Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-12
MONDAY, MAY 1a, 1890.
THE sENAToRsHIP AND MR.. WHITE.

Elsewhere we print considerable
number of interviews between citizens
of Los Angeles and HERALD reporters
commenting on the action of the demo-
cratic county central committee in in
viting Mr. White to stump the state for
senator in congress. 1t will be seen that
the persons interviewed embrace all
lines of business, and that they
are not confined to democrats. On
the contrary, republicans figure in
the roll in very large numbers. Not
withstanding this divergence of political
sentiment on the part of the gentlemen
who have given the HERALD their
opinions, it will be noted that there is
scarcely dissident voice amongst the
lot. One and all, they think the new
departure which takes the United States
senatorship out of the category OF acci-
dents. and RENTS the choice to the
people, salutary one; and, one and all,
thev believe that it would be an exceed
ingly lucky thing to have California
represented in the senate of the United
States by man of the consummate
ability and stainless integrity of our
present acting lieutenant-governor,H Hon.
Stephen NJ. White.
This gentleman's real Importance in
the affairs of the democratic party of
California has neither been represented
by the number OF official positions he
has held, nor by the length of time dur
ing which he has filled them. His pub
lie trusts have been few First defeated
for district attorney of Los Angeles
county, he was afterwards elected to that
position, and his incumbency of it was
signalized by an energy, devotion to
the people and an eloquence which have
never been surpassed, although that Of
flee was once filled by Gen. Volney E..
Howard. While Mr.. White was dis
trict attorney he was terror to evil-do-
ers, and no guilty man escaped. When
he ceased to be district attorney his en-
inence in his profession of the law made
him the counsel for most of the malefac-
tors of this lower country, and few per-
SOuS WllSbllOI Sullty VI ihiiO
cent, have been convicted.
There has scarcely been a year since
his residence in Los Angeles county,
dating some sixteen years back, when
Mr.. White might not have been elected to
almost any office he might have picked
out. The demands of an exigent and
lucrative profession, however, COM
PEELED him to stay out OF politics. In
1886, departing from the role ne had
adopted of staying out of politics, he
consented to run for state senator
against our present mayor, Hon. H. L.
Hazard. Elected to the higher branch
of the legislature, he was chosen presi-
dent pro tenn. of the senate, and the
death of Governor Bartlett, which made
Waterman governor, made Mr.. White
lieutenant-governoro of California.
1t is no exaggeration to say that Mr..
Whites legislative career was brilliant
high tone of integrity and by conspicu-
GUS ability. From its opening to
its close-we presume that this phase
of his career has been. rounded out
for the present as an extra session is
by no means imminent-it reflected
high honor on the young statesman
from Los Angeles county.
A specially memorable compliment
was paid to Mr.. White by his being
called upon to preside over the delibera-
af hn of al
ton which met in st. Louis in 1888.
The admirable way in which he acquitted
himself of that task at once gave him a
national reputation, and he figures
among the rising young statesmen of the
day, to whom no position is unattain-
able.
As we have said, Mr.. Whites status
as democrat is not to be gagged by the
official stations he has held. He is
amongst the half-dozen lawyers of Cali
fornia who find it difficult to dispatch
the profitable litigation which seeks
them importunately. He is emphat-
ically a self-made man, and is achieving
fame and fortune without specially
courting either Should the democratic
state convention re-echo the demand
made upon him by the Los Angeles
democracy to head the senatorial fight
in California, as it seems very
likely they will, from the cordial
ity with which this local initia-
tive has been received, an inspiriting
and unique struggle will begin in this
state. 1t will be fight OF brains against
money; OF youth, energy and masterful
purpose against entrenched power and
prescription. Should Mr.. White win in
the contest it will again become fashion
able to consider the claims OF men to
Office without first carefully weighing
their bank accounts. His success would
be a note of encouragement to all the
young men of the country. 1t would in
dicate the dawning of a new era, in
which the mercenary element in politics
would receive rebuke from which it
would not soon recover.
Young, energetic, able and dauntless,
the democracy of Los Angeles county
fearlessly presents Stephen M. White as
its exemplar in contest in which it
would be a burning shame to allow mere
coin and prestige of position to carry off
the laurels. OF the result of such
locking of shields no one need have any
serious doubts.