EXTENDING THE WORK. [Part 2.]
Sacramento Daily Union, 5 June 1873 .
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” The movement inaugurated in Sacramento county by the Taxpayers’ party, has already extended to Yuba, as will be seen by reading the appended call to ” the independent voters” of that county. The only difference is in the method. They propose to accomplish there by a mass convention what was done here in a quiet way.
In Yuba the railway company have one of their many senatorial candidates, whom they intend to use, if possible, to pull chestnuts out of the fire for Gorham. He does not see it, but the people do, and therefore they have issued this call :
To the Independent Voters: The present important issues in our State and national politics require the united efforts of all good citizens to bring about reforms that are much desired. The present high taxes, the oppressive freight and passenger tariffs on our railroads, the extravagance and corruption ip high places, the encroachments of monopolies on the rights of the people, the disregard of pledges and public sentiment by our representatives, all demand that the independent voters, without regard to party, should unite in an effort to bring about reform in all these abuses.
To that end we, the undersigned, voters of Yuba county, hereby recommend that there be a mass convention of the independent men of all parties held at Marysville on the 27th day of June, 1873. to take into consideration the propriety of nominating a legislative ticket of good men, pledged to retrenchment and reform, and known to be in accord with the wishes and sentiment of the people on the important
issues of the present time ; also the nomination of a county ticket of good men to be voted for it the ensuing election. And we pledge ourselves to co-operate and assist such movement and attend such mass convention in person, if possible so to do.From the CLASSIFIED ADS:
ADDRESS TO THE INDEPENDENT TAXPAYERS OF SACRAMENTO CITY AND COUNTY.
In a few months you will be called upon to elect officers to represent you at the ensuing session of the Legislature, and to administer the affairs of this county for the next two years. The two great political organizations of the country, if we can believe their most recently adopted platforms, substantially agree in regard to the policy of the General Government, but neither of those parties represents the issues which must be met and decided by our people, while whatever is pure and worthy in both is constantly imperiled by the exactions of monopolists and the corrupt scheming of professional politicians.
It is evident that nothing to-day so endangers the safety of republican institutions as the power of aggregated capital acting through officers who, as has been unblushingly confessed, use party platforms “as molasses to catch flies,” and whose election is secured by corrupt manipulations within the organizations of both parties.
In no part of the country is the baneful influence of this power more strongly felt than in our own county. In its interests the voters of the larger part of the dominant party have, after repeated requests, and after assurances of their continued fealty, been denied an opportunity of a full and fair expression of their preferences at the polls. Believing that the interests of all citizens require that the power of monopoly shall be restrained, and that at least so far as this county is concerned, this restraint cannot be effected, acting within party lines, we have taken steps to form an organization having for its object the election of representatives to the next Legislature who will command the confidence of the whole people, and be free from the control of rings and corrupt combinations, and aiming also to secure for this county a prudent and economical administration of its affairs, thus lessening the burden of taxation and increasing the rewards of labor.
We ask your earnest and steadfast co-operation with us in this independent taxpayers’ movement, and ask you not to attend the party primaries to be held on the 7th of June. A call will at once be issued for a primary election, to be held on the 21st of June, to elect delegates to a convention to be held on the 24th of June in Sacramento city, and an opportunity will thus be afforded for free and independent action. By order of the Committee.
A. C. FREEMAN, Chairman.
Albert Leonard, Secretary.