Los Angeles herald., 1890-09-10
SEPTEMBER 10. 1890.
A REMARKABLE CONTRAST.


come Pond and Del Vale to Los Angeles
will be memorable one. Perhaps the
most eccentric thing in California poll
tics is that, while it was claimed that
Col. Markham was overwhelmingly
strong in the Southern counties, he
really proves to be unexpectedly weak.
We do not mean by this that we regard
Col. Markham as weak candidate per
sc. On the contrary. we think that as
against anybody but Pond he would be
very strong one But the fact remains
that the nomination Of Pond was a
most unfortunate thing for the tall
Pasadenan. There is significant pas
sage in the scripture which says that
a certain generation was looking for
sign. And quite as truly, and not so
invidiously, have the people of Cali
fornia been looking for man with
record. They have had such painful
experiences in a prohigate administra-
ton of our State affairs that they fairly
yearn tor an economical and honest
government. 1t is usual for the few
apOlogists of Governor Waterman to
claim that much Of the extravaganza OF
his administration was referable to
schemes of public improvement, like the
Insane Asylum in San BernardinO, and
the Reform School at Whittier. No
doubt considerable portion of the gap
which separated Controller Dunn's esti-
mates from the actual expenditures was
referable to these outlays. But they did
not account for the unprecedented out
LAYS by any means. The difference be-
tween seven million dollars, the Con-
troller's estimate, and twelve millions, is
too vast to be accounted for by few
public Improvements. There were, be-
sides, other features of Waterman's ad-
ministration that shocked the people.
The defeat of the Mutual Insurance bill
at the dictation of Marquis of Borax was
one of the most infamous things ever
noted in the annals of California poll
tics. 1t was an outrage which handed
the people of this State bound over
hand and foot to the foreign companies.
1t perpetuated state of things in which
every man who had occasion to insure
his home was obliged to spend twice as
much as he would have been compelled
to do if the law had been allowed to go
on the statute books. The pretence un-
der which the Governor vetoed the bill
was frivolous to the point OF absurdity.
Having had such experiences, the
of Ho1 atI1r Ilu
administrator whose record admits of no
doubt, and fortunately for the Demo
cratic party Mr.. Pond exactly embodies
in his own person the desideratum
sought for by the masses. In addition,
the Democratic ticket is not only strong
but exceedingly we'll balanced. The
nomination of Del Vale for Lieutenant
Governor rounds it out very symmetri-
cally.
These things explain the fatness with
which Markham's nomination has been
received even in his own county. The
apathy with which he is regarded is in
marked contrast to the downright,
effervescing enthusiasm which greeted
Mr.. Pond. As we have pointed out in
previous issues, Colonel Markham is
exceptionally weak where Pond is nota-
bly, strong, that is to say in the northern
and central counties. OF this there can
be no doubt. The astute Republican
politicians of the upper portion of the
State resent most bitterly the triumph
of the Pasadenan. Morrow, Chapman
and all, they will not be comforted.
For some days after Markham's nomi-
nation many of the most influential poll
ticians and newspapers openly refused
to vote for the man who had defeated
their favorite. These people have been
measurably whipped into line, but the
feeling is there, all the same. 1t is
much such sentiment as existed in the
Republican party of California when
Estee was beaten so disastrously by
Stoneman. The handwriting on the
wall is as PLAIN as was the "mene, tekel,
upharsin" of the Babylonian banquet
ing hall. Pond is simmeasurably stronger
in San Francisco and the central and
northern counties than Markham, while
he caps the climax by developing unex-
pected strength in the Los Angeles
mans bailiwick.
Tn woIrI N ha intpraatinu to knoy tho