full ticket was 
nominated. Four or five subordinate conventions were held on the same day—for 
supervisors, Congressmen, etc.
        The republican state convention assembled here on August 27, 1908, and 
nominated ten electors for the national ticket. At the same time hundreds of 
women from all portions of the state also met here to ask the convention for the 
insertion of a suffrage plank in the republican platform. In 1908 the vote of 
Alameda county for president was as follows: republican 21,392; democrat 7,110; 
independence league 723; socialist 3,462; prohibition 608; total county vote 
37,915. It was a sweeping success for the republican national ticket; and the 
success was equally pronounced for Knowland, Representative in Congress, and for 
the three superior judges, Brown, Harris and Waste. Of the seventeen 
constitutional amendments voted on all except two were carried in this county.
        In 1909 the citizens party put a full ticket in the field headed by Dr. 
F. F. Jackson for mayor. This was an independent movement which aimed to secure 
the support of the union labor party and of certain leading political leaders 
who desired a change in city administration for personal reasons. An event of 
the campaign was the public debate of city issues by Mayor Mott and F. F. 
Jackson. Much personality was injected into the campaign. The result of the 
election was the success of all the regular republican nominees—the continuance 
of the old administration in power. Mott (R.) received 8,352 votes; Jackson 
(Ind. C.) 6,045; Barney (Soc.) 542. The Citizens' Municipal League which had 
been in existence for eighteen years heartily approved the platform of the 
republican party in 1909 and favored the reelection of Mayor Mott.
        Never before had the voters and the city administration been in such 
perfect accord as in the years from 1905 to 1909. All problems were solved 
without friction or discord and municipal progress was steady and unexampled. In 
view of this state of affairs the republicans warmly renominated Mayor Mott for 
reelection at the convention held on February 2d. The platform approved the 
efforts of the administration to compel the Southern Pacific Company and all 
other claimants to acknowledge the paramount rights of the city to control and 
regulate the water front and the building of wharves, docks and warehouses 
thereon; pledged the nominees to grant no franchise to the Southern Pacific 
without binding that company to comply with the terms of the "Memorandum of 
proposed agreement with the Southern Pacific Company and the Western Pacific 
Railway Company ;" promised certain improvements on the water front and an 
election to determine as to the issuance of bonds for water front improvement; 
pledged to reserve at least 1,000 feet of water front adjoining the grant to the 
Western Pacific for the use of the city; favored other transcontinental lines; 
pledged to do everything possible to effect a consolidation of city and county 
governments; favored the initiative, referendum and recall; promised a new 
charter under certain conditions; endorsed the course of the administration to 
prevent the outbreak of bubonic plague and other epidemics; asked for a line of 
steamships between Pacific coast ports and the Isthmus of Panama to overcome the 
extortion of transportation companies; pledged a new city hall, garbage 
incinerators, a manual training school building, the improvement of parks, the 
dredging of Lake Merritt, a salt water pumping plant, and the establishment as 
soon as convenient of a municipal water supply; called attention to the fact 
that notwithstanding the large extra expense for improvements, the tax rate of 
or 1908-09 was the lowest for over ten years, and approved the improvement of 
the leading streets.
        In its platform the republican county convention in August, 1910, 
pledged support to Hiram Johnson for Governor, congratulated the party upon the 
enactment of the direct primary law, advised a statewide advisory vote on United 
States Senator, pledged better court procedures, favored the segregation of 
first offenders and young prisoners from the old and hardened criminals and 
declared for a reduced county tax rate. The democratic county convention met in 
Germania hall late in August, and named a full ticket. The platform denounced 
the so-called revision of the tariff, called attention to the statements of 
Hiram Johnson that the republican party had been the corrupt and willing 
instrument of predatory corporations; declared that county taxes were 
unnecessarily high and that extravagance marked every department of the county 
government; demanded therefore a change of administration and recommended 
Theodore A. Bell for Governor. At the November election the entire republican 
senatorial and assembly ticket was reelected; all of the county officials were 
reelected by handsome majorities. Johnson was chosen Governor by a large 
majority, the vote on gubernatorial candidates in this county being as follows: 
Johnson (R.), 15,826; Bell (D.), 9,821; Wilson (Soc.), 5,743; Meads (Pro.), 610. 
Joseph R. Knowland was reelected to Congress by a majority of over 20,000 votes. 
The total vote in the county was 35,692. The total vote at the previous August 
primaries was 33,352. The vote in November, 1908, was 37,915.
        In March, 1911, the various republican leagues throughout the city 
endorsed the candidacy of Mayor Mott for reelection. The business men organized 
a Mott Club, passed favorable resolutions and entered upon the campaign with 
great enthusiasm. The socialists met in convention and nominated Thomas Booth 
for mayor. Miss Anna F. Brown was endorsed for school director in District No. 
