The morning call., 1891-07-24
THE MARRIOTT IN THE CASE.

The Endorsement of J. de Barth Shorb as
Chief of the Horticultural Bureau of the
Worlds Fair by the State Commission at
its meeting on Wednesday ought to end the
controversy over the Office. No one objects
TO Mr.. Shorb His appointment would
give universal satisfaction. There is no
reason why there should be any further de-
lay in the matter.
1t is well that our Eastern friends should
understand that the whole trouble in the
matter has arisen from the meddling OF one
obtrnsiye and unpopular individual-M. ID.
de Young. When he undertook to name
the head of the Horticultural Bureau the
whole State took the alarm. Those who
know the man could not conceive that he
would act in this or any other matter from
unselfsh motives. Observation of his
whole career led 10 the conviction that
whatever lie did he did for personal objects;
that he was incapable Of rising to a sense of
public duty and was saturated with the no
ton that he ought to make the most of his
opportunities for his personal advantage.
Entertaining this opinion, the people OF Cal
ifornia revolted at the idea Of letting him
name the head Of the Horticultural Bureau.
They protested with all their might and
without stopping to investigate MaxwelPs
personal fitness. lie was accordingly re-
jected. The next man named (Chipman)
was sacrificed to the vengeance of MaXwelPs
friends, De Young, who professed to be In
favor of his appointment, being in all prob
ability secretly active among his opponents.
Then Forsyth came up, the son-in-law OF
De Young's New I ork correspondent.
Even if there mad been no doubts about his
nationality and his candor his connection
with the odious journalist would have been
fatal to him. The people of this State are
unwilling to run the risk of putting influ-
ence into the hands Of one whom they dis
trust.
Finally the name Of De Barth Shorb was
suggested with the unanimous approval of
the horticultural interest, and of people in
general. The only citizen who opposed him
was the same old marplot-De Y oung; I'M
less we include Mr. James d. Phelan. who
figures in this case in pretty bad company.
This pair unearthed young Chicagoan, the
son Of bank cashier, who probably knows
as much about California and horticulture
as any average Eastern bank teller They
did not succeed in getting their man in
dorsed by the commission. They could not
prevent the Endorsement of Shorb. But it
is odds that they are flooding Director
General Davis desk with dispatches falsely
stating that Shorb is not satisfactory to the
horticulturists of this State, and that their
bank man is. We shall see if they succeed
in their game of rule or ruin.
Mr. de Young takes it to heart that his
conduct is criticized and his motives i'm
pugned But he has no one but himself to
blame for the odium he has won. 1t is his
own behavior. ever since he first attracted
public notice, which has made people hate
him and fear him. He has borne himself
and has conducted his newspaper in such
way that people believe he has no other aim
in life than his own advantage; that prin-
ciple is one OF the things he does not under
stand, and that duty, honesty AMI truth are
past his comprehension. Hence it happens
that when he advocates that which is right
be is suspected of doing so from some cor
rupt object; when he recommends man for
office il is assumed as matter of course
that he has some personal gain in view.
This is a legitimate inference from a careful
observation of his career. He has had op-
portunitieS, on more than one occasion OF
late, of redeeming himself at least partially
in public estimation, but with singular
fatality lie has neglected them all, and has
lost no chance Of confirming the unfavorable
opinion which people have formed OF him.
1t generally happens that when men ac-
qUire wealth after a struggle which has
involved some cr0OkednesS they Law them
selves out to atone for the past, and 10 ac-
qure some measure of public respect and
confidence. MI. de Young is an exception
to the rule. His paper is still conducted, as
1t always was, as if its sole aim was 10 make
enemies for its propTietOrs