The San Francisco call., 1896-02-05
An Answer to the Insolent AS.
sertion That Only Sand
lotters Are Opposed.
IDENTIFICATION OF TRAITORS.
Southern Pacific Hirelings Are Played
and the Peoples Champions
Applauded.

struck C.P. Huntington blow full in the
face in return for his insolent assertion
that "none but sandlotters oppose the
funding BILL" Notwithstanding the her.
culean efforts of the paid emlssaries of
the octopus 80 prevent the attendance of
business men, by cajolery, promises and
threats, the town hall was filled tonight
by large and enthusiastic audience of
representative citizens to protest against
the passage of a measure that will put
chattel mortgage upon the productive in
terests of this section for the next fifty
years.
R. R. Fimple, one of the Oldest and
most prominent farmers in this vicinity,
called the meeting to order, and General
John Bidwell and Hon. Allen Henry were
chosen, respectively, president and secre-
tary. The list of presidents embraced
a large number of men prominent in pro-
fessional and business circles.
After the applause which greeted Gen.
eral Bidwell's taking the chair had sub
sided the "old pioneer of AZ" proceeded to
arraign the railroad for the arbitrary, in
solent and corrupt methods which had
ever characterized its conduct. Being one
of the largest shippers in the State, each
verbal blow fell with telling effect and was
received by tumultuous applause. At the
conclusion of the general address the fol-
lowing resolutions were presented and
adopted by a rising vote.
WHEREAS, The industrial and producing
classes OF this State are now engaged in a death
struggle with agigantfc railroad monopoly in
an effort to break the chains that have bound
them for quarter OF a century, and whereas,
\ Sc III
gress will but more firmly rivet the bonds upon
an impoverished and almost helpless people !;
therefore,b be it
Resolved That the. people of Chico and vi
cinity, il mass-meeting assembled, do most
earnestly and unanimously protest against the
passage of any funding bill or any measure of
similar character which will enable the South
ern Pacific Railroad Company to evade the
settlement of its just debts, by imposing upon
the people OF California the burden of their
payment;
That the present is, in all human probable
ity, the last opportunity the people of this
State will have to free themselves from the
bondage of this gigantic monopoly, which now
threatens to take possession of the very Gov
ernment itself, and make of us its servile vas
sails for all time;
That the enormous and ill-gotten gains
realized from the construction and operation
of the railroad, which have been diverted from
their proper channels into the pockets of
Hun tington and his fellow-conspirators, to-
gether with the present assets of the company,
are vastly more than sufficient to cancel the
claims of the Government, and we demand
that foreclosure be made upon them, and not
upon the properties OF the oppressed and
plundered people of this State;
That we note with pride the manly and hon.
est stand taken by Senators Perkins and White
and a majority of our Congressional delega-
tion against the passage of the iniquitous and
infamous funding bill;
That to Mayor Sutro and the Committee of
Fifty of San Francisco we are deeply indebted
for their determined opposition to an insolent,
corrupt corporation and its superserviceable
tools;
That to the San Francisco CALL and the San
Francisco Examiner and all other loyal news
papers which, in the interests of the people,
are waging relentless war against an arrogant
and unscrupulous enemy of the State we ex-
tend the right hand of fellowship and bid
them God speed in their noble work;
That Hon. John c. Gray, Superior Judge of
Butte County, voiced the sentiment of this
county when he said: ''The pocket of every
open friend of the railroad funding bill con-
tains railroad pass''
That words fail us to express our condemna-
tion and detestation of any newspaper which
tempts to place this community in false po-
sition upon the subject of the railroad funding
bill;
That copy OF these resolutions be forwarded
to the California delegation in Congress.
The resolutions were adopted amid great
applause and the meeting adjourned WI tn
cheers for THE CALL, Senators Perkins and
White, Mayor Sutro and General Bidwell.