5. F. F. Jackson was again a candidate for the mayoralty chair. In a strong 
speech he declared that the present administration had vigorously opposed the 
adoption of the new charter and that therefore they were not the ones to be 
given the power to determine its success or failure. But there was a prevailing 
sentiment that the charter was in reality secondary in importance to the 
campaign of municipal improvement which had been inaugurated and made thus far 
so splendidly successful by the administration of Mayor Mott. Many saw that the 
election of either Mr. Jackson or Mr. Booth would mean retrogression from the 
progressive influences and stimuli that the people had endorsed and already had 
learned to admire and love. The real issue of the election was, should the 
progressive policy be abandoned ? Herbert C. Chivers was an independent 
candidate for mayor. His platform was "for all the people all the time." He did 
not believe that the existing administration should be given another four-year 
hold on the city. There was intense interest in the election in May. All felt 
there was a chance that Mayor Mott would not be reelected. The heavy vote for 
Booth and Jackson at the primaries proved that his return to power was by no 
means certain. The heavy vote polled early in the day showed the great interest 
that prevailed. For mayor, Mott received 11,722 votes and Booth, 9,837. A total 
of 22,023 votes was polled—the heaviest ever cast at a municipal election. The 
great strength of the socialists was shown by the returns. However, many votes 
for Mr. Booth were cast by persons disaffected with the Mott administration and 
not by socialists altogether. The Seventh ward gave Booth a majority. The first 
nominating election under the new charter was held on April 18, 1911, with the 
following result: For mayor: Mott, 8,944; Booth, 5,937; Jackson, 5,497; Chivers, 
153; Miller, 57; Leidecker, 52. Miss Brown was chosen director by a large 
majority. At this time Mrs. Elinor Carlisle was reelected a member of the 
Berkeley board of education.
        At the Alameda election in 1911, Mayor W. H. Noy was reelected over G. 
H. Fox and S. Miller by a substantial plurality. At the primaries in April, 
1911, J. Stitt Wilson was chosen the socialist mayor of Berkeley against B. L. 
Hodghead by the vote of 2,749 to 2,468. Mr. Hodghead was the first mayor under 
the new charter and was thus signally defeated by one who stood on the platform 
of constructive municipal socialism. During the campaign he advocated the public 
ownership of public utilities, and in addition other socialistic measures. The 
charter of Berkeley, as well as that of Oakland, was largely socialistic, or at 
least, revolutionary and unique in municipal procedure. Mr. Wilson had the 
support of the university which was broad enough and progressive enough to 
accept the changes in civic affairs demanded by culture and advancement. Colonel 
Roosevent in his recent speech at the Greek theater had emitted his views on 
modern progressive problems and contentions and added much to the already strong 
spirit of iconoclasm in municipal and other public affairs that prevailed in 
that city and that university. This course did not mean anarchy nor even 
disorder, but meant new views and broader principles in the promotion of public 
welfare. Many persons could see little short of ruin and anarchy in the Berkeley 
program.
        The primary election of September, 1912, gave the Roosevelt-Johnson 
combination control of the republican state convention and assured the 
progressive electors a place on the November ticket and forced the Taft electors 
to petition for that privilege. At the primaries the vote for congressman was: 
Knowland (R.), 23,621; Stetson (Prog.), 11,685; Luttrell (D), 1,951; Wilson 
(Soc.), 2,528. Judges Donahue and Ogden were selected by large majorities for 
reelection to the bench. Crosby and Strobridge were returned to the Senate. 
Supervisors Mullins, Foss and Murphy were also successful.
        At the republican county convention in September, the progressives had a 
majority of the delegates and hence controlled the proceedings. Dr. H. B. 
Mehrmann was elected chairman. The committee on resolutions were C. E. Snook, W. 
C. Clark and Mrs. J. N. Porter, chairman of the Woman's Good Government League. 
Upon motion of Mr. Snook the following resolution was adopted by acclamation: 
"That this convention recognizes Theodore Roosevelt and Hiram W. Johnson as the 
rightful republican nominees for President and Vice President respectively and 
urges the republican nominees for the Assembly, the State Senate and the hold 
over State Senators from this county as members of the republican state 
convention to support republican electors who will if elected, vote for Theodore 
Roosevelt for President and Hiram W. Johnson for Vice President." The convention 
ratified all of the nominees of the primaries. Many citizens of the county went 
to San Francisco to hear Theodore Roosevelt speak September 14th. The democratic 
county convention was held in Berkeley with J. J. McDonald in the chair. By 
decision of the state supreme court in October, the Taft electors were denied a 
place on the November ballot. Stephen J. Sill of Berkeley was one of the 
democratic electors; he polled the highest vote, 24,426. The republican state 
convention, on September 25th, by a vote of 14 to 88, nominated thirteen 
presidential electors pledged to vote for Roosevelt and Johnson for President 
and Vice-President respectively. The convention divided and named two tickets. 
William Jennings Bryan addressed a large meeting at Freeman's park on September 
25th. The Alameda county vote on the consolidation amendment was: for it, 
16,908; against it, 41,339. The Roosevelt electors received 31,542 votes; Wilson 
electors, 24,426; Debs electors, 9,332; Chapin electors, 1,163. Knowland 
defeated Watson, the socialist candidate, by the vote of 35,219 to 26,234, with 
4,035 to Luttrell, democrat.