Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-04-15
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
A Democrat criticisas the state Central
Committee for Calling the Convention
at San Jose

A Democrat criticisss the State Central
Committee for Calling the Convention
at San Jose.
EDS. RECORD UNION The Democratic
State Convention has been called to meet in
San Jose. This is departure that is espe-
cially unfortunate at this juucture, when
there are peculiar reasons concerning the in
terests of the State in general, and of the
valley, making is desirable that both great
parties should adhere to their almost uniform
practice OF the past of calling their State
Conventions in Sacramento. Those reasons
should be clearly presented to the public,
and it is to be hoped that they may remove
any disposition, if such exists, on the part of
the Republican managers to follow the ex.
ample of the Democrats. and call the Repub-
lican State Convention elsewhere than st the
capital.
THE DEBRIS QUESTION
Is now the question of prime Importance to
the State, and OF life and death Importance
to the valley. 1t is not even secondary to
the Chinese question ; in fact, the latter be.
comes Of distant concern beside it. The for
ner question demands immediate and proper
treatment, and neglect or improper action
means deprivation of property to whole COM
munities in the valley and the effectuation
of the destruction of the Sacramento and the
Feather, OF the blocking OF the mouth of the
San Joaquin, ard of that injury to the bay
for which the conditions are now so thor
oughly prepared. The question has become
political question in the sense that resolutions
-kr- LAS IL.
adopted by State parties. and the position
of party nominees, shall be adequate to the
needs of the question. Past experience has
shown that bungling State action or State
indifference, and, it must be confessed, legis.
lative action induced by sinister influences,
have caused much injury. For this reason
the welfare of the State requires the most
thorough comprehension of the subject BY
that State Convention, Individually and as q
body, and the people of the valley require the
most just and adequate party action. This
eau only be accomplished by the assembling
of
THE CONVENTION IN SACRAMENTO.
There will be delegates from the northern
and southern counties and from San Fran
cisco, who have but an imperfect comprehen.
sion of the devastation wrought in the valley
and of the urgency and the requirements of
the question. If the Convention meets at
some such place as San Jose, distant from the
scene of the debris and beyond the reach of
the feelings of the districts affected, their
want of information and of lively percep-
ton Of the condition of the valley and the
feelings Of its inhabitants will prevent them
from justly estimating the Importance of the
question aud from properly acting upon it,
and will make it easy for those 60 influence
IFS proceedings who aim at obstructing public
in tho m Tho o. ~ nf
valley and of the State. In truth, instead
of treating tie debris question explicitly and
unsquivocslly, instead of giving it the first
place In the consideration CT the Convention,
there will be danger that it will be made sec.
ondary to partisan matters insignifcartly
trivial in the eyes of many citizens of the
State. If the Convention meets in Sacra-
mento, the members will be on the scene Of
the destructive effects of the debris and of
the intense agitation. Coming in contact
with the citizsns of the valley, its members
will be infused With their views and informed
of the facts. Instead of the debris question
being showed into a secondary place after the
customary platitudes eff the party platform,
and instead of its being mentioned in general
terms intended only to delude the voters of
the valley and Of the State, it will take the
first place and will be adequately treated,
and what is said will be meant.
THE VOTERS OF THE VALLEY
VIII subordinate absolutely in the coming
election all partisan considerations in this
matter In common with all intelligent
men, they know that party platforms are, in
q great measure, but lures to catch voters,
and with whatever purpose party managers
contrive other provisions in the party plat
form, the provision upoc this subject must
be in different category. The sensibilities
of the valley people are keenly alive upon
this matter, and any unusual movement will
be regarded with distrust. Sacramento is
the best place for State Conventions, for vari
Gus reasons. 1t is about in the center of the
State geographically. 1t is easy Of access
It is the natural political center. All inter.
ests and views are there upon an eqnal plane
and no section or interest has an unequal
leverage, or has been deprived Of fair and
equal leverage upon the proceedings and
views of convention there held. From the
course of business and from their political
habits, it is with greater facility that men
congregate at Sacramento for any purpose
than at comparatively out of-the.way place,
politically and commercially, as is San Jose.
THERE Is NO REASON
Fer calling = convention elsewhere than at
Sacramento. And in. view of the fact that it
would arouse a belief that some particular
interest, interested in securing State action
sinister to the valley and to the general in
terests of the State, had contrived it, it would
neither be prudent nor eXcusable. In the con-
troversy in which the hydraulic companies
are pitted against the rest Of tie State. they,
of course, claim that they ask only justice,
and that their claims are consistent with
State interest and with the real interests of
the valley. If the Convention, converting in
Sacramento, is where it may receive init.
- rs tsoY, 70 he If &c Ia
debris, and may form an understanding
judgment of the subject and its equi-
ties, its conclusions will of course sus-
tain the views of the hydraulic companies,
in case their claims are right, go that in case
those companies really seek only justice, az
they claim, they cannot be prejudiced.
This will be so, because the Convention, a
tribunal comparatively disinterested as to i'm
mediate interests, since composed in great
measure Of delegates from other parts of the
State, will see and DO what is right, unbiased by
Interest. OF course, if the claims of the ny
draulic companies are inequitable, and are
gros sly inconsistent with justice and public
interest, public policy will be best subserved
by holding the Convention where it will be
most freely reached from all quarters, and
where the utmost information will be at hand.
1t is to be hoped, for these reasons. that the
Republican Convention will be called i'll Sac
ramento, the most fit place for it to convene,
and the place where its assemblage will allay
the distrust existing in large class Of voters,
and will prevent loading the party with
disadvantage and an adverse presumption in
public opinion, in addition to that occasioned
by recent events in Washington.
J. II. D.
THREW IT IN THE RIyER.-YesteEday, in the
Police Court, Patrick Cronan was convicted
of carrying concealed weapon, he having