The San Francisco call., 1898-06-10
PROTESTS FROM
 HOT DEMOCRATS
NORTH BEACH VOTERS STATE
 THEIR GRIEVANCES.
Denounce the Central Committees Action and Demand Fair
 Representation.

If the Democratic State Central Com mittee had been present at Washington Square Hall last evening they would have heard some statements of facts that would have caused them some un- easiness. There was no band to play "A Hot Time" etc., but there was a goodly crowd of earnest Democrats representing the North Beach district, who were in a decidedly hot frame of mind, and they took occasion to express their feelings emphatically.
 The meeting was held for the purpose of protesting against the aesom anr3t}ee or the ne arbitrarily appointing c managerial Committee of One Hundred to control the affairs of the party in this city, With out giving the northern section or San Francisco fair representation: A.,
 Walter Pilkington called the meeung to order, stating it's object, ana J: A, Spinetti offered resolutions in accordance herewith, as folloWs:
 Whereas The State Central Committee of the Democratic party of this State has seen fir to make an attempt to take from the only legal and recognized General Committee Of the Democratic party or the city ana county oi San Francisco of which committee Major liar ney Is chairman the power which IS vested in it. viz to manage the local affairs of the Democratic party and to provide the manner and mode of electing delegates to the State, municipal and legislative conventions. There
 Resolved That we, the bona-fide Democrats residing at North Beach here assembled at
 
 Stockton streets, most earnestly protest and object to any and all arbitrary action the party in making any attempt to deprive the voters of the city and county of San Francisco of their rights to participate in the primary affairs of the party. Be it further
 Resolved, That copy of these resolutions be forthwith forwarded to the State Central Committee, with a request that we be heard in the premises and given voice in this mat ter of vital importance And said State Gen. tral Committee Is hereby most respectfully re- ClpGtHd arrV ni which will prevent every bona a-fde and honest Democrat from participating in the selection of members to represent them in a general county committee or to say nominating con- vention. be 1t State. municipal or legislative.
 Mr. Spinetti, in presenting the resolu- tionS. said that as a Democrat born on North Beach he protested against any power depriving him of his constitutional rights to take part in the selection of men to represent him. He declared the action of the State Central Committee to be un-Democratic and un-American. The most cosmopolitan district in the city, the Forty-fourth, in a committee of while in strong Republican districts there were as many as nineteen on the committee. We have the right" said he, ito say who shall represent us, not only in conventions, but in office and these resolutions cover our grievance"
 The resolutions were adopted unani- mously
 Charles Reynolds, in the course of his remarks, said that under the new re- gime it made no difference what dis trict a Democrat lived in, he had no rep resentative except the high joint Com mittee of One Hundred, who were elected for life with power to appoint their suc- cessors. These men, McNab, Afford and Gould. from the COW counties" had come to the city and robbed honest Democrats of their birthright. ''I think said he "the Democrats of this part of the city will say to Mayor Phelan and his fellows You can put these men before us, but you can't make us vote for them The right to participate in the affairs of the party was all that was asked for Ii the action of the State Central Commit | tee was proper and in the interests of the party, then the committee could as vel l go to Stockton, Sacramento or San Jose l candidates on the party.
 This is despotism,' said Mir. Reynolds ''Let us quit or stand together and defeat | them at the polls if they will not be | just" This sentiment was greeted with | enthusiastic cheering.
 | E. J. Hill, speaking to the resolutions said the battle for the right of repre-. sentation began with the Boston tea party, and that that theory had been the cardinal principle of the Democratic party to this day. ''It is our privilege as American citizens to say who shall gov. i ern us," said the speaker, "and we can. not permit anybody to deprive us of it not even Governor Budd, Mayor Phelar or any one else in the party. If they have | come to the point where they cannot | trust the men who have horny hands then we must say to them We cannot | trust our destiny as Democrats in the hands of a kid-glove gentry |"
 | The meeting adjourned with cheers fol l the sentiments expressed.