Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-24
THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR
GOVERNOR.

The Democratic contest for the nomina.
ton fer Governor terminated yesterday
afternoon by the nomination of General
Stoneman, of Los Angeles, on the four
teenth ballot. The fight was the hottest
that has ever occurred in State Conven-
ton in California. For long time Hearst
appeared to have the strongest prospect,
for though his gains in any one ballot were
small, he kept increasing his vote up to the
twelfth ballot, when Stoneman caught up
with and passed him. 1t looked, when the
Convention voted to adjourn for recess,
as if Stoneman could not obtain the Taylor
strength. But subsequent events made it
apparent that Taylor could not or would
not throw his vote for Hearst, and although
the latter kept his following to the last, he
was beaten on the fourteenth ballot. Con-
sidering the loudness of the talk about
Hearst's intention and capacity to make q
moneyed fight, this result seems to war
rant the conclusion either that he failed to
open his "sack" wide enough, or that his
managers were incompetent for it is not a
reasonable superstition that in Democratic
wanting. Hearst had indeed appeared
TO trust everything to his financial
strength, for he certainly had no
other kind, but he has discovered that
unless it is combined with sagacity even the
greatest reputation for pecuniary ability
may fail. The successful candidate, Gen.
eral Stoneman, has but meager record
apart from his military career, and that
cuts no figure in candidature for civil
office. He has occupied the position of
Railroad Commissioner for some time, and
during his tenure of it has sedulously culti-
waited popularity with the anti-railroad
element by pretending to be in favor of
very radical measures, which, however, he
knew perfectly well could not be adopted
by those of his colleagues who recognized
their responsibility. Whether General
SLOVENIAN would have ventured upon the
same course had he shared the office with
men equally DESTROYS of the kind of noto-
riety he sought, is a question which it is
perhaps not so easy to determine. Besides
his services as Railroad Commissioner he
has done nothing more remarkable than
the simultaneous tenure of Federal and
State offices, in open and persistent con-
travention of the Constitution. As a
statesman, as a politician of ability, as
speaker, he simply possesses no record.
At this moment the Democrats appear
to think that in nominating him
they have put their strongest man
at the head of the ticket. We cheer
fully admit that during the coming two
months he is likely to be the strongest can.
didate in the field-beca he will for that
period be the only one. There is, how.
ever, ample time for the Democracy and
the State generally to discover that the
head of the Democratic State ticket is
really very ordinary material, and that the
wisdom of the choice was by no means SO
obvious as it seems just now. Until the
rest of the Democratic ticket has been
nominated, moreover, it is impossible to
form any conclusion as to the general effect
of the San Jose work. Certainly if it is
not stronger than its head the Republicans
ought to find no difficulty in beating it,
and we have no doubt that they will take
the enterprise in hand with zeal and de-
termination.