The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-07
WHY CORRUPTION Is SUSTAINED.

A correspondent asks the following peril
nent question: Why is it that the press of
the country has not used its influence to
change the mode Of electing United States
Senators. ele-tng by the people instead Of
by the~va1ious State Legislatures" In the
opinion of THK CALL it is because so many
Of the newspapers of the country are owned
oriufuenced by persons whose interest it
has been to continue corrupt system. I'm
derpresent ARRANGEMENTS men with money.
ii they are willing to expend it, can control
nearly all the important offices in the Union.
What is easier, for instance, for person
who desires to b. elected to the United
States Senate than for him to use his money
On sucI conventions as we have had in Cali
@fornid of late to obtain the nomination Of
candidates for the Legislature2 OF course,
lie can secure the nomination OF his instru-
ment-. He can even send his agents into
the conventions of both political parties and
e. titus control all OF the candidates who ara
dominated. Again, take a corporation con-
.trolled by INSCRIPTIONS managers, and it
.-cau thus dominate not only the Legislature
and elect United States Senators to suit its
purposes. but it can secure Judges who may
r,,s on important cases so rs to favor that
Corporation. Why a wealthy individual
deeply interested in corporations may desire
II have political conventions controlled by
l,!-ses must be readily understood. Next
: as 10 newspapers: TIE CALL stated some
lime since that several newsp apers were
=: owned by persons connected with the Cen
trail and Southern Pacific Railroad COM
pauies and that others were subsidized.
NEWSPAPERS have found it profitable to
work for the interests of individuals and
corporations which would pay literally for
their editorials. One editor, they say, is under
: pay annually from a railroad corporation to
the amount of $4,000, another to the
amount Of six or seven thousand dol
lars annually. Still another, which has
the reputation of selling the services !
Of his paper, and urges that such a
policy is perfectly justifabe, we believe
has received from persons connected with
railroads not less than half a million of
dollars. TIE amount paid TO newspapers
and bosses in California since the opening
# our railroad system THE CALL has here
tofore expressed the belief has not been less
. in the aggregate than $4,000, 900. Is any one
surprised, under such circumstances, that
we have corruption in politics? Can news
papers be expected to assist in putting down
an abomination which they are paid to keep
up? Why have railroads used money so
. layishly? it may be asked. Has it not paid
: to have Legislatures which would permit
railroads to escape some millions in taxes on
:. railroad lands, on rolling stock and on
tracks? Again, why should not rail-
roads which owe the General Gov
'.er0ment STO0OOO,OOO, which they do
: not wish to pay. desire to have
. Senators and Congressman in the national
= legislature 10 assist them to put off the pay
!. ment Of the debts? 1t would not be polite
. To. permit opponents Of railroads to hold
seats in Congress, for they might ask for the
payment Of the debts. 1t will, therefore, be
-.txplaihed why California has to endure
=. such a system of cOrruption-why money is
paid 70 bosses. newspapers and blackmailers
GENERALLY. The CALL has not liked 10 fight
such corruption as We have lad in CalifOr-
MA almost single handed. 1t preferred
rather to wait for the people to move, but
it got tired Of waiting, hence it thought
when Buckley had gained such an ascend
ency that he could use the Legislature, the
courts, our jury system etc, that it could
net afford to wait any longer. In this con-
nection we may point to a decision in one
Of our courts in which THE CALL was in
terested. 1t was where one of the parties,
who had been engaged for long time In
embezzliug its funds, was on trial for por-
ton of the money stolen. 1t could not OBJ
tain a judgment, although, as the Argonaut
SAID
There was no doubt that the defendant had ap-
pied money OF The CALL newspaper to his own
use That he had confessed in the presence OF
Witnesses. and big statement had been reduced
10 wiring. There was not perSen In court,
from the Judge on the bench to the spectators In
their chairs, who entertained the smallest doubt
respecting the merits OF the case. Yet the Jury,
by vote OF ten TO two, found for the defendant.
1t Is true that Judge Hunt had charged them
that If they could not fix on Kerr the taking OF
"a some particular SUM Of money some particular
day they could not give the plaintiff verdict;
and IL IS also true that the evidence fell a little
short of this requirement. But enough was
proven to have insured a victory for the plaintif
II that plaintiff had not been newspaper pro-
prietor.
In the same connection another San Fran
cisco weekly newspaper published the fol-
lowing:
Tie recent suit OF The proprietor OF THE CALL
against Kerr, the ex-cashier. has had some curi.
Gus elements. The first straHes fact is that
harry daily or weekly in San FHsucisco shows
arfTrgrets over Inc losses OF THE CALL or any
desire 10 have justice meied out TO those who
have been accused OF embczzienSnt. n is i'm