Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-20
LOCAL POLITICS.
VARIOUS METHODS AND MEANS OF
The BOSSES.
Correspondents Illustrate How it is
Done Shall We Have Reform
alton ?-Remedies Suggested.

pOlltlcai. am one OF those who believe
that it is the first duty of an American cit
izen to be member of political party,
and 20 take an active and intelligent inter
est in the primary affairs of his party. l
have no sympathy with any system of pol
itics which depends for its success on de-
-ception. believe that civil service reform
is one of the most pleasing myths of the
present century, and smile when l hear
the grave non-partisan American freeman
who has Republican tendencies, but
who never votes the ticket-commend the
written expressions of the President on
the subject of civil service and vet loses
sight of the fact that that officer is doing
what every Democratic President has done
and will ever do-reward his political
friends. ! will not, however, discuss ma
tional politics, but will refer more particu-
larly to things nearer home.
OUR POLITICAL MUD
Matters have about arrived at a point in
this city and county when decent gentle
man will not dare to accept a political
nomination. Take as an example the re-
cent defeat of DR.. Laine In that campaign
it is apparent that large number of Re-
publicans, as | believe thoughtlessly in
ously unfair Admittedly the Chairman of
the Democratic City Committee procured
the anonymous publication in the Bee of
serious charges against Laine on the very
eve of the election, to which a perfect re-
futation was published the next day by the
doctor; palpably the Democratic Commit
tee nominated candidates for School Direc-
tors who had stated in advance that they
would not accept. 1t was apparent that
pO,,1.p for
paying offices or for the educational inter-
ests of this city. 1t is not necessary for me
to particularly criticise the Bee for publish
ing those anonymous cards at that time
and under those peculiar circumstances
Every man who interests himself in public
matters of course views with regret the
marked decadence of the influence of the
press. 1t is understood that this loss of
influence is largely due TO the fact that
newspapers have educated their readers to
believe that the profession of journalism is
- somewhat peculiar" Every once in
awhile in this city some paper accuses an
other of corruption and men who have
been before the dear people are aware that
there is difference between the journalist
in theory and the journalist practical. OF
course, when paper pursues a course that
is manifestly unfair-as the publication of
anonymous attacks always is-it is liable
to arouse criticism. In this instance if
Laine is guilty of the charge, the people
should have known it even after election
If he is innocent, the amende honorable
would have been done him in any profess
sion or business, except journalism.
A REMEDY SUGGESTED.
A man should never find fault without
suggesting a remedy. Having been men,
Der OF Central Committees, and having
been through the mill as a candidate for
Office, and witnessed the degradation to
which men lower themselves to rob candi-
dates, it has occurred to me that might
offer some suggestions which might be
interesting. The evil in Sacramento poll
tics is that the people do not do their duty
IN attending the primary caucuses and
meetings. Every citizen should have pro-
nounced political views Without partisan
divisions the Government cannot well be
sustained under our system. The more
nearly equal our parties are divided the
better the Government. In this city it has
been almost impossible to get corporal s
guard to attend caucus. The few who
have attended have simply carried out a
cut-and-dried programme, and the men
who should have been present have stood
out, have kicked and bolted. ! desire
particularly to address myself to the men
who stay at home. Look at the manner
in which politics have been conducted
mere III tnt ldSt lew years. L 0eeu Dut
to mention the fraud IN the Ames case
and it is not necessary for me to comment
on the fact that that fraud was sustained
and perhaps aided, by some gentlemen who
esteem themselves as particularly pure
Consider the shameful tampering with the
ballots in the Third Ward three years ago
which defeated Mr.. Knox for an Office to
which he had been fairly elected by the
people. For this last-named crime some
I,rdt cnn hA |, Cto% D-s-
| do not overstep the mark when assert
that the last county campaign cost the
candidates $4,000 the most of which was
extorted from them and from the commit
tees by the class of patriots who. to candi
dates, seem to take the deepest interest in
Governmental affairs, and an interest in 8
candidate which commences with the mo
nent of his nomination and ends when
death comes, or when poverty makes the
patriots are also nou-partisan.
A POSITIVE DISGRACE.
This state of affairs is positive
disgrace, and can only be remediec
by the responsible portion of our citizens
taking that interest in public and politica
affairs which is justified by considera
ton of their importance. | have not that
respect that some have for the small banG
of our prominent men who have done Sc
much to institute local reforms by talk.
recollect that few years ago they called s
public meeting at the Court-house anc
talked about a system of drainage for tn,
city. The committee then appointed hav,
forgotten to report. | suppose they will
when Grants monument is finished / DE-
not mean either that reform will com,
through the efforts of the moss-backet
politicians who occasionally take the con
tract to straighten things out but who's,
spasmodic efforts always develop that they
have concocted a clumsy scheme to cap
ture caucus by acting out cut-and-driet
programme. Men are needed who have ne
axes to grind. If this class will resolve I,
not only attend the primary caucuse
themselves. but also to use their infiuenc,
TO have other honest men attend if the,
will secure the holding of caucuses in suf
ficient time before the primary to admit o
opposition tickets being run, the chance
are favorable that tickets will be nominate,
OF men whose success in the convention
will not have been predicted for months
and the imputation will be removed tha
the thing was put up by a ring After
ticket is so nominated the class of men in
dicated should aid the candidates and pro
tect them from the strikers, at who's
mercy they are absolutely.
ALWAYS FOR PARTY.
True reformation in our politics can onl,
be effected by publication within the par
ties. Divorcement of political affairs from
politics is a gauzy pretext for the election
of a Democratic ticket. The last Republi
can who was elected on that theory die,
early in the last century, and the next on
has determined that he will not be born
This hollow sham is exposed when we fin
our local political leaders urging the pee
pie to stand by the grand old Republican
party in this important city election" a
they did when Ames was nominated, an
preach reinforcement when it is deeme,
desirable to their particular interests +
elect Democrat over any Republican VIII
might be named-as we witnessed in tn