The morning call., 1891-07-08
ANNUAL ELECTION.
The California Pioneers Select
New Officers.
Overwhelming Success of the Opposition
Ticket-The Amendment to the Con-
stitution Defeated.

The annual election CT the Society of
California Pioneers was held yesterday,
and the neighborhOod of the Pioneers
Building from o'clock in the morning to
in the evening looked like the scene of a
primary election.
There were two tickets in the field, the
Regular ticket and the Progressive Oppose
ton ticket. 1t was a question of measures.
not men. however, and the fight waxed
hottest round a proposed amendment to the
constitution.
The existing organic law permits a ma
jorty OF the Board of Directors to amend
or alter any bylaws, and their action stands
! good unless over-ruledby two-third vote Of
the society. This. the opposition claim, is
law contrary to all sound democratic prin-
ciple. An amendment to the constitution
has accordingly been moved, by Nathaniel
! Holland, providing that no alteration shall
be made IN the bylaws unless authorized
| by a twC-third vote of the society, and that
no vote shall be taken on points effecting
the constitution except at the annual meet
ing OF the society, ami as a further change,
prohibiting the Directors from spending
more than the annual Income of the society
during the year.
AN OLD FIGHT.
The question is an old one and the Pioneers
have discussed it and voted upon il more
than once Last year the vexed amend
ment reused some feeling, but after a strong
canvass only obtained q bare majority, and
not the requisite tWo-thirds.
Again the fight has been made on the
same lines, and again 1t is probable that the
proposed change has been defeated. The
poll on this point had not been cuun ted last
evening, but il was estimated that the
amendment had no chance Of the requisite
majority.
The Pioneers were in earnest about this
question, and every means was used to
drum up the Indifferent voters. Strings of
hacks were drawn up in Pioneer place all
day and were kept busy driving in search of
the members who were supposed TO be luke
warm.
Samuel Daniels was early on the ground,
buttcnhollng every one who appeared OIL
foot Or in carriage ana pressing on them the
virtues OF the men on the regular ticket
and the vices of the proposed amendment.
Fred Lux, A. w. Won Schmidt, Edward
L. Chever and others were buSiiy pedding
tickets in the opposite interest. II was the
Initiation fee, they urged, that they wished
to see changed, and the present article of
the constitution stood in the way.
HOW THE NEW RULE WORKS.
The effect Of the new rule passed some
time ago, which raised the initiation fee to
Sl10, had been that four members had
joined during the last year. This they
wanted TO reduce to the old sum of SO, and
democratic basis.
But the appeals to leveling feelings seem
to have proved imperative. The opposition
ticket is carried in the main, but the amend
ment is regarded as having little Chance.
If there had been difference of opinion
| during the day it was all forgotten at the
| annual banquet, which followed the struggle
of the day. Old friends reminded one an
| other of by-gone experiences. and agreed to
| differ on the merits OF particular candidates
! Pleasant speeches were made at the close
| by Presden. Montgomery. c. r. Ryland,
| Colonel Won Schmidt and others, and the
time of waiting for the announcement of
the vote was tiGed over by AL informal con-
! cert, hastily got up by tue younger members
| Of the society.
THE SUCCESSFUL TICKET.
! 1t was close upon ii o'clock when Vice
| President {. L. RyIands mounted the stand
| aud announced the result of the days poll
| as follows; L. L. Baker, President; George
| III. Rogers, Fred Lux, c. Z. Rylands, Henry
! Matthews ard William NJ Eddy, Vice
| Presidents, and Alexander Montgomery,
Augustus E. Phelps, John p. Boring Chris
| tian Refs, Edward Z. Chavez, john Night
| ingale Jr., L. b. Jerome, hebar \. rllden
and c. Y. 5. Gibbs. Directors; Howard
| Ravens, Treasurer; Ezekiel B. Vreelaud,
| Mars hal.
! The result is an almost clean sweep for the
| opposition ticket. Only three of the regu-
| lar ticket nominees-E. 3. Jerome, Heber
| y. Tilden and c. Y. S. Gibbs-were elected.
| The total number of votes cast was $50.