The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-14
WILL FRESNO FOLLOW STOCKTON ?

tits no secret at all that the railroad is
endeavoring to assert the same control over
tile Democratic convention at Fresno that It
established over the Republican convention
at Stockton. Democrats seemingly in good
standing in the party, are going round say
ing that whatever the convention does 1t
must not antsgonize the railroad. for that
would be inviting defeat They are so
half-hearted that when the hour Of battle
approaches their courage O0Zes out Of the
ends Of their fingers and their knees knock
together at the thought Of an actual encoun-
ter with the monster at Fourth and Town
send. Whether this class Of persons will
constitute a majority OF the Fresno conyen-
ton remains to be seen. II is enough to
note that they are active and noisy. and
that they are laying their plans to capture
the organization and to put people Of their
own faith on the con mittee On resolutions
and platform. They are already exulting
over the prospect that the ground taken by
the two conventions viii be alike.
We shall see. If any ofEice-seekeT hugs
the deUsion that the people are going to
vote for him because lie calls himself a
Democrat and processes adherence to JEFF
fersonan principles lie is going to get left.
to continue 10 vote the agents Of The rail-
road company into Cfice because they call
themselves Democrats. Voters wiz cast
their ballots for the candidates who appear
to them to have the best interests Of the
State at heart and who possess the intelli-
Eence necessary to promote those interests.
They saw With pain that the Republican
ofice-seekeTs at Stockton were cOwed into
Ir-f n Frr h.7r 70
that which nine out Of ten Republicans
think in their hearts. But they viii not
suffer their indignation at Republican cow
ardice to lead them into the Democratic
camp if there is the smallest chance that Cd
the railroad question Republican and Dem
ocrat will be found lying side by side in the
same truckIe bed. Rather than that they
had better stay where they are.
There has been DO time in the history OF
this State that the railroad has been unable
to buy many leading members of the Demo
cratic party. There have always been
Democrats who we're Democrats merely to
get flee and sell their votes; men who re-
garded politics as a stepladder to Doodle,
and nothing more. Buckley was a Demo-
crat, and the head Of the organization.
The question which tie Fresno convention
cTat can lead the party. If he is. there is
10 sort Of reason why any honest citizen.
who is not in quest Of Cfice, should vote the
Democratic ticket.
What people want now is political party
which shall net conduct public sffairs on a
basis Of bribery and corruption; which
shall not sell seHatorships and legislation at
Sacramento or street franchises at San
Francisco; which shall not own judges and
control courts and juries; which shall not
adhere TO The 0licy Ct Gripping the in
dustries Of the State and defeating the we'll
meant efforts Of honest citizens 10 develop
our resources; but a rarity which shall in
sist that all men and all corporations shall
pay their taxes, that the administration of
justice shall be pure, that the courts shall
faithfully interpret the laws, and that com
merce and industry shall have fair show.
Thus far the people have not felt sure that
our prominent politicians have come up to
this standard. Whenever they are con-
WINGED that one OF them does, he viii in all
probability command their support. He can
not get that support otherwise. As for the
palteIiDg timeseTyeTs who propose to 20
into campaign with their principles care
fully hidden out OF sight, for fear their ex-
hibltiOn might provoke antagonism in influ-
entail quarters, they may be competent
wirepullers at a ward primary, but they
have no claim to be heard for a moment in
the councils of a great party.