The record-union., 1896-05-21

General Bidwell was a participant in
the leading events of those days ana
ms memory seems to be fresh upon
them all. Speaking of the Bear Flag,
he said that 1t never was recognized IN
anyway, either by General Fremont or
anybody else, except as joke. One OF
the men of the party had painted upon
a piece of muslin what he intended
for the picture of a grizzly bear, but
which the Mexicans took for pig. 1t
had been raised upon an old fiagstaH
where General Vallejo had once had
his headquarters, but 1T was all done
in fun and had no significance. He
had no objection to the Native Sons
adopting it, and it was probably lifting
that they should do so, as-nobody
else ever adopted it. General Bidwells
speech was listened to with marked
attention and he was warmly applaud
ed at it's close
The evening session of the league was
/ held at the residence of General Bid
well and was partly in the nature OF
reception by the General and his charm
| ing wife, who became exceedingly pop
| ular with all of the party. She is
| woman of rare attainments and pos
sesses those qualities which make
| everyone her friends. The spacious
parlors Of the mansion were filled with
members of the league and visitors, and
the evening was spent partly in discus
| sion of general subjects, but largely IN
social intercourse. The members were
| profuSe in their expressions OF praise
| to the press and people, of Chico for
| the hospitality extended and parucu-
| larly to General and Mrs. Bidweu for
| the heartiness of the welcome.
The banquet which was rendered to
the League by the citizens of Chico took
place at the Park Hotel and was de-
cidedly pleasant affair. The tables
were artistically arranged and deco
rated with lovely flowers. The several
courses included the best Of everything
in the market, and the repast was a
representative one of this great pro-
ductive valley. The guests sat down at
10 p. m. and rose from the table at L
o'clock the next morning. Professor
Pennell, with his handsome and intelll-
| gent wife seated at his right, and with
| President Barcar facing him at the
other end of the table, presided over
the feast and acted as master of cere-
monies. The announcement of each
toast was made in brief and witty style,
eliciting frequent and hearty applause.
| One incident occurred at the table
which was out of the usual order of
things at a banquet One Of the mem
| berS of the league had been called upon
to respond to the toast, "Woman's Real
Rights" and had expressed himself
briefly against forcing upon the women
of this State the duty of voting, or the
so-called right of suffrage. Before
the banquet closed W. r. Ellis of Liver
more, the ex-President of the League,
requested that a vote be taken by those
present on woman suffrage. Professor
Pennell put the question, and only nine
among that large assemblage voted in
| favor of it, and of these but two were
women. Those opposed were SO numer-
Gus that they were not counted. 1t was
standing vote, SO there was no ques-
| ton as to the sentiments of those pres
ent. Sisters Anthony and Shaw and
the balance of the Eastern contingent
who are out here for the purpose of put
ting the shackles of the ballot upon the
women of California, who have no de-
sire for. them, would have been sadly
disappointed if they could have wit
messed that vote.
Many Of Chico's business men have
| been considerably agitated lately over
publications in San Francisco papers
which have led commercial travellers to
believe that they would require a special
license TO do business in Chico This
was not true, and F. c. Williams, Presi-
dent of the Board Of Trustees, sent the
following letter to the San Francisco
"Calr:
For the information of commercial
men doing business with the merchants
of the towns and cities of Northern Cal
ifornia, desire to say that there is not
| now and never has been a license re-
| quired of commercial men doing busi-
ness with the merchants of Chico The
prosecution of one Haskell for violating
| the license ordinance of Chico, recently
! decided by the Supreme Court in favor
of this city, has been several times re-
| ferred to mistakenly as the drum
mer's' license case by some of the San
Francico newspapers but the very pro-
vision under which Haskell was sue
cessfully prosecuted specifically excepts
in terms all persons from it's operation
who transact business with merchants
| or sell to the trade.
THE ordinance provides for a license
from itinerant merchants or peddlers
doing business with the consumers of
the articles they vend, but excepts from
| its operation all classes of business
transacted with the merchants, and in
no manner or form includes or refers to
any class Of commercial travellers. or
| 'drummers, selling by sample or other
| wise to the merchants of Chioo nv, fb q
contrary, every encouragement is and
has always been extended to this class
| of business people, both by the ordi-
nances of the city and the accepted pol
icy of business in Chico. The authori-
ties and the business people of the city
have always and still do recognize the
fact that it is cheaper and more conve-
nientto have the wholesale businesses of
| the principal trade centers brought to
their places Of business at home than to
take numerous business trips to San
Francisco whenever anything is needed
| in stock
mo commercial traveller has ever
been asked to pay license of any kind
or class in Chico, no such license has
ever been paid, and there has never been
an ordinance Of the city providing for
such license"
Sacramento has some representatives
| in Chico. Among those who were fore
most in the entertainment of the visit
ors was Major A. L. Nichols, formerly a
| well-known resident of this CITY. He
has a large hardware store, centrally To-
| Gated, and is evidently doing a fine busi-
ness.