The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-26
THE CALIFORNIA ELECTION.

| The California election for members of q
constitutional convention was undoubtedly
the most important of the year, since it
turned almost wholly upon those great ques-
tions of capital, labor and monopolies, that
are daily forcing themselves more and more
to the front in politics. The contest was, from
| the very first, q contest between the moneyed
and the working classes. In this fight the
older parties were altogether lost sight of, as
is shown by the fact that out Of 152 delegates
only eight are Democrats and only twenty
Republicans.
AS soon as the property and mon
eyed class saw the strength of the working
mems organization they began to organize
themselves against it, and a non-partisan
ticket was placed In the field
1t was charged by all the other parties that
this non-partisan party If such bull can be
used was an organization OF the monopolies
and grant corporations of the State In last
despairing struggle for life. However that be,
their platform was q good one. 1t forbade
monopolies OF all kinds; prohibited the State
leasing any Of It's franchises: demanded self
government for the various cities and towns;
insisted on equal taxation, and the taxation of
all kinds OF property; forbade the State or
any county, municipality or town making a
loan of it's credit, OF granting any subsidy, or
running into debt; prohibited fees or increase
OF salary, and lastly, protested against Chi
nese immigration.
Or the Workingmen's platform it may be
said thati it was much milder than the speeches
Of Kearney and his pals would warrant; it de-
manded an eight hour law; forbids the en-
ployment Of convicts in the penitentiary;
wanted the President elected by direct vote
Of the people; education made compulsory,
etc
The other parties in the field besides the
straightout Democrats and Republicans were
the anti Kearneyites, offshoots from the
Workingmens party, but in bitter opposition
to that party; the National Union" organize
ton, sort of Native American, Know-Noth-
ing fabric and the "Crescents," purely Native
American, with the spice of anti athC licism
thrown in.
A New York Herald correspondent, who
was present in San Francisco for some weeks
previous to the election, predicted the success
of the Workingmens party. Strange to say,
he found some OF the very best people in the
pleased at this prospect. They all agreed that
some change was wanted in California; that
it was absolutely necessary that the monopo-
lies of the State that were grinding down the
people should be crushed out Of existence, and
this, they declared, could only be thoroughly
and effectually accomplished by the Working
mems party. Both of the older organizations
had been 50 affiliated and allied with these
monopolies that their hands were tied COM
pletely, and they were unable to blot out
these evils, for which they themselves were
In large part responsible. The evils that
the people Of California have suffered from
corporation rule cannot be exaggerated In
no part of the world is property more IN
equally distributed; the entire State rail-
roads, mines and lands, Is owned by some
hundred millionaires. It is no unusual thing
for q man to own several hundred thousand
acres of land, and these lands he will refuse to
sell, holding them for higher prices. The
State OF California consists, therefore, of a
hundred or 50 millionaires and grant corpora
lions, and large body of workingmen, vir-
tually their slaves.
These corporations have for years controlled
the politics of the Pacific slope, elected Sena-
tors and Governors. II the Democratic party
offended them, they assisted the Republicans
with their votes and elected Republican
State ticket. If the Republicans refused any
request, their votes were transferred to the
Democrats and Democratic administration
installed.
1t is no wonder therefore, that the mass of
the people Of California should have given
their aid to the Workingmen's party. 1t Is
true that the leaders of this party are Com
munists and threaten many foolish things,
but the people Of California saw no other es-
cape from the iron rule of the monopolies,
and decided to risk the danger and hand the
State over to the Workingmen, convinced that
they could not fare worse than they are faring
to-day under the rule of monopolies.