The San Francisco call., 1897-02-05
PASSES THROUGH
THE ASSEMBLY,
Dibble's Bill TO Prevent the
Pledging of Legislative
Candidates.
Earnest and Telling Argument
OF the Author Routs the
Opposition.
Fusionists Ranted in Vain Against
the Measure That Promises
Welcome R form.

SACRAMENTO. CAL, Feb. 4-when
Dibble's Assembly bill 10 came up on
q final passage in the Assembly this after
noon, a heated discussion was precpi-
tated, the Democrats and Populists, led
by shannon, obiecting to- the passage of
the bill and denouncing it as q scheme to
stop the mouths of orphaned candidates
who had no political convention to father
and mother them. The bill makes it an
offense for any one TO require candidate
Tor legislative Office to pledge himself to
vote for certain bill or a certain measure,
, provided that such candidate be per-
.mitted TO pledge himself before the con-
vention placing him in nomination.
Dlbble made a rafting speech in which
he said that no man can properly or hon.
estly. represent his constituency if he is
bound bY specific promise to persons
nominating him or for special measures
or any particular bill. As soon as a can
oidate receives the nomination for Iegis-
lative office, mon on both sides OF differ
ent propositions approach him and de-
m and that he should pledge himself to
vote for this bill or that bill, the demand
implying the threat that if he does not SO
3 vote he will be blackballed at the polls.
No man" continued Dibble, lis fit to
be legislator who is not free to go into
board of supervisors or a board of educa-
tion or into the Legislature absolutely free
10 vote on one side or the other of any and
every question. 1t is one OF the evils of
the day that men continually demand
pledges of candidates-men who have no
right to do so. This bill provides that he
may make pledges TO the party or conven-
tion which nominates him. No one but
his party has right 10 exact any promise
from him."
North OF Alameda argued that the bill
would save candidates from much annoy
ance.
. Bridgford remarked that annoyance was
incident to the business of running for
Office.
When any one asks me what think of
any proposition" he added, II am always
ready and willing to tell them, and if they
don't want me then will stay away"
at is in the right direction of reform
and pure politics." said CanoYan.
I'm San Francisco every minute in the
day" said Mahoney, I'VE have hundreds
OF petitions presented to us for our sigma
lures on one thing or another, and it is
very annoying to all of US. If any body
wants anything in legislation he should
90 to the convention and have the conven-
tion pledge tie candidates"
Lacy of San Francisco made his maiden /
speech in a gentle, maldenly way. He
hoped that the bill would prevail. He
had been Importuned by different persons
to sign different things. I'VE ought to
come here to Sacramento untrammeled, |
ami we should not be tied up with any
promises" he added.
Bettman com planned that he had been, |
fguratively, stood up at the muzzle of
shotgun, and he suggested, "in the inter |
est of decent politics" that the bill should |
be passed.
Hill complained that the bill did not
treat independent candidates fairly
Mead denied that the bill prevented |
the free expression OF the candidates. !
opinion on any subject on earth.
Treacy supported the bill.
Toland and Shanahan opposed it,
Dibble said that the gentlemen who had
criticized the bill did not understand it.
1t did not prevent a candidate from ex-
pressing his opinion on any subject The
evil that is desired to be corrected is the
habit that has grown up in this State of
standing candidates up and demanding
that they shall pledge themselves to vote
for this particular bill or that particular
measure. He had known instances where
persons on both sides of a question had
no ade such demands. During his recent
canvass fifty demands had been made
upon him by persons who threatened to
defeat his election unless he would prom
ise to vote for this whisky bill or that pro-
hibition bill or that fsh bill. How can
any man go before this Legisla ture, be
asked, if he is pledged to a measure which
he has misunderstood and which he finds
to be wrong after it has been discussed on
the floor of the House?
II believe in the representative Govern.
ment," continued Dibble. "No man can
b free to represent the people who sent
him to the Legislature unless he goes
there free from all pledges except to the
party which sent him there pledged to
maintain certain principles of govern
ment. until he can stand before his people
and hear the discussion on measures de-
signed to serve the public interests. l
have seen men come upon this floor with
written pledges, and have seen them
shake them in the faces of men who
Ind signed pledges that they would vote
for a certain bill without amendment;
when it was shown that if the bill passed
without amendment it would defeat the
very purpose for which it had been
framed"
A round of handclapping greeted
Dibble's remarks, and the bill was finally |
passed by vote of 45 to 20.