= nem furt tire, with great unanimity, enacted the nec essary aw establishing the University, and the Governor approved it on March 23 cd. No question of means stood in the the way in this case. Ample funds at the dispos a. af the State were at once appropriated t the endowment and support of the new mFILE Ecn. For something over a year from that time, er, me Calege continued its work, while the ar sac- gamation of the University was going on, and Lere then I was turned over to the University. The finds obtained by subscription for de me ang ca this entire college work had been received a comparatively small sums. From i temere the books it appears that the whole number na me sucsenpcions collected was four hundred matism and tone. The largest sum received from any one source was that of $5,000, Igen ov the Pacific Mail Steamship CompaIL PETS av through Allan McLane, Esq., the Presi De der denn de estrusted on & the Clage world dishcomberite. Ind har oven is re man ng assets to the Covers When the Leg sikre met, born Govenor Low and the incoming Governor Hight in their messages, recommended the establish ment of a University, in accordance with this proposition. As was anticipated, the offer of the College reconciled the interests that had heretofore been at odds, such as the agricultural, the d some others; and the Legisia The current expenses of the College amounted to very much more than its subschopen come during the nine years of its existence, but the balance was paid from the and department fund. After making the donation of the one hundred and sixty acres to the State for the site of the University, and the organization of that institution, the reminder of the property went to it, accordng to the resclation to that effect. The College of California graduated six None of them were large, as it was the beginning of thorough college work in the State The members of these classes have Bone, and are doing, as much credit to their traning as the average of college graduates from the oldest institutions. One has already done good service as a member of Congress. At the same time with him, a graduate of the College School served his term in the same office, with credit to himself and his constituents. Those who entered the ministry are faithful and successful men, and of those who chose other callings and pursuits, several have distinguished themselves. The same may also be said of the graduates of the Col lege School. The number of these I do not know, but it must have been several hundred. Among the gentlemen who delivered commencement orations or alumni addresses were Professor J. D. Whitney, Bishop Kip, Rev. T. Starr King, Judge O. L. Shafter, Rev. Dr. A. L. Stone, Professor Benjamin Silliman, Professor Henry Durant, Rev. Dr. J. A. Benton, Rev. Dr. Horatio Stebbins, Rev. Dr. I. E. Dwinell, and Rev. Dr. Eli Corwin. Nearly all these addresses and orations, together with the poems that accompanied them, were published from time to time by the College in large editions; as also the short-hand reports of the proceedings, speeches, etc., at the meetings of the alumni. These, together with other published reports and papers, constitute a not inconsiderable contribution to the home literature of California. The work of the Board of Trustees was no small tax on the time and attention of the members. This work grew with the growth of the institution. Meetings had to be held always as often as once a month, and much of the time oftener. The members were gentlemen of the very busiest class, but yet they were generally prompt in their attendance, and were cheerful and patient in the midst of the details of a business needing large means, but having only a small income. There was a general concurrence of judgment, and seldom a divided vote. It is sixteen years since the College of California transferred its work to the University of California, but until now there has been no sketch of its history written. But its books, records, and original papers, together with most of its correspondence, are preserved. So, also, are its annual catalogues and its numerous publications, consisting of reports, appeals, circulars, programmes, addresses, orations, and poems. A full and detailed history of the College has been written, narrating its progress from year to year. In this volume is incorporated a selection of its choicest addresses, orations, and poems. It will be preserved for reference or for publication, as may seem required in future time. So concludes a chapter in the history of early educational work in this State, covering in all nearly twenty years; and it is especially inscribed to the former patrons and students of the departments of the College of California. S. H. Willey. THE SAN FRANCISCO IRON STRIKE. there was to be a reduction of their wages, Notice. I AM asked to explain in behalf of the ironworkers who a few months since resisted the proposed reduction of wages by the iron manufacturers of this city, the reasons why the workmen did not accept the representations of the employers that the reduction was absolutely necessary, and consequently resisted it. I desire to state as well as I am able the side of the iron-workers of this city in their differences with the manufacturers. Perhaps it would not be out of place to give here a short history of the strike. and in order to avoid a general discharge of employThe first intimation the workmen had that ees, and perhaps an entire suspension of work, we In consequence of the depressed condition of business and the recent universal reduction of wages in the East, which