The San Francisco call., 1896-03-12
BUCKLBYITEs TAKE ACTION.
The General Committee Clears Its Decks for
the Battle.


The General Committee Clears Its Decks for
the Battle.
The Buckley general committee packed
Odd Fellows Hall last night. There were
present 401 of the 450 mem bers. and the
spectators were many. There was saw
dust on the floor, as usual, and Demo-
cratic air and style to every feature of the
gatherings and proceedings.
Chairman Joseph Rothschild and Secre-
tary Daniel NJ. Gavigan had a big, enthu-
siastic and at ali times unruly audience
before them.
There We're. but two important features
to the proceedings. Strong resolutions de-
claring the sentiments of the Buckley wing
on the local split were adopted with some
tart and vigorous discussion. as they were
read by NJ. J. Donovan. Then a commit
tee of twenty-five. to fight the battle before
the State Central Committee, was ap-
pointed. The committee ON revision of
the constitution, which had prepared an
amendment creating an executive commit
tee of ninety, did not report as it was ex-
pected to do.
The resolutions moved by NJ. ]. Donovan
were as follows:
WHEREAS, In public and private it is asse rted
that the Democratic State Central Committee
at its meeting called for Saturday, March Ia
1896, contemplates recognizing the local
Democratic party organization of San Fran
cisco boiling or rump body, known by the
cognomen of the "Junta," whose members
openly claim that the said disorganiZers have
a majority of the State Central Committee and
proxies of absent mem bers under their control;
and Whereas said action or interference in
local political affairs if taken, without this
general committees special request, is revolu-
tionary and contrary to all precedent, rights
and time-honored custom of all prior State
Central Committees of the Democratic party;
and whereas, all State Central Committees
have always denied their jurisdiction or right
to interfere in local management of affairs un-
less the regular county organization petit
tions them so to do, and all parties in
interest consent to their jurisdiction and
agree to submit to their decision and deter
mination; and whereas, in support OF this posi-
tion and said precedent, we cite the latest
Democratic ruling in this matter, to wit:
When on or about the 25th day of July, 1892,
the late State Central Committee, of which
several gentlemen of the present State Central
Committee were members, a body known as
the reorganizers of Sacrame nto submitted
written communication, and otherwise asked
the State Central Committee to then and there
interpose and interfere in Sacramento local
politics and award them the management of
the party, but were answered that the State
Central Committee could only obtain jurlsdic-
tion by consent OF all parties in interest, and
especially the county committee joining in the
request, and all agreeing to submit to and
! abide by their determination of the question
in dispute as to who should control and man
age matters; and Whereas after such refusal
and denial of jurisdiction, both factions sent
delegates to the next State convention held at
San Francisco in August, 1894, and the con-
ventlon, being the sole acknowledged judges
in all such matters Ill party politics,
awarded the seats to those entitled
thereto, and thus acknowledged that side
as the future party managers, and this we
maintain is the only course the present State
Central Committee can now lawfully follow
when jurisdiction is questioned, and we cite
the work OF Winfield j. Davis entitled 'Politi-
cal Conventions in California-1S49 to 1892"
and published by authority of the State of
California, showing repeated instances of the
authority OF all Democratic State conventions
of California, from the time of holding the
first convention in this State to seat delegates
and recognize local organizations; and we
also refer to the records of past Democratic
State committees TO sustain our position and
whereas, we believe the State convention
alone is vested with proper authority, when
the jurisdiction of the State Central Commit
tee is questioned, and that the only duty the
present committee can perform on March IA,
National cgn issued TO all Democrats of our
country and published on January "a, 1896,
by William F. Harrlty, chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Committee, and on March IA,
1896, name the time and place of holding the
State convention, and apportion the delegates
and do such things only as therein required,
giving public notice SO that the Democratic
delegates TO the State convention and obtain
their seats on the showing that they are en-
titled to the same; therefore be it
ResOlped. That committee of twenty-five to
consist of the president and secretary and one
member from each Assembly district also
plenary powers take full charge of this matter
and represent this general committee in auy