The morning call., 1892-10-17
THE PURPOSE OF THE NON PAR
TISANS.

The magnificent mass-meeting of the Non
Partisans on Friday was not only enormous
in numbers but the qualify Of the people
who were present was striking. The great
mass of the working mechanics and the
small pr0peF.y-0 wneTs were there. aud their
interest was such that Barclay Henley could
hardly complete his speech for the repeated
rounds of applause. His hearers were evil
IDENTIFY in earnest. and their white heat viii
probably not cool before the Sth OF Novem-
Der. The meeting was q crushing answer
TO those who accuse San Franciscans of in
civsm.
How profoundly it has terrified the lead
ers of the Old parties may be inferred from
the groans OF their newspaper organs.
Mike de Young splutters ia frenzy and calls
Mr.. Henley ''windbag," a 'demag0gue"
and a 'blatnersklte." His little satellite.
the Post, tells Henley to 20 to a place I'M
mentionable. The former announces that
the Non Partisan movement is mere at
tempt to upset the Republicans for the ben
eft of the Democrats; this will be agreeable
news to the Democracy. whose members.
though less blatant In their denunciation Of
the movement than CrimmiGs and Kelly,
nevertheless are grooming in spirit The
little evening sheet says OF movement
which is in part led by such stalwart Repub-
licans as Claus Spreckels, Percy Beamish,
Irving II. Scott and Mr.. Ebert, that 1t Is a
fresh outcrop OF the spirit of secession, and
that people must be fools or towards" to
stand it. All which shows how deeply the
iron has entered into the soul Of the old
party politician and how distinctly he reads
the handwriting on the wall.
The meeting Of October II will pass into
history as one OF the turning points in the
city's annals. 1t was an expression OF a
long pent up revolt against the domination
of corrupt political bosses. It was not a
movement against either political party. as
the Chronicle we'll knows, but against both.
The revolt had been long fermenting. For
many years good citizens chafed at having
to vote tickets which were made by either
Buckley or Higgins, and at taking part In
elections which, however they turned out,
put the robbers on top. and the taxpayers
at the bottom. a fortuitous c0ncourse OF
happy accidents preclpitated the downfall
of Buckley; Higgins died. but even worse
men than be stepped into his shoes. What
were honest citizens to do? Was it best
that those among them VINO were Republl-
cans should 60 on voting the Kelly and
CrimmIns ticket, and that those of them who
were Democrats should go on voting ticket
which was constructed by ex-lieutenants OF
Buckley? They thought not. And while
they were hesitating. the politicians broke
the camePs back by putting forward for
Senator the most incapable, the most obi
Gus. the most corrupt man in the State.
This man was put forward by the gang
who called themselves Republicans. But
| it was noticed that the organ of the Democ-
racy has never had a word to say against
| him, and those who are familiar with the
methods OF city politicians not unnaturally
| inferred that the Examiner was under bonds
| to give to De Young its tacit support In re-
| turn for the tacit support which the Ctron-
| icle gave George Hearst in 1887, and that
| both newspapers enjoyed the help Of the
| railroad 1t was this belief, gradually
spreading from mind to mind until it per-
meated the whole community, which rem
dered the organization Of the Non-Partisans
possible. The great mass of taxpayers,
who had ragged al Long regime OF municipal
robbery, who had paid out millions to sup
port CITY Hall boodlers OF both parties, and
who had seen widows and orphans i'm
| proved out of their little property for the
benefit Of the hangers-on around the Street
! Department, broke out into open rebellion
when 1t was purposed to use the combined
political machines to make Nike de Dung
United States Senator from California.
| That was the outrage which broke their
patience down. The Non Partisan party
was the result.
1t is imposing on the common sense Of the
public to say that this movement is aimed
at either party as national political organ
| ization. 1t is aimed at the bosses who have
dragged both parties In the dirt. It's objects
are pure government and honesty in Office.
Is there any citizen except the hoodlum
and the rockefeller, the ballot-box suffer
and the ward bully, who has any other OBJ
iects than these?