The Populists Shouted 'Plutocrats'—and Lost the School Vote

The election yesterday for the ratification of the warrant debt of school district No. 1 resulted in a total vote of 3,804, of which 2,815 were for and 993 against the proposition—531 more than the necessary three-fifths. The result is said to be due in great measure to the zealous work of friends of the schools, who allowed no opportunity of securing a vote to pass by. The count was completed at 10:30 last night, the Rialto vote being the last to be counted.

At the Rialto polling place, out of a total of 2,157 votes, 1,527 were yes—practically a three-fourths vote. A year ago, on February 10, the Populists of the city defeated a similar proposition by a vote of 1,686 to 1,363, a majority of 323. How completely they were beaten yesterday is made evident by comparison. While yesterday only 755 more votes were cast than last year, the number of opponents fell from 1,686 to 993, while the affirmative vote increased 1,462—more than 100 per cent—bounding from 1,353 to 2,815. Last year at the central polling place, Crawford & Hanrahan's, 2,232 votes were cast, while this year at the Rialto there were 2,157, a falling off of 75, thus indicating that an active interest was taken at the more remote polling places.

The strongest opposition to the bonds this year, as well as last, was in Fremont, called Day, but even there the anti-bond electors are decreasing. Last year they cast 125; this year the number dwindled to 61, the affirmative vote for the two elections being 29 and 33.

The election passed off quietly at all the voting places, although at some places the workers were numerous and the rivalry keen. At the voting place in the Rialto building, on Madison street, near the corner of Second, Populists and members of the Freeholders' Club were out in force and were in evidence two to one against those of the other side. Of course they were against the bonds, and for several hours they kept the air noisy with their loud arguments and protestations.

Among the Populists who did the most work and the most talking were William Larkins, who at one time was a solicitor for the People's Call, and Tim O'Halloran. The former took his stand near the entrance to the polling place, while O'Halloran ran around among the crowd, first on one side of the street and then on the other, jumping about like a kangaroo with a flea in his ear, doing his utmost to be in two places at the same time without splitting himself.

As the crowds passed in to vote, Larkins would shout: 'Don't vote for the plutocrats! Vote for the people, and down with the plutocrats!' Whenever the women crowded in he would talk to them likewise, and if they had any children with them he would block the way and tell them: 'Why do you want to vote yes? Don't you know that you are mortgaging the life of your children for years to come? Twenty years from now that baby you carry in your arms will have to pay for your work today, and he will blame you for it and never forgive you.'

Many of the women resented the interference, but Larkins persisted.