Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-29
GOSSIP RROI WASHINGTON.
SOMETHING ABOUT CONGRESSMAN
CLUNIEs CAREER.
How G. p. Huntington Doubled His For
tune in the Chesapeake and Ohio
Deal-"shaIks" Outwitted.

How q. r. Huntington doubled His For
tune in the Chesapeake and Ohio
Deal-"ShaIks" Outwitted,
Especial Correspondence of the RECORD UNION
WASHINGTON, December 81, 1890.
The tflegraphic correspondents all COM
plain of dea,th of news this winter.
Really there is as much now as is usual at
short session. That there is plenty of
iawbone, accompanied by noticeable
paucity of thought evolved while wagging
it, is probably true.
Ruegedness of manner, distorting leeis-
lstion into the political cess pool, drawing
$4i6 per month and mileage, and doing
nothing in return therefor, seems to ipdi-
cate such let-down from the opinion we
formerly, but innocently, entertained of
Congressional position that it is difficult to
determine which has struck the red rock
of legislative impotency, the Congress of
the United States or the California Legisla-
ture under boss rule. The present Leeisla.
ture OF our State Is expected to elevate its
tone.
cLUEIE's DEFEAT.
The frequency of inquiry by prominent
Democrats for an explanation of the phe
nomenon of Mr.. Clunie's failure TO be re-
elected is remarkable. One gentleman
said that at the last session he had gotten
his bands into the public Treasury up to
the arm pits.
Mr.. Ciuuie's Congressional achievements
were IN keeping with the intentions of his
predecessor, and it was eminently proper
that he SHOULD have succeeded him. While
no m nj tha e AZ
FELTON, and obtained from a Republican
Congress what Mr.. FELTON, could not obtain
from Democratic Congress, and what he
himself could not have secured had his
own party been in the majority, vet the
fact stands prominently forward that he
did good work in getting large appropria-
tions for public buildings and improve
meilts in his district the last session. The
fact that his colleagues on the majority
side aided him in every way in that direc-
ton does not detract from the entry due to
his credit on the political balance-sheet.
The people of the East. still continue to
regard the State of California as an outlying
colonial dependency of the United States
of America Not so much as formerly, but
Sui, In private conversation about our DO.
hcical affairs, they do not generally seem to
understand the minutia as clearly as they
do OF the East.
FEEBLE EXPLANATION.
/ have said substantially that Mr.
Clunie's defeat was not more surprising to
him than it was unexpected to the oppos.
ing candidate. That outside of San Fran.
cisco he ran ahead of his ticket, but in the
city proper, which forms a large portion oil
that Congressional district, the better ele.
ment of the Democratic party felt last fall
as though they were called upon to
stamp out of existence forever a most
Ia m q h; h. -
do this effectually they had al.
mest unanimously voted the straight
Re blican ticket. The same course had
be- pursued by Republicans in many oil
the Eastern States, Pennsylvania being
pr oly the most conspicuous because in.
hrssced by kindred motives to attain the
same result. Hence Mr.. Clunie being the
nominee of his party, in common with the
State and municipal tickets, he had 10 be
sat down on with both feet like all the rest
were. His known intimacy with Mr.
Buckley doubtless contributed more effect
lively towards it than though he had been
Hloof from that fatal alliance.
Apart from that it was asserted and very
generally believed by great many that 8
programme had been adopted looking to.
wards Mr.. Clunie's reelection over any.
body. His success, it was claimed, was the
hrst installment of a political deal in
futures which would eliminate in the
selection of Mr.. Hearst's successor for the
United States Senate.
Whether that was true or false, it was
one of the potent factors of the campaign
and operated pretty much like thrusting
the red nag before an Infatuated bull. The
Republicans naturally united, as though
they wanted to inform the contracting par.
ties that the goods could not be delivered.
1t was one of those rare occasions when
the Republicans were all trying to elect in.
stead Of trying to defeat somebody. With
the Republicans presenting such an un.
usual unity of purpose for an off-year, and
fhe Democracy bay oneting each other il
every quarter, barrel full of blue check:
scouid not have prevented it.
FINS coRoSAT oPEEs.
: By reversing the terms of that familiar
quotation, it would possibly furnish loca
justification for the result of the Congress
sional election in that district. There is
however, a great deal at stake in the nea
future requiring national legislation of vita
importance to the whole country as well a
the Pacific States, which we of the ia
West are called upon to present; ably AM
earnestly if we expect success.
The permanent exclusion of Chinamel
is approaching a period which demand
prompt action. The irrigation of our EN-
pire of desert is the broadcast and larges
economic question of our time. The con
hnued increase of all immigration othe
than Chinese, in view of our own natura
increase. presents to the thoughtful mind
subject for the grave deliberation of mel
WHO are SO tall that they cant hear th
yelis OF political demagogues and bunc
steeIers.
II is a well-known fact that we only ob
tanned the present Exclusion Act (whic
limits but does not exclude) during tina
period OF dangerous Puerperdhs incident Il
our last Presidential parturition.
Ii is equally well-known that the silve
bill was passed, not so mucn on account c
the manifest business of the measure itsel
but more through the determination of th
great West and far West to protect one {
our industries from destruction by a
equally dangerous foreign enemy living b,
yoDG the high secs on the east of us.
Both were accidental and but for the ne
Farmers Alliance puzzle we could not Of
tain either to-day.
It's said that lightning don t strike twit
in the same place. 1t did in our case, bI
it won't do for Us to take much stock in e.
peCing it .hird time.
SOME PLAIN FACTS.
Wiser political judgment and less politi
We stand greatly in need of. For instano
Felton, should never have been permits
to decline the third denomination. Whe
however Clunie came here and develops
as useful member he should have be,
returned, not because it WAS Ciunie, but
cause of his usefulness, regardless OF Buc
ley. The political complexion OF the ne
Congress ties ,ities to the accuracy of that
sertion. That assumption, however, has
decayed, post mortem favor about it, b
~D ~N0