The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-22
VOTERS THINKING
FOR THEMSELVES,
Unusual Condition of Poll
tics in Alameda
County.
A NEED OF SINCERITY.
Big Responsibility Rests With
Republican Campaign
Leaders.
SECESSI0NS OF FOUR YEARS.
There Is Great Hope of a Return of
Fealty TO RepublicaniSm Next
November.
sECEssIoNs OF FOUR YEARS.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,

OShlAAND OEFICE DAN RANClSCO OALDyt
90S Broadway, June 81. {
If the voters all over the country are of
the same mind as those of Alameda
County there will be more intelligence
shown at the polls in November than at
any election for twenty years past. This
was plainly demonstrated at the big meet
ing last night in the Tabernacle.
1t was the most thoughtful, earnest
gathering that has ever been seen in Oak
land. The people-men and women
went with open minds, and came away
thinking. Everybody seemed to have de-
cided TO arrive at their own conclusions
and not to let any one else do their think
ing for them. All realized that there is a
commercial, Industrial and financial crisis
TO be faced if the country is to return TO
her former prosperity. Little apprecia-
ton was shown for jinro talk and prom
ises OF the bubble variety, but cold, clear
facts, such as those related by W. R.
Davis, were eagerly listened to and pom
dered over. Alameda voters will not vote
this year under any leash; they will vote
as conscience and judgment dictate. Far
more than in the ordinary sense is this
1.-The peoples year" The promises OF the
Democracy, made in the same old Taber-
nacle four years ago, have been so ruth
lessly broken that faith in party plat
forms and promises has received a shock,
and the people want to hear all sides of
the great current questions and decide for
themselves.
Under these unusual circumstances the
managers of the Republican Campaign in
this county carry q very heavy response
bility. No superficial sophistical argu-
ments will convince such an intelIi-
gent and sober-minded audience as
was seen last night. They want
facts and facts only. If ever there
was a campaign of education in this
county it is at this time. The voters have
been waited about by every political wind
that blows until they are so scattered that
party lines are in danger of being lost. In
Oakland, especially, is this the case, and
men once ranked as party leaders are now
lowering between two or three opinions.
The man who can deal only in generalities
and whose speeches are of the red-rubber-
stamp order, had better stay at home, as
he will do the party more harm than good
during the coming campaign. Nothing
but the pure gospel Of Repub .icanism can
bind these elements. Any one who takes
the stump in Alameda County for per-
sonal advancement will do untold harm.
Staunch Republicans have been looking
forward for three years to this Presidential
campaign in the hope that it would re-
store Alameda to her rightful place as the
banner Republican county in the State.
A glance at the people holding Office in
the city and county will give the best idea
OF the existing conditions and of the need
OF sincere work on the part OF Republicans
during the campaign. Four years ago
every official of the city of Oakland and
the county of Alameda was filled by Re-
publican. In 1892 piece clubs began TO ap-
pear ana Democrats were elected for
Sheriff and County Tax Collector. Two
wears later the condition of affairs was
worse for the Republican party. Populists
filed the offices of Sheriff, County Treas
urer and County Superintendent of
Schools. The dissatisfaction was also
manifested at the City Hall, and Pop
uiist Mayor, one Councilman and mem
Der of the Board Of Works, who is also
CITY Engineer, were elected. The Pop
ulist majority in the Board of Works
caused the appointment OF Populist heads
to the Police and Street departments.
While all this has been going on locally,
old-time Repu Dlicans have been looking
for 1896 as a sort of chronological Moses
to lead the voters back to their first love.
The time is now here, and although a
recapitulation of the facts is not very
gratifying, it will serve a good purpose,
if only to impress upon the leaders the
urgent necessity of regaining lost ground.
George Carleton is walking history of
Oakland. For over thirty years George
has been mentally compiling data of this
county and when information is wanted
he can always supply it. What is troub-
Ing George most at present is the number
of murderers that are still enjoying the
comforts Of lite, who should according to
his idea have been attended to long ago.
Carleton says that he has seen over thirty
murder trials in this county and only
three times has death been the penalty
although many convictions were obtained.
Owing to ''teehnicalities" unheard OF out
side of California, the majority are walk
ing the streets and breathing the air OF
liberty.
~ don't feel like mentioning names"
said George to-day, "but there are people
in this city who have told me that they
feel they ought to apologize to me for be-
ing on the streets. They know perfectly
we'll they should have been hung years
ago, but they are still here. There is one
man, who is member of an old Spanish
family, who has cheated the gallows once
and he actually told me that he feels
ashamed to walk down Broadway because
he always meets somebody whose presence
reminds him that he should have been
trar slated long ago. This is sanctuary
for murderers over here. If they land in
this county they are SAFE"
aOId man Jones"-nobody knows him
by any other name-who has been con-
fined to his cot in the County Jail, await
ing his second trial for the murder of
DuteI many years ago, made a peculiar
vet a reasonable request last week. Jones
has been given as much publicity as any
two men that ever entered the Jail. He
was convicted on his first trial, but, as
usual, was granted second one eleven