has decreased the prices of machinery more than twenty-five per cent. below those sulted in a general decrease of work produced here, of any previous time, and the importations having re feel reluctantly compelled to make a reduction of fifteen per cent. on all wages on and after February 9, 1885. As this reduction was to take effect the next day but one after its date, evidently there was no intention to consult with the workmen, nor to leave any great opportunity for them to consult each other. Special meetings of the iron-workers were called for Sunday afternoon, and those attending resolved not to accept the reduction; but owing to the fact that there had been no organization in any branch except the moulders, in that branch alone was there unanimity of action. They resolved not to accept the reduction, and appointed a committee to inform the proprietors of that fact. The meeting then adjourned till Monday evening, when the committee were to report the result of their work, and any impressions they might have formed during the day. In every other branch there were a few men at work on Monday, but not a single ironmoulder went near the shops. Their committee visited each of the firms above named, and having delivered their message, heard what the proprietors had to say, which in substance amounted to what is contained in the notice of reduction above referred to. The committee replied as best they could, giving their reasons for opposing the reduction, which were in effect as given below. The committee reported in the evening that they had been kindly received by all the firms, and some of them thought it was possible to have a compromise if the society would advance the proposition; but the Union instructed the committee not to go near the employers unless sent for. Nothing new occurred until Wednesday, the 12th, when by request the iron-moulders' committee met the proprietors at three o'clock, in Mr. Rankin's office. The interview was very friendly, and both sides admitted the senselessness of keeping up the strife. When the meeting adjourned, the moulders' committee felt that if the Union would appoint a committee with full power compromise could be effected by a seven and a half per cent. reduction; but to act, a With this all hope of a compromise ended. The decision of the majority was strictly adhered to. Strong committees watched each shop from the dawn till midnight, to prevent the transfer of work or patterns owned by firms on strike to those that were paying the old rates, it having been agreed by the men that they would not cast from patterns owned by the firms in question. This, however, did not prevent machine shops that were paying the old wages from removing their own patterns from firms that had given notice of reduction to those that were not on strike. During all this time the other branches were perfecting their organizations, and the men were gradually coming out and joining those on strike; so that at the end of the first week, with few excep tions, all had joined their respective Unions. Committees were appointed from each branch to confer with the others as to the best methods of conducting the strike to a successful end. Sunday, the 15th, was a very busy day among the workmen. There was a joint meeting of each branch in the morning at ten A. M., and in the afternoon all the Unions met and arranged matters for the following morning. The apprentices agreed to turn out and cast their lot with the men, who in return pledged themselves not to return to work without the apprentices. pletely paralyzed work in the foundries, for the boys could not be bribed to go to work under any circumstances. This com On Monday, the 16th, the committees were very strict in the performance of their duties. Every movement of the bosses was watched. In the afternoon the Globe Foundry was closed on account of having agreed to work on a pattern owned by the Fulton. The shops on strike could not get a pound of melted iron from those that were running. In fact, the men were masters of the situation. The Legislature adopted resolutions of sympathy for the workmen on strike. Communications were sent to all parts of the United States, cautioning workmen to keep away from this point until the strike was ended; and everything was done that had a tendency to strengthen the Unions. On Tuesday evening, the 17th, the ironmoulders' committee was requested to meet a representative of the manufacturers for the purpose of arranging a settlement. The meeting was held, and it was suggested that the proposition to compromise at seven and a half per cent. reduction be laid before the Union, with the understanding that all hands would be reëmployed at that figure. A meeting was called for the following evening, but the men would not listen to the proposition. When the result was announced to a representative of the Empire workshops, he, on behalf of the firm, requested their men and boys to return to work in the morning at the old rates. The Union declared the strike ended in that shop, and the men and apprentices were authorized to resume work on Thursday morning, the 19th. About ten o'clock on Thursday, the committee was requested to meet the proprietors of the other shops, and after a short discussion, it was agreed that the workmen in all branches should return to work on Friday morning, the 20th, after a suspension of ten days. The news spread very rapidly, and in the evening, when each branch met, the strike was officially declared at an end, and advertisements announcing the fact and directing the men to resume