Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-05
THURSDAY, MARCH s. 1891.
THE BooDLERs IN CLOVER.

Ihe QeaCl OF DeUaCOT I1edTSt HAS Ilduc
the selection of his successor an all-ab-
sorbing topic in Sacramento. A number
of candidates have been publicly named,
and the statesmen who are in the legs-
lature for revenue only, are credited
with determination to SO conduct
themselves that one or more bulging
sacks will be the most interesting Ito
them) developments of the contest. As
the Republicans have walk-over in
both houses, those thrifty representa-
tives are opposed to caucus in which
forty-five men will be in position to get
hold of the flesh-pots to the exclusion
of the other forty-four. They are there
fore disinclined to 60 into caucus, but
are talking loud for an open ballot and
free selection in which the best man
may win.
The leading names that have been men,
toned in connection with the nomination
are George H. Bonebrake, of Los Angeles,
M. M. Estee, Charles N. FELTON,, M. II.
De Young, John F. Swift and A. P.
Williams. Mr.. Bonebrake will doubtless
90 into the contest with large per cent
age of the representatives from our
part of the state. Mr.. Estee is said
to be the gentleman whom Mr.. STAN
ford would like to have for his col
league. Mr.. FELTON, has powerful back
ing, and Mr.. De Young will find strong
opposition from the Spreckles contin-
gent, with whom he is at feud. 1t is not
likely that either Swift or Williams have
any considerable following. 1t is be-
lieved that if Mr.. De Young should de-
,yelop dangerous strength, the Spreck-
leses could be induced to open sack for
FELTON,, who is their first choice, whilst
their hatred of the editor of the Chroni-
Gle is of that intense and vindictive kind
that money would be considered of no
importance whatever if weighed against
his defeat. 1t will be remembered that
one of Claus Spreckles' sons went gun
ming for the editor once upon time,
and succeeded in firing bullet into
him. De Young, however, is man not
easily downed, and as he has the sena-
torial bee in his bonnet, and is well
equipped with filthy lucre, he will make
a very gamey fight before he gets
knocked out.
But is it not humiliating to American
pride to realize to what depth OF deg
radiation politics has reached when the
august Office of United States senator
has become in almost every state mat
ter of vulgar traffic? The Pretorian
guards of American politics have filed the
United States senate with class of men
who have nothing to recommend them
to the exalted position but their money,
and two-thirds of whom could not be
elected on their fitness or intellectual
merits to offices of even much less dig
.nitv, We have already had one instance
of this perversion of the rule OF trans
cending merit for the rule of wealth In
the election by this legislature OF the pres
ent senator. If half what we hear from
the capital now is true we are about to
have another, and to see the great Of
fee put up again to the highest bidder.
It may be very gratifying thing to our
statesmen for revenue to have the hand
ling of two sacks in one session; but
there is a moral to this double exhibit
ton in sixty days of legislative de-
pravity that may be read in anguish
and sorrow before many moons have
passed. The people have lately shown
strong signs of restiveness under the
goad of political corruption and NAL
representation. What they may be
moved to at this particular time by a
too frequent and too glaring exhibition
of legislative turpitude, is something
the average boodler ought to reflect upon
with anything but pleasant feelings.