Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-05-14
kemmunistie kaliferRIs.

kemuuDlstie h3ttI0TAids
To the remote observer Of political
events in California the result Of the
election Of last week is astounding.
Less than two years ago vulgar
murderer Of the Kings English (Kear-
new undertook canvass of that State
on the question ola constitutional con-
venton. He was surprisingly success
full. Yet. the newspapers avowed that
the so.called conservative element pre-
ponderated and the State was safe. The
convention met and adopted new con-
stitution,-a constitution making such
radical changes" as that it was de-
nounccd without stint IN all commercial
centres as communistic and agrarian
and calculated, if ratified, to ruin the
business OF the great city Of San Fran
CISCO, all Of the smaller cities, and the
entire industrial interest of the State.
Scarcely anewspaper espoused the cause
of the constitution. San Francisco
polled 10000 votes, with an immense
majority against it. She was assisted
BY New York and other centres with
money to buy every purchasable vote.
The press declared all the honesty and
all the virtue OF the Slate against the
constitution. Last week the election
was held and the result was a ratifca-
Ion by a large majority. The tele-
graph saws that nearly all Of the farm
os roted for tie constitution, contrary to
general expectations"
Is it not worth while to enquire into
this: California is the richest state in
the Union in her production Of wheat.
Are all Of her wheat growers agrarians
Were they insensibly carried away by
the proiane rayins Of Kearney? Have
they inflicted any great wrong upon
their State and themselves out Of spite
to capital We rather take it that they
viewed the situation as practical, COM
mon sense men. They adopted the
new constitution. They have simply
said that speculative capital IN Califor-
MIA shall be tared as other property.
Reader, .hat IS all there is in the new
constitution Of California to merit the
abuse OF the newspapers and patriots OF
the whole country. Farmers and 9TH
er property owners have been paying
73cents on the 800 of value, recently
reduced TO So cents, and they were still
the highest taxed OF the people Of the
States. Speculative capital, bonded in
vestments, luxuriatOrs, oilers, interest
drawers paid nothing. Henceforth in
California all values must contribute TO
the support Of that government which
affords equal protection to all. All the
epithets.all the inyectiye which venal
press could employ al the denuncia-
ton which political villainy could in
vent, all the thunderbOlts Of the salaried
pharisce, all the hurrah and fustian OF
obsequiOus hck-spiftles and society
fawners made no impression on those
who had been hewers ofwood and draw
ers Of watcr-the makers Of brick with
out straw for the charioted PharAohs Of
that Eastern bonanza.
No wonder surprise IS felt and ex-
pressed. The taxpayers did not follow
the hounds as they were expected. Who
wouldn't be surprised? Who Is not as
tonished that the people Of a state have
once again asserted themselves against
the strongest combinations which syn
dicates aud rings could make? Thank
God, for the surprise, most reverently |!
May the time soon come when what
prosperity state may have, little or
much, shall be equally shared and her
burdens ofgovernment equally borne.
An Act to amend and rc-enact sec.
finn - chovto, TX ToJo oc 1917 =,