The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-04
REFORM DEMOCRACY'S SAY.
An Address to the Voters of the
City and County.
A Demand for Reformation of the Judicial sys.
tem-Nominees for Judicial and Leeisla-
tive Offices to Be Scrutinized.

tive Offices to Be Scrutinized.
The County Committee of the Reform De-
mOcracy met last night at 420 Montgomery
street. Charles J. Swift presided. The
following address ID the voters of the city
and county Of San Francisco was adopted
FefloW citizens: Two years ago the ranks of
honest voters 10 the Democratic party. snamed,
oellauueu ana degraded beyond endurance,
called inns ORGANIZATION into existence The pur-
poses Tor which the orgauiZai ion was created
were no temporary ones. Fraud. corruption,
license, Violence and misgovernment in every
form we've entTenebed In our city. he true
voice OF the Democratic party was strangled /;
our legislative r. representatives. were but tools /;
our tribunals OF justice afforded no ADEQUATE
refug against many wrongs. A conspiracy of
the West elements of the community, more pow
eiiHl 1nan any OF the Ike ever seen, led by a
bosN more skillful and dangerous than any OF
his ioui predecessors in American politics. held
possession Oh tue reins OF municipal govern
ment, ana had ruled our city with relentless des-
potism for years. To uproOt aud destroy this
conspiracy was task before which tile strongest
might we'll hesitate; to imagine that the WORK
could be accomplished short OF long wears OF
struggle might well seem political dream.
THE UNDERTAKING.
Notwithstanding The magnitude OF this UNDER
taxing the reform Democracy entered UPON it
teariesSly. And II undertook more. 1t declared
ln It's addresses To the people of this city, not
dIOne mat II was determined, Will their aid,
utterly 10 destroy the Buckley machine, but that
IL would pursue lis purposes until no political Or
ganZation could dare TO exist which should have
methods.
Any attempted reorganization OF the Demo
cratlc party which seeks immunity for practices
as accountable rs those under The old r. gme is
not 10 be tolerated. Such examples are vicious
ana demoraliZlDg In proportion TO the would be
lespeela6i!ity OF the agencies and authorities
uDuer whose sanction these things being
0ohe' III instead OF prudence IN The manage
ment OF the primaries prevention il inaugurated
in order 10 defeat fair and Just party REPRESENTA-.
lion In the selection of delegates. a packed and
Ioiestalled municipal and judicial convention
Will be the Inevitable result. Such dose Will be
ike some mean aud nauSeatng libaIion from a
ruined urn.
BUCKLEY HAS BEEN DESTROYED.
Inc Reform Democracy with jastifiable pride
reminds The people of san Francisco that the
nrSt part OF The task has been accomplished.
buckley has been destroyed. His lambs have
been scattered aud even The powerful mOnopO-
llsts' VINO so long employed him for their cor
lupi ends, and who so long audaciOHsiy scOrned
Tie opinion OF decent men, tremble with the
dread OF inn ending just ice.
lie Reform Democracy asks no rewards for
its members. IL Is not organized TO forward the
private ends OF ambitious men, but 10 crystalline
honest principles into sound measures in such
wise as To prevent for all time the foul growth OF
boss machine politicians and cOrruptonists
WIN Which our CITY has been long cursed
UDlll This work has been fully accomplished
neither the Reform Democracy nor the people OF
san L francisco can pause In the pursuit of the
purposes for which the Reform Democracy
came into being.
Nor is the Reform Democracy an association
OF mere political partsans, unable 10 recognize
honest purposes In those diff rug from them IN
FEDERAL politics. Its aims are 10 redeem from
vice and iDyig0fat- with honest life he munich
pal government of San Francisco and The legis-
lailVe representation Of san Francisco al Sacra-
mento.
THE NEW BALLOT ACT.
Under The new ballot act separate tickets are
provided by the State for Presidential electors,
- mo q
going their distinctive allegiance IN national
politics. viii have an opportunity of uniting for
The ELECTION oil capable aud honest officers IN the
city and State. Measures, and not men"
are The aims of the Reform Democracy;
but In the pursuit of lasting meas
uies the Reform Democracy must have
tile AID OF honest and capable men; must see
Tor and support Them; must recognize them
Wherever they may be found The Reform
Democracy has no selfish design 10 thwart the
honest ambition OF any capable man. TO be as
su'ed OF candidates ~ incipies beforehand, TO
be certain Of bis character aud capacity was one
oIthe primal purposes oil It's being, and this pur-
rose The Reform Democracy viii continue 10
pursue regardless OF all considerations that do
not Affect local good government. The Reform
Democracy Is, therefore, determined. II II shall
have occasion 10 disttust the character. pacity
OF principles OF any candidate offered by any
municipal parry, 10 select fof Itself such 4 candi-
date la Ills place as shall, In its opinion. be
worthy 10 engage In the struggle for good gov
eminent
PRESENT DESIGNS.
To this declaration cf It, attitude toward can
ddaies OF other organizations the Reform De.
mocTacy adds flank statement Of its present de-
signs: he Australian ballot law must be re-
stored 10 tie pure form In which II was pre-
sented Tor enactment 10 the last Legislature.
The people OF SAu Francisco should not forget
that the schemiDg and corrupt clique OF machine
politicians that ruled in th I Legislature en-
deavored, by amendments OF one form or an-
other, TO destroy the force aud effect OF the
original ballot bill as submitted for enactment,
and actually succeeded IN inserting amendments,
which. II no. eApunged, will perpeIuate machine
M a "A
number OF cuIZens Gas was provided IN the
original BID must possess the power 10 make In
dependent nominations or else the power of the
machine politician IN municipal affairs will not
be entirely destroyed.
But here Is greater work yet to be done. The
luulclal system OF the Stale demands complete
reformation. Without thoroughly able aud eu-
tlrely independen judiciary there IS no safety In
democratic government.
ARBITRARY POWER.
In every government arbitrary power to some
extent must b. reposed somewhere. Under the
American system Of government Ii Is reDOsed In
the judiciary III the judiciary be not intelligent
and independent no law that the people may
enact Will b OF any force or effect Ign ORANGE
on the part OF the Judges no less thar ofrupt
purposes may defeat the legislative intent.
Constitutional provisions may b. distorted by
ignorant or corrupt judges aud made To destroy
the most wholesome laws. Popular rights no
less than individual rights may be destroyed or
FILTERED away by the courts, whether acting in
ignorance or with unworthy designs, aud under
our system OF government there will remain no
remedy but bloOdShed. Neither ballot laws, city
charters. laws to restrain the exior,on OF rail-
road corporations nor laws OF any Kind, though
demanded ever so unanimously and enacted ever
so carefully. Will possess The slightest efficacy
unless the judicial officers OF the Stale quail
ned and willing TO enforce them.
THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
Therefore The Reform Democracy regards the
reformation of the judicial system As the most
urgent. essential and immediate purpose OF It's
existence.
To accomplish its present ends the Reform
Democracy conSe queaily must specially scru-
llnize Tie nominees Tor legislative offices and
the nominees for the judicial Offices within the
city and county OF San Francisco. IL requires
from every honest voter his aid in his under
taking. II will examine with the most Jealous
eye every nomination made by every party organ
iZatlon and viii demand from the nominees
unqualined evidence or their principles aud
capacity. but especially will Ii exert itself to
tbwart every effort TO foist upon the people
incompetent or venal men for The vital functions
OF judicial and legislative otfic rs.
CHARLES j. SWIFT.
Chairman OF the County Committee Of The Regu-
lar Democratic Reform Party. of the city and
county of San Francisco.
JOHN Il. CARTLAND. Secretary.
TUE InXkI