The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
Resolutions of Protest Against
the Appointment Of the
State Delegates.
FOR HARMONY IN ALAMEDA.
Bell, Coyle, Davis and Ellsworth
Appointed Committee of
Conference.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALI
a0S Broadway March 10

Oh uelegateS TO the ptdle convention Dy
the Alameda delegation of the Third Dis
trict Congressional Committee and to de-
mand primaries.
Chairman P. M. Fisher called the meet
ing to order, and in the following speech
outlined the purpose OF the call:
Some three weeks ago there appeared in
local paper statement to the effect that DIR.
George Pardee and Hon. Eli Denison would
contest for the honor of delegate from this
Congressional district to the Republican Ma
tional Convention at st. Louis 1t was further
stated that as both gentlemen had expressed
themselves in favor OF primaries, battle royal
might be expected. This simple announce
ment opened the campaign in Oakland.
Thoughtful, conservative men who considered
the interest OF the party above personal prefer
ence for candidate feared for the resultof the
contest to follow. 1t could only revive men,
Dental year had better be unrecalled. Dr.
Pardee is very Hotspur in the local political
field, daring TO recklessness, a most loved and
most hated man, and of unblemished private
life, fearless in public position.
Senator Denison has been thrice hon
;0na 1red as our to Ma
Tor the unmistakable choice of his
district and the State, white-haired veteran,
whose party fealty has never been questioned,
who has contributed literally TO necessary
campaign expenses, a good neighbor and
kind-hearted man of whom the popular esti-
mate is we'll voiced in the name, "Uncle Eli
The State executive committee met and
passed a resolution leaving the manner of Sc
1ecting delegates to the State Convention to
the Congressional committee OF each district,
declaring in theirreso olution that the delegates,
however chosen, should elect delegates to the
National Convention, and do such other busi-
ness as might properly come before them.
When the six members of the Alameda
County Committee met in Oakland, as duly
advertised, a petition was presented to them,
signed by over two hundred of the bestknown
Republicans OF this city, calling for primaries.
speakers addressed the committee, urg-
ing the ir1por tance of submitting the selection
of delegates 10 the electors. The plea was
simple, straightforward, in good humor, and
its keynote was LET the rank and file vote"
tunately, divided on just, such lines as to indi-
cate to the electors that the choice of delegates
from Alameda County had been predetermined.
ct once i'll feeling was aroused and suspicion
excited The attitude of the committee be-
came the talk of the homes, street and clubs.
Public sentiment was rapidly forming, butbe-
fore 1t could crystalline into that form in which
it might not well be defied the committee met
again, no general notice OF their meeting
being given and by vote of to j deter
mined to themselves name the delegates. The
rumor then took shape that these delegates SO
appointed might, under the call of the State
Central Committee, nominate q Congressman.
that there might be general plan to do this
all over the State and thus prevent q popular
verdict upon the record of the present Con-
gressmen. The resentment against the action
of the committee led to the call for this meet
ing.
That it is competent for Republicans to thus
assemble and repeat in mass-meeting the ex-
preston they have already given as individu-
ais and petition no fair man will attempt to
deny; that the action of the committee and ex-
perience with other committees in the past
warrant this meeting no thoughtful man will
question. To denounce this meeting as tu-
expedient is born of a distrust of the people,
ii it is not the child of reprehensible motive.
1t is easy and convenient to indulge in recrimi-
no bIlt hirlpc n n kp oil
party strong or keepl strong. Threats that only
the elect shall participate in the spons do not
win the battle in which the MASSES do not
fight for spoils.
1t is true to-day as ever, and at this time if
possible more true, that no political party can
long enjoy the confidence of the people unless
its managers keep in close touch with them
and manifest this by q willingness to submit
every important proposal to popular indorse-
ment. To select delegate to the National con-
vention may, or may not, in itself be
small thing, but it must be remembered that
this is the opening movement to an important
campaign, and coming under conditions
h than usnay the undeT
distressing economic conditions, when grave
questions confront the people, in the midst of
a growing distrust OF the usual political agen,,
cies, the committee might well have trusted
to the popular voice the determination of the
question in hand. That they may yet conclude,
so to do is the hope of your chairman. 1t is
not now question of which If any OF two men
shall go to st. Louis but rather of whether the
people shall be trusted to select him. And
what is true OF this district is true of every
district of the State.
Ex-Mayor W. r. Davis spoke of the DO
sition OF the five committeeman to the,
Republican party. He spoke of them as
1.-The fingers and thumb on one hand, and
it the lett hand"
''If we allow these tactics to be carried
out" said Mr.. Davis, "a handful of men
can name every Congressman in this
State"
Stephen G. Nye and DIR. Bodie, f. S. and
w. H. Friend also spoke. Rev. DR.. Coyle
was the next speaker. He said the most
beautiful thing that the five mem bers of
the committee could do would be to repu-
diate their actions of last Saturday night.
1--WE can stand some things" said he,
"but when IL comes to being totally shut
out we rebel. This has been done in this
instance and we have rebelled. i preach
toleration, but to tolerate political manage
ment to this extent is to carry it into the
nature of crime"
There were loud cries for 'Hudelson''
and the, chairman invited Rev. B. +.
Hudelson to the platform. He was loudly
che cred as he predicted defeat for any one
who accepted a nomination or any sup
port from delegates who were not elected
at primaries.
At the close the following resolutions
were adopted by rising vote:
Resolped, That no principle in representative
government or in the maintenance of party
unity aud strength is SC important as fairly
ascertaining and honestly executing the will
OF the majority.
Resolued, That the Republicans of Alameda
County in mass-meeting assembled do most
earnestly protest against and except to the
action of the Alameda County members eff the
State Central Committee acting as the commit
tee of the Third Congressional District in de-
termining for themselves that they themselves
shall appoint the delegates to the State Con-
vention soon to be held at Sacramento, instead
of calling primaries. at which all the members
of the party may exercise their choice, and en-
joy the right of selecting their own representa-
tives, according to the traditional policy and
historical course of the Republican party.
r Resolved. That we most earnestly request that
the committee above named to reconsider its
action in the premises and proceed to call and
hold primaries throughout the county IN ac-
cordance with the time-honored usage of the
party, and to the end that entire harmony
snail characterize the party campaign in
Alameda County, and that the county shall
assume and hold its rightful position as the
banner Republican county in the State.
Resolved, That this assemblage repudiates