The morning call., 1892-10-18
IT'S PLAIN Yes" OR NO"
The Traffic Association Not
to Be Fooled.
PLEDGES MUST BE GIVEN.
II They Are Not. Those Who Refuse Will Be
Showed Under at the Coming
Election.

Manager Leeds Of the Traffic Association
and Frank Harold. the president of the
California League of Progress, were clos
eted for several hours together yesterday
afternoon.
They were talking politics.
Not the kind of politics one hears around
the street corners and in the saloons, but
real. earnest, well-meaning politics.
When this conference was over there was
another one. II was between Mr.. Leeds
and Isaac Upham. one of the members of
the Traffic Associations executive commit
fee.
1t was equally long and presumably on
the same subject. When it terminated
CALL reporter. who had been in waiting
during all these hours, had a chance TO see
Mr.. Leeds.
Answers to our demands for pledges
have commenced to arrive" said the traffic
manager in answer to an inquiry as TO the
outlook for a political victory. Then ne
explained the situation as follows;
I'VE have no doubt that the great ma
foTitv of candidates for legislative honOTs
will sign our pledge readily. because there
are many reasons. not as yet mentioned,
why they will consider it to their own per-
sonAl advantage to do so.
in the first place they wilt have q fair
chance to put themselves on record on the
most important question now before the
people of this State-the railroad question.
ANY man who boldly and fearlessly de-
elares himself friend aud advocate of re-
form measures on that great question can
not help but make friends for himself
1.-The Traffic Association believes that by
giving the candidates chance to let their
constituents know what they will do in
railroad matters If they are elected they
are aiding them in their canvass.
Besides, after the men who have signed
our pledge are elected they are guaranteed
our support when the Legislature meets,
and It is no small matter 10 senator or
Assemblyman to be conscious OF having a
powerful organization Of merchants sup
porting him.
"It will infuse great confidence into these
men, because they know when they vote
the right way Oh railroad matters the
people they represent will give them their
approval.
"It is not the Traffic Associations inten-
ton to coerce any one Into returning a
signed pledge, but we do expect an answer
to our letters addressed to the candidates
from every one OF them.
IF they cannot overcome their individual
Tepugnance toward all auti-railrOad meas
ures. or if they are bound by some tie to the
Southern Pacific Company, let them say so
openly and squarely.
"Some of the candidates are already try
They are claiming that they stand on
this, that or the other platform, and that
therefore no further pledge on their part is
needed
go these men / can only say that the
Traffic Association does not believe in
lodging, no matter how artfUl it might be.
eve want q straight Yes" or NO an
sWeT, regardless of parties or platforms. be-
cause the railroad questions are the only
ones that we are interested in just now"
"What will we do with those who refuse
to sign the pledge?
"Well, we have laid our plans for the
emergency, and while we shall not in the
least discriminate between the candidates
of the various parties we shall divide the
legislative candidates strictly into two
kinds.
Those who are In favor of our senti-
ments and those who are of opposite
opinions.
THE latter kind will be blacklisted and
we will not only try 10 prevent their cleo
tion but shall continue to oppose them even
If they should go 10 the Legislature.
"OuT fight does not end this year. We
propose to continue it for long time 10
come, so the men who put themselves OF
record now as being with Us will gain the
confidence OF their constituents not only for
the present but for the years TO come"
So said Mr.. Leeds, and then he added
that the Traffic Association is assured OF
the cooperation of the League Of Progress
in the matter of securing pledges and seeing
them carried out.
Neither the Traffic Association nor the
League Of Progress will. as a body, indorse
any Que of the tickets in the field, but the
learned, are in favor Of the Non-Partisan