The record-union., 1892-03-15
A STOCKTON CRITICISM OF SAC
RAMENTO.

memo lS IN QlSgrace before the WnOle
State because of the election day tragedy,
and that it and similar outrages are
clearly traceable to the practice which
has prevailed in the capital of our COM
monwealth of importing fighters and
rufians from San Francisco to terrorize
decent people when political contest is
in progress"
The Mail then adds:
The rest of the State is asking why this has
been allowed. Is there not an undercurrent
OF morality in that nursery and abiding-place
OF Variegated crime sufficiently strong TO put
stop to the outrageous proceeding? Has the
local press no power to effect the much
needed reform? Have the newspapers be-
been in the midst of it SO long that they are
Injured TO it and have grown Indifferent to its
presence?
Let the Mail be corrected. Sacramento
has enough to answer for. but it is not
greatly worse than other cities of equal
importance in which party politics are
interviewer with municipal government.
Sacramento, with all the Mail may say of
the methods of its political bosses, is a
community of many virtues, of good
homes, of churches, schools, and high
ambitions. But it is in the grip of boss
ism and all the supporting and vicious
elements of that power. A local press
cannot do all that may be expected of it.
1t can expose, protest. advise, urge. But
public conscience and sensibility must
be quick with purpose and receptive of
truth in order to command reforms.
This condition is brought about more
rapidly in some places than in others.
Speaking for itself the RECORD UNION
has nothing with which to reproach it
self. It has at no time feared or failed to
denounce local evils, and it's war upon
the bossism of which is born the venal-
ity and corruption of which there is COM
plant, is matter of common history.
The press, we apprehend, does its duty
quite as well in Sacramento as in Stock
ton, and has as high hopes of local re-
forms to be accomplished; but as the
Nait admits ''the process must be neces-
sarily slow" Nevertheless it has been
entered upon, and the people await the
first trial in the cleansing of the Police
Department.
Our Stockton contemporary proceeds
further with its criticism and speaks SO
much to the point that, despite its vitu-
peration and adjectival excess, we quote
in full its further reference to Sacramento:
The trouble over there is with the officers
of the law. We cannot think that the senti-
ment OF the people is such that the rampant
vices and crimes are countenanced as some
Lnlng from which the community may de-
rive pecuniary benefit, as for example the
open and aboye-board gambling and miscel-
laneous thievery during the State Fair season
and sessions of the Legislature.
The perennial moral blight which has made
the name OF the city almost synonym of
lawleSsness and debauchery is the result of
"letting everything go" during the periods
mentioned. 1t fills the city with the scum of
the State, some of which finds permanent
lodgment there To be ready for business at
each recurring harvest time for the vicious
The whole proceeding is against the law.
but those who are sworn to enforce the law
never think OF such a thing as doing their
duty in the premises. They get right into the
muck and founder around with the most de-
based.
Here is the secret of the whole trouble. Ifa
Grand Jury should indict Sheriff once in
while things would soon be mended. The
Sherin Is the man TO look after. No matter
what the Chief of Police may do or fail to do,
the Sheriff has jurisdiction of the enforce
ment of State laws against crime. A Sheriff
OF Sacramento County built on the plans of
the sheriff OF San Joaquin is all they want.
No Big Neck Smiths ever lord it over decent
people in Stockton. They don't come here at
election time or on any other occasion. Our
Sheriff has no use for them. He knows them
and they know him, and the understanding is
perfect. such Sheriff would be worth S1o,-
600 year to the city OF Sacramento alone,
not TO speak OF the benefit he would be to the
county.
This being clearly the solution of the situa-
tion over there, and the example of Stockton
being so close at hand TO prove it, we should
like TO hear from the RECoRD-UNIoN on the
subject.
We agree with the Stockton Mail that
''the trouble is with the officers ofthe Iaw.n
and in doing so we but echo the constant
and uniform expression of the RECORD
UNION. 1t has said at all times, it says
now, and it will continue to preach it, the
one great need in Sacramento is a corps
of officers who will enforce the law as
they find it; officers with backbone, con-
science, self-respect and courage These
officers we want from Sheriff down to
Poundmaster. But we cannot, will not
get them, and have no hope of witnessing
their advent, so long as party politics and
municipal government are married; not
so long as party favor, party patronage,
boss desire and cringing subserviency to
boss methods are by the people permitted
TO rise superior to community interest
and common concern.
With the boss element and the several
vicious contingents that it has behind it.
driven out OF municipal politics; with
officials made accountable to the people
and not to party managers; with muni-
cipal administrators chosen for fitness
and personal freedom, this or any other
city will have order, enforcement of the
law. protection to life and property, and
consequent greater desirable population
and prosperity.
But just so long as the Police Depart
ment can be bought and sold by the law
less element; so long as the Sheriff's Off
GERS consider city territory without their
jurisdiction; SO long as pretentiously good
citizens sign and file petitions beseeching
officials to be blind totrath. duty and their