The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-05
A SECTIONAL CANDIDATE.

with the northern in wealth, population
and development; that heretofore Sem
ators elected have heen residents of the
northern part Of the State; that it is a
Well-known tact that Government ap-
preparations for harbors and public
buildings have in no measure been ade-
quate to the requirements of Southern
california. Therefore, in the interest of
this particular section, they ask him to
ehic: the race for the Office of 1ited
States Senator. The names attac Il to
this petition arc in,,se Of citizens losses
sing large influence and high respect
ability. They embrace the leading citi-
zens of the localities represented, and
when the names of the list are consid-
cred, the request to which they are at
tached is compliment of which any one
should be proud. Judge Widney re-
sponds, expressing his sense of graft
tude for the compliment paid him, and
declaring that the State ought to concede
what he characterizes as very reason
able demand of that particular section.
1t has always been matter of regret
to witness manifestations of sectionalism
within the boundary lines of this State.
Ii is at best very poor, very narrow and
very meager evidence of State pride and
State patriotism to place candidate on
platform no larger than the territory w.
ing south of Tehachapi. Judge Widney
is gentleman of very respectable abili-
ties; that he will be very useful mem
Der of the United States Senate will not
be questioned; but Judge Widney and
the highly respectable citizens who have
placed him before the people upon the
platform of getting harbors and public
buildings for one particular section of the
State are manifesting a narrowness of
which they themselves are scarcely con-
scious.
Southern California has nothing to COM
plain of at the hands of the rest of the
State. 1t has been given branches of the
great State MISUNDERSTANDING asylums.
reform schools, universities, etc. Its har-
bors, lighthouses and public buildings
have not been forgotten by the delegation
In Congress. 1t has now two Congress
men, and the candidates from both the
great parties are from either San Diego or
Los Angeles. The three past Guberna-
torial administrations have been from
Southern California-three in succession
-to-wit: Governor Stoneman, Governor
Waterman and Governor Markham.
Southern California has asked for Gov
ernor three times in succession, and the
office has been conceded to il, Three
terms of Governor are certainly equal to
one Senator. If the concession of three
Gubernatorlal terms is to go for NOTHING.
then concessions to geography have been
made in vain.
In the selection of a United States Sena-
tor, it should be assumed that a man with
ideas as broad as the State is sought.
The reader will search in vain in the ne
tition to Judge Widney for any express
sion which contemplates the State as the
great constituent of United States Sena-
tor. The first paragraph recites: "Where-
as, there is United States Senator to be
chosen by the next Legislature; whereas.
the southern section of the State has
made some advancement; and whereas
its harbors and public buildings are in
adequate" The third section recites that
its rights shall be recognized by the Sc
lection of a United States Senator resid
ing in Southern California, and concludes
with the significant sentence that he
should be man eminently qualified by
long residence and identification with the
development OF this part of the State.
The fourth section declares that the pc
titioners are residents of Los Angeles and
that they believe Judge r. NJ. Widney
to possess in an eminent degree all the
qualifications for the high position to
which they have nominated him, because
he has for more than quarter of a CEN
tury been instrumental in carrying ont
% AOA tAlS oSfclOpiu6uG OF South
ern California. There is not one sugges-
ton, nor one sentence, to indicate that
Judge Widney knows the geography
of the State north ofTehachapi; and not
one thought bestowed upon the whole
State, or the common interest of the
whole people whom Judge Widney seeks
to represent. His entire qualification be-
gins and ends with the residence of a
quarter of a century in Southern Califor-
mia and his Identification with instru-
mentalities for its development. This is
a conspicuous instance of mistaking 'the
rustic cackle of a little burgh for the
great wave that echoes round the world -
The gentlemen who desire the elevation
of Judge Widney to the high and respon-
sible Office of United States Senator for
California have inflicted upon his candi-
dacy al its very outset an irreparable in
jury.
But perhaps the worst feature of this
gross provincialism is to be found in
Judge Widney's response: ST fully con-
eur in and indorse your views relating to
the true interests of this part of the