The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-31

st, Louis, San Francisco, Los Angeles and
Santa Cruz. The requests were all of the
same tenor, and particularly asked for
printed information regarding the Or
ganization and its objects
The club was organized on the 25th of
January, 1895, by the election of Colonel
George Babcock president; J. G. Wall,
first vice president; Green Majors, second
vice-president; ]. r. Knowland and G. A.
Monteu, secretaries, and Harry Sevening,
treasurer. At the meeting articles of in
corporation were adopted, setting forth
clearly and briefly the objects of the club
and its methods OF political action. The
right to membership was made SO broad
as to include any voter residing in the city
by signing the following declaration:
For the purpose of effecting the nomination
and election of honest and capab bic men to con-
duct our municipal offices, and thereby secur-
ing an economical and clean administration
OF our city government, the undersigned, ire
spective OF former political utilization, hereby
associate ourselves together for these purposes
under the name of the Good Government Club
OF Alameda.
AT the last meeting of the club before
the nominating convention was held the
total membership was 1894 about two
thirds of all the voters of Alameda. 1t is,
therefore, safe to say that never before was
there such a spontaneous movement of
the people of that city for political pur-
poses, nor ever a political club organized
comprising so large number of infiuen-
tlal and progressive citizens. 1t was not
the result of political agitation or excite
ment, but the logical result of the intelli-
gent and deliberate determination of the
people to take control of the primary cleo
tons and place candidates on the munich
pal ticket.
The executive committee, consisting of
one representatives from each of the nine
precincts, prepared alphabetical lists of
all the names and residences of the mem
bers of the club and printed ticket con-
, tanning the names of all the candidates for
nomination. The alphabetical list was
sent to each candidate and each mem Der
of the executive committee.
The arrangements for the convention
were complete. Everything done was in
the open. The nominating convention
was held In Linderman Opera-house be-
tween the hours of 8 and 10 P. NJ. The
body OF the hall was for the use of voters,
and on the stage were arranged six ballot
boxes on tables, at each of which sat two
check clerks and one receiver of ballots
At the first table the check clerks were
furnished with an alphabetical list contain
Ing the names of those commencing with
A, or c, and so on as to the other boxes,
each voting place being conspicuously
marked by letters. In this way the 1894
names were segregated into very nearly
SIX equal divisions, each division having
a separate voting place. On the stage in
the rear of the ballot-boxes were three
judges appointed by the executive commit
tee to whom all questions in dispute were
referred.
The polls closed at 10 o'clock, and at
this time were appointed six additional
members of the election board, one to each
ballot-box, to see that no mistakes were
made IN calling the names from the ticket
to be tailed by the clerks. Each precinct,
so to speak, counted and tailed its votes
separately. When all the precincts We're
thus disposed of the result was entered
upon one general tally-sheet and sum
married, thus giving without any doubt
the honest result of the convention.
The origin of the movement was in the
Veteran Republican Club. 1t has met
with the approval of the citizens of Ala
media, irrespective of party, on account of
its novel solution OF many difficulties.
The expenses of the club were met by
voluntary subscription, as the constitution
especially provides that no assessment
shall be made upon members.