The San Francisco call., 1908-03-22
LEAGUE TO PURGE
ALAMEDA COUNTY
Good Government Body Formed
TO Wage Campaign on
Corruptionists
Will Not Cease Till Graft and
Grafters Are Shorn of
Power

the people wants good government But
the people are u3organfzed. There ere
a few persons in every community, IN
Office and ont Of Office. who do not want
good government. but are looking for
what there Is I'm 1T for themselves.
organized, strOn@i. entrenched and
fully armed for Sheir nefarious warfare
on the public interests and exploitation
of the public funds.
1--WE wish 10 redeem the public serv-
ice of this county from any incompe-
tence. We wish TO purge ft of any dis
honesty. We wish TO secure ability, skill
and integrity I'm the place Of ignorance,
i1csPacity and possibility Of graft. We
vFfsh 10 replace sIoth, wastefulness and
extraVagznce by Industry. economy and
business methods."-Extracts from pub
lie statement of purposes of the Good
Government league of Alameda county.
OAKLAND. March 2I-To destroy
graft IN all its forms in Alameda coun-
~ men OF the highest standing in the
cities Of Oakland. Berkeley and Ala
media. men prominent in every walk of
life have organized the Good Govern
ment league OF Alameda county. An
unceasing campaign sgas~sC graft and
grafters in public life wl-i be waged
from this time on until not single
CRATER nor single case Of graft or
suspicion OF graft remains extant. The
executive committee consists of Ado lph
Uhl, wall paper merchant, Oakland; ;
James p. Edon. capitalist. Oakland: w
T. Teitch, building contractor, Oakland; ;
J. c. Downey. wholesale merchant, Oak
land; W. v Harrington, publisher, Oak
land; Richard J. Montgomery, real es-
tate, Oakland: John P. Maxwell, hard
ware merchant, Berkeley; James l.
Barker. wholesale plumbers supplies.
Berkeley; Professor William Carey
Jones, head OF the department of juris-
prudence at the University OF Califor-
MIA; c. A Sherman, insurance, Berke-
ley; J. T. Renas, coal and grain mer-
chant, Berkeley; Victor J. Robertson.
publisher, Berkeley. and o. c. Haslett,
warehouseman; II. NJ Landsberger and
George Z. Plummer, real estate and
builder, all OF Alameda
The Good Government league IN an
novncing the principles OF its constitu-
tion, besides the appeals to the tax pay
ers quoted above. urges the following:
Unlike most reform movements ii
viii be the aim of the Alameda county
good government league to reform ell
departments OF the county government,
relegating graft and possibility Of
graft. whether criminal or just without
the pale of the law as interpreted by
the courts. TO the outer precincts of the
public treasury. Dishonesty OF all
kinds, whether in extortion or extrav-
agsnt waste OF the public money, or by
immoral motive. IL is hoped forever will
be banished from the halls of Justice
and government in Alameda county.
And when the work Of the Good Gov
lernment league is seemingly complete
IL IS the purpose of the solid men be-
hind IT 20 keep alive the sentiment and
urge the necessity OF keeping the coun-
ty government clean for all time, II not
by moral suasion, then by rigid investi-
cation and business methods. Follow
ing is it's statement OF aims and pur-
poses:
The Good Government league of
Alameda county appeals TO the tax
payers OF the county for their conf
dence and support.
The Good Government league aims
70 supply and organize q nucleus of
opposition and defense against enemies
OF the common veal. We desire to be
recognized as q mouthpiece and effect
I've instrument Of the large but unor-
ganized body OF the people. We desire
especially to ascertain the wishes Of
the tax payers and to execute their
will
We stand upon an absolutely non
political platform We pledge our
selves 10 help the league free from
every influence emanating from poIit-
ical, corporate or private interest that
lie hostile TO the public welfare We
have no personal axes to grind, no per-
sonal ambitions to crafty We have
no friends 10 help, no enemies to pun
ish or placate.
Our aim is to help the people help
themselves. There is no remedy for
local misgovernment outside of the
people who suffer from it, With the
cooperation and backing of the tax
payers we shall be their agent in re-
assuring their power and in resuming
their control over public affairs.
The important features OF the con-
stitutiOn are as follows:
Purposes - The Good Government
league OF Alameda county, founded
upon absolutely nonpolirical principles
is an association of citizens formed for
the purpose of obtaining honest and
efficient public service.
Principles-ln order to secure this
end, we set forth, among Others the
following principles OF action:
1T shall be our determined effort to
see that men unpledged to corporate
newspaper interests and qualified to
conduct the affairs of the county in q
fearless and businesslike manner are
elected to office.
The league will investigate the
qualifications OF each nominee and no
tify the voters of such nominees as
cannot properly qualify for Office
"As long as public official conducts
his Office IN a businesslike manner the
league viii recommend his continuance
in Office.
The league pledges its support tC
the reelection of any official who. hay.
ing con 1ucted his Office in a fearIes,
and businesslike manner, has antagon.
lied private or corporate interests. ir,
respective of political or party afilia.
fions.
We shall lay aside all the persona
motives and the influence of friend.
and decide all issues before the ieagu,
on the basis of absolute merit
We shall use our utmost endeavor,
to secure the confidence of the voter
OF Alameda county. in order that ths
Good Government league may faith
fully and fully represent the will of tn.
people.
Any person subscribing to the Goo,
Government league and signing its rol
shall become an associate member Bu
no subscriptions will be accepted from
candidates for office or from any pubii
service corporation
The expense of carrying on tn,
work viii be met by voluntary sub
scriptions. there being no dues Ths
Good Government league desires to en-
roll among its associate members al