Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-23
IN. Un...bls pol,slc. OF o.lisorni.,

draws attention again to the peculiar
capriciousness of California from a po-
litical point of view. Prior to the war
you could run two Democratic candidates
for Governor in this State and one OF
them was sure to be elected. In 1860
there were two Democratic candidates
for Governor, and both the Breckinridge
and Douglas representatives received
nearly as many votes as their barely sue
cessful Republican competitor. The sue
cess of the Republican party in that tri-
angular contest was due to the recent
ments growing out of the Terry -Broderick
duel. During the war the Golden State
stuck staunchly to the Republican party.
The first break was in 1868, when
Haight, Democrat, was elected Governor
over George G. Gorham by clear major
ity of more than 5000. One would have
supposed that this sterling gentleman
would have been reelected. Not SO. He
was beaten by Newton Booth, Republican,
by handsome figure. True to her in
stincts OF being constant in nothing polit-
ical, Gov. VIM. Irwin, Democrat, was
elected as Booths successor, or, rather,
Pacheco's, for Booth, meantime, had
been elected to the United States Senate
through the Independent movement,
which gathered head in 1873, and Pa
checo, who was Lieutenant-G Governor,
took his place. Irwin owed his election
to split in the Republican ranks, that
party accommodating its opponents by
putting two candidates in the field,
Phelps, regular Republican nominee,
and Gen. Bidwell, Independent Repub.
lican. At the next gubernatorial election
the Democracy was equally obliging, and
ran Glenn, regular Democratic nominee,
and White, Democrat, the candidate OF
the workingmen, electing George c. Fer
kins by tremendous plurality. The
Republicans, unwarned by the past,
and contemplating their unheard Of
plurality of about 10000, doubtless
thought they had an indefinite
lease of power. Delusive hope
Our fellow townsman, Gen. George
Stoneman, Democrat, turned in and beat
Estee for Governor by a downright
square majority of $4,000. This was
nearly three times as large majority as
had ever been cast for Governor of this
State.
1t was so large that the Democrats
were excusable for hugging the fsttering
JUNCTION to their souls that they had an
enduring ascendancy in this Common
wealth. This fond opinion, if they en-
tertained it, was rudely dispelled by see
ing Jim Blaine carry the State for Presi.
dent in 1884 by nearly thirteen thousand
over Cleveland.
By the rule which governs California
politics it then became necessary, in or
der to preserve the record, that the
Democrats should carry the State; and,
accordingly. they did so, electing the
late lamented Governor Bartlett by a
slender majority of some six hundred
odd over Swift, Republican. If it had
not been for the American party
the record would have been broken and
our politics would have been left in q
state of great confusion. Swift threw
the game away by declining to accept
the nomination of that organization,
which then had some little vitality.
By this brief review it will be seen
that the game of shuttlecock and battle
dore is perfectly illustrated in our poll
tics. Or perhaps a more fitting simile
could be taken from the interesting
advertisement of thimblerig. Well may
the agonized California politician ex-
claim, ''now you see it ana now you
don't"
This popularity of California politics
gives great picquancy to the play in this
State. No man is ever permitted to
know that he has dead certainty. This
rule prevails in Los Angeles. Two
months ago the Democrats elected their
Mayor and eleven out OF the fifteen Coun-
cilmen. Day before yesterday the Re-
publicans made clean sweep of the
platter, the Democrats only saving
one member of the Board of Edu-
cation-just enough to swear by.
But that local statesman who argues
that the Republican party has an assured
control of the city for all time to come
is flying in the face of all experience.
Two years of undisputed Republican
control of Los Angeles will evolve the
conditions for another surprise, which
will be quite as bewildering as the little
episode which has just been chronicled.
-
AS we write there are about six hun
dred votes to be counted. The figures at
hand give Mr.. Bryson 2S44, Mr.. Hazard
5307, and Mr.. Toberman 1156. The vo e
is substantially that of December, there
being but a trifing increase. AS far as
heard from, Hazard has majority of
1900 over all and plurality of 2463 over
Bryson. The significant thing about
this election is that the Democrats failed
10 vote in any considerable numbers.
It would be well that we should look into
he cause of this state of things and