work, appeared in each of the morning papers. The laborers and moulders and helpers have had some trouble in one of the shops, but the firms generally have kept their prom ises to the old hands. Those who have been employed since are working at lower rates. The strike was well conducted. Not a single breach of the peace or arrest was made during the whole affair. The proprietors declared they could not afford to pay old rates, and the men withheld their labor, declaring they could not afford to work for less. So much for the actual history of the strike of the iron-workers last February. I will now try to give reasons to justify the workmen's action. During the past twentyfive years the workmen of America have been given abundant proof that manufacturers, as a class, never wait for the necessity of a reduction of wages, but are ever looking for an opportunity for it, which, when offered, they never fail to embrace; and further, they have used unjust methods to create opportunities. This is a sweeping assertion, but it is clearly proven by the way in which immigration has been encouraged by them; by their opposition in the East to the Chinese Restriction Act; and by their extensive importation of contract laborers, through which they have forced American laborers in the East down to a condition little better than slavery. And this, notwithstanding the fact that they (the manufacturers) have been protected by a high tariff, the benefits of which, by the use of the means above mentioned, have gone into their pockets exclusively, enabling them to build lordly mansions and live in luxury; while the hearts of the toiling masses are made desperate through want of the means to obtain the bare necessaries of life, and while warehouses and stores are crowded to overflowing with the comforts and luxuries of life, which their labor has created. Is it any wonder, then, that there should be an irrepressible conflict between labor and capital, and that the assertions of manufacturers concerning the necessity for reductions in wages, or anything else for that matter, are taken with a great deal of doubt and suspicion by their employés ? The standard of wages contended for by the iron-workers of this city is that portion which will bring within their reach the comforts and necessaries of life; which enables cup. The man at the basement door was to be shown upstairs; that was the order. ah! not as I had left there. I was broken in hand trembled so, I could scarcely hold my health, and a strange thing had happened to me my hair had turned white as snow. When I rose from my bed in the freight office, it was as if with the hoary locks of age. Would my best friend know me? want. I reached the great metropolis almost in Should I seek my former employer? I shrank from such a course with the greatest abhorrence. I hardly dared meet Alice, my heart's love, in my present broken condition. I sought for employment, but in vain; finally, wasted and worn with the pangs of hunger-yes, if I must confess it, by starva tion-I crawled to the servants' door of the handsome mansion on Fifth avenue, and asked for a piece of bread. That house, the steps of which I had run up so lightly and happily so many, many times! I knew they would hardly know me. I drew my tattered over-coat up about my ears, and waited patiently, for it was snowing heavily. A strange house-servant opened the door, but when he saw me shivering in the merciless storm, he bade me come in, and brought to me, standing in the vestibule, a sandwich and a cup of hot coffee. I heard the bell ring violently-the drawing-room bell. My heart beat as if it would suffocate me; my I could barely stagger up the flight and into the library, full, oh! so full, with such happy memories. How rich, how sumptuous everything looked; how exquisite the statuary, how superb the portieres. All this flashed through my mind in a moment of time. Who was this, who swept from behind the curtains and the palms, in mourning robes, with her exquisite face pale and thin, but oh! so beautiful in its sorrow and trial? "Grey, Grey," she cried in a passion of tears, "you couldn't deceive me, my poor boy. Oh! my love, my love, how could you leave me so long?" I forgot my hunger, my poverty, everything except my love, my passionate love for this girl. I drew her to my heart, and laid my white head beside her brown braids. THE BUILDING OF A STATE.-VII. THE COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA. I AM asked to give as one of the papers in the "Building of a State" series, the history of the College of California. That history properly begins with the preliminary work in the year 1849. Among the crowds of young men that were then coming to California for gold, there were some who came to stay and make homes, and help "build a State" here. They did not at first know each other. All were strangers then. But gradually they got into correspondence. As soon as there were mails and post-offices, they began to get acquainted. One of the first subjects written about and talked of by those who had faith in a State to come, was that of education. To be sure, there were very few English-speaking children here at that time, and most people thought it was too soon to plan for schools. But some thought otherwise. They thought that there would be children here to be taught, quite as soon as schools could be made ready to teach them. They thought that schools would bring children here, doing away with one of the greatest objections to the removing of families to this country. There were some that went so far as to in |
