The morning call., 1891-03-28
TRADES FEDERATION.
Delegate Dierkes Reinstated in
the Council.
An Interesting Address Delivered by Ex-
Judge Mcguire on the Ballot Reform
Movement-A Strike Ended.

Federated Trades last night the following
named delegates presented credentials and
were seated: E. w. Robinson, Machine and
Wood workers Union; John d. Nolan, Core
makers Union, No. l; William Manning,
Horse-shoers' Union; j. Lupton and j.
Mckinley, Cooks and Walters Union.
circular issued by the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, asking all labor unions to
assist the c0al-minerS in their demand that
eight hours shall constitute day. work
on and after May 1St, was read and re-
ferred to the Eight-hour Committee
There were shouts of as object" when a
motion was made to readmit D. L. Dierkes,
who was suspended by the council After
his suspension he was tried on the same
charges by his union-Carpenters and
Joiners, No. 304-and given new credentials
as a delegate, and when these were read
motion was made that Dierkes be seated as
a delegate.
TIE COUNCIL is THE RULING BODY.
Vice-President Atkins and others opposed
the motion, claiming that the council is the
proper authority to decide whether Dierkes
was eligible as delegate.
A delegate from the furniture workers
spoke in favor OF admitting Dierkes, stating
that although Dierkes had participated in
the mass-meeting of the troublesome union,
No. ZIG of the Brewery Workmen, it does
not prove that he is an enemy 10 organized
labor. A refusal to admit Dierkes, it was
said, might mean The withdrawal OF several
unions.
Delegate Duudas urged that if there Is
danger Of the withdrawal OF several unions
who support Dierkes, the sooner they with
draw the better for the council. He de-
ciared that Dirrkes is an enemy to organized
labor by reason of his sympathy for a
''seab'' union, and not entitled to seat in
the cOuncl.
Others commended that all proceedings
should be in the interest of harmony and
that no action should be taken 10 antagonize
any union represented in the council.
DIERKEs MAKES A STATEMENT.
Dierkes was given an opportunity TO make
an explanation. He said that he had al
ways endeavored to do his duty by his
union, and the council and he had always
carried out the instructions of his union.
The reason he appeared at the meeting Of
Union No. 10 was to make statement OF
the position of his union in the brewery
workmen's controversy. He had been
kicked out of the council, he said, for en-
deav0ring to do his duty in unfolding
unionism Our union, he stated, land
our members are union men heart and soul
SO far have done only as instructed by the
union. l ask for no mercy, but for justice"
DeleS8l6 uuEuStlH IDdd6 Tue point ludL
the action of Carpenters and Joiners'
Union, No 304, in finding DierkeS not guilty
of the charges against him is sufficient
10 remove any stain upon his integrity. Ii
DlerkeS were not seated the constitution
would be violated.
Alfred Fuhrnun left the chair to renew
his charges against DierkeS, but the III OtiOn
to receive Dierkes' credentials was finally
put to vote and carried by vote OF 35 TO
% SO he was admitted as delegate.
BALLOT REFORM.
EX-Judge J. A. Mcguire was introduced
by Chairman Thurman as THE father OF
ballot reform in California" He made an
interesting address, i'll which lie said:
a little more than two years ago COM
mittee of your honorable body waited upon
me aud requested me to assist it in the
preparation Of bill embodying the prlnci-
pal features of the Australian election laws,
Tor presentation to the California LeglSla-
ture at its session of 1889. Yours was the
first substantial organized effort made to
secure its adoption in California, although
the Single-taX Society had previously en-
gagged in propaganda work in its favor.
Upon suggesting the situation TO Mr.
Leggett, q puOlie-Splrlted citizen and skill
full lawyer, he at once volunteered to assist
III the matter, and, with untiring zeal, de-
voted himself to the work of drafting tue
bill. His draft has been several times since
remOdeled IN most OF It's features, as Sug-
gestions from the general discussion and
subsequent trial of the measure in other
States made such changes 10 appear desira-
Bile, but This bill has ever since its prepare
ton served as the model for all subsequent
bills drafted by the friends OF the Austria
liam ballot system.
Shortly after the approval by your COM
mittee and by your body of the bill thus
drafted, committee was appointed by the
Young Mems Democratic League of Califor-
MIA for the purpose of drafting a similar
the Sfi0D tnat
purposes of both organizations were similar,
the committees were finally directed to con-
fer, and, If thought advisable, to act Jointly
in the revision OF the bill already prepared
and in pressing the adoption thereof before
the Legislature then IN session. A revision,
relating almost entirely 10 details, was
agreed upon by the joint committee and the
bill, as revised, was introduced in both Sem
ate and Assembly ard referred to the Com
mittee on Elections Of each house, and its soon
found two able champions in the Assembly.
viz: James a. Hall of Santa Cruz, Chair
man of the Committee on Elections, and c.
IL. Storke of Santa Barbara.
ITS ADOPTION SECURED.
Through the efforts of these gentlemen,
aided by your committee in Sacramento, |
was accorded Il hearing before the Com
mittee on Elections and had the privilege of
delivering public lecture i'll the Assembly
Chamber, and other advocates of the meas
ure, notably MesSrs. +. l. Vassault and F.
K. Lane of the Young Mems Democratic
League, both of whom worked theoretically
and inteiligently to secure its adoption
were heard in its behalf.
"The committee almost unanimously re-
ported in favor Of the passage of the bill,
and TO the surprise of all it passed the
Assembly by large majority. But certain
politicians throughout the State by prompt
and strenuous efforts secured reconsider
alton and succeeded in having the whole
matter referred to a new Joint Committee
of the Senate and Assembly of which
Senator Roth of TuIare afterward n zeal
GUS advocate of the measure, was made
Chairman.
"a majority of this committee reported in
favor of the bill, but the minority, which
opposed it, recommended the passage of the
measure known as the Story bill, providing
for the Story system of counting ballots in
its stead. The Story bill was passed and
our bill was not permitted to come to vote
again in either house during that session.
But the measure had become popular
among many prominent men throughout the
State and was subject of general dis
cussion. 1t was therefore decided to draft a
new bill for presentation to the late Legis-
lature. The bill having been prepared,
printed and circulated throughout the State
the California State Grange, Patrons of HuS-
bandry, which had appointed committee for
the purpose OF urging election reforms, met
in conference with your committee, and
matters of detail, but which amendments, it
was thought, would make the measure more
acceptable in the rural districts, the bill,
which. throughout the campaign, bore the
Endorsement of the Council of Federated
Trades and the State Grange, was produced
and circulated throughout the entire State
in tens of thousands. But the Republican
State Convention, which met in Sacra-
mento, entirely repudiated the measure.
SUPPORTERS OF THE MEASURE.
''The Democratic State Convention, how
ever. meeting subsequently at San Jose
adopted plank in its platform pledging
the party TO support a measure embracing
all the substantial features of our bill. and
Republicans throughout the State. realizing
that there was genuine popular demand
for the Australian ballot law, their county
and district conventions at once commenced
to repair the error by locally pledging their
candidates to the Legislature TO support it.
1.-The Republicans secured an over