Terry arrives. Beerstetcher tries to object to seating him, but is ruled out of order.
Some question about handling the secretaryship of the convention. A motion is made to let the Secretary of State act as secretary of the convention temporarily. Irwin says that this was his idea anyway, and that is confirmed by the convention. Then a motion is made by Tully (NP-D) to elect a president. Motion carries. Barbour (W) proposes resolutions about nominations, but the chair rules this out of order. Vigorous debate ensues, with Barbour and Beerstetcher (socialist W) leading it. The Chair is sustained 99-45. Beerstetcher argues that people should make nominations so that there are no backroom deals. NPs argue for just voting for your favorites without nominees, to avoid partisanship. O'Donnell (virulently anti-Chinese W) makes a pro-Workingmen speech, about how California should "lead the revolution." (p. 17) and how this is the first step in the 1880 Presidential campaig. Estee (NP) says no, NPs aren't against nominations. Herrington argues, we should have nominees so that we know who they are before they get a chance to serve as president. McCallum points out that all this results from a silly misunderstanding by the chair, and nominations are the usual course of business. Reconsideration is granted.
Johnson (NP-D) nominates Tinnin (NP-D).
Brown (D) nominates Howard (D).
Barbour (W) makes long speech nominating Larkin (W) and listing the purposes of the convention as "the power of corporations shall be restrained...that monopolies are to be broken up...that the Chinese nuisance shall be abated...that political corruption shall be expelled from our public places (p. 18). He says people call Workingmen communists and revolutionaries, but that's not true. They're a righteous rebellion. He swears they have no desire for revolution or social overthrow, but to "restrict and reconstruct the fabric which has been eaten into."
Beerstetcher seconds Larkin's nomination in a long speech. "We are not agrarians...[or] barnburners.... We can see that corporations have rights, and we are willing to give them rights, but we also desire to have the rights of the people recognized." Workingmen "came here for the purpsoe of...making a crusade against the aspirations of railroad companies and land monopolies, gas and water monopolies, and te lottery called stock gambling...making a crusade against the Chinese...reforming the taxation system, and the interest system, but we do not come here for the purpose of taking away property that any man has honestly acquired.... I repel and repudiate the idea that I am a communist and a disorganizer." (p. 19).
Dowling (W) also seconds Larkin, saying that if the convention doesn't give them freedom to declare their views on things, "we will cripple the Constitution."
Laine (NP-D, who drafted an entire proposed constitution before the convention began) nominates Hoge (NP-D), arguing that an older man is better suited than any young ambitious fellows.
Vote: Tinnin 17, Howard 11, Larkin 49, Hoge 67, Reed 3. Since 74 are required for victory, second vote: Hoge 70, Larkin 49, Tinnin 17, Howard 9, Reed 2. Third ballot: Hoge 71, Howard 9, Larkin 49, Tinnin 16, Reed 2. Fourth ballot: Hoge 72, Larkin 49, Tinnin 17, Howard 8, Reed 2. Barbour withdraws Tinnin's nomination. Fifth ballot: Hoge 74, Tinnin 73. So Workingmen all united against Hoge, but he wins by a single vote.
After the last ballots are counted but before the winner is announced, O'Sullivan challenges the seating of Judge Fawcett, and Beerstetcher renews his challenge to Terry's seating. But these are ruled out of order and Hoge is seated as president. Makes some noncomittal remarks, and the convention adjourns.
