Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-17
THE EXAMINERS UNFAIR WAR AGAINST
WHITE.

gest, making itself ridiculous by at
tempting to hold up Stephen M. White
az the railway candidate for United
States senator. That gentleman's posi-
ton on the issues in which the railway
is concerned has always been in line
with the views OF the great majority OF
the people of California. 1t is true
that Mr.. White in the Fresno convention
opposed the abolition OF the board Of
railroad commissioners, and a large ma
jority OF that body agreed with him,
believing it possible to elect an honest
majority OF the board, and realizing
from bitter experience how futile it is
to expect direct relief from the legisla.
ture. But Mr.. Whites opposition
ceased when the convention adopted
the plank calling for the aboli-
ton OF the commission. To hold up
ouch vote as indicating subserviency to
the railways is in the highest degree
farcical. In his letter to the state CEN
trail committee, dated August 18th, Mr..
White said:
There are several other planks of the
respective national platforms upon
which speakers should be heard. Local
affairs likewise invite attention. 1t is
notorious that the present railroad COM
mission has been absolutely submissive
to the transportation companies and
wholly Indifferent to the public wants.
Its conduct was condemned by the Dem
ocratic state convention and not word
upon the subject was said in the plat.
form adopted bv the Sacramento con-
vention. The history of the proceed.
ings of the committee on resolutions of
that late body demonstrates that the
failure Of our adversaries to express an
opinion upon the work of this notorious
commission was designed to express
obedience to corporate orders. There is
q marked difference of opinion among
California voters as to the relative inn
portance OF he second issue, concerning
which the parties differ. One voter may
deem q particular point controlling,
while another may consider another por-
ton of the same political platform deter
inmate of his action. At all events it
appears to me that the Democracy
should insist upon the discussion of the
issues OF the day, and not one of the
issues, although that issue be, in gen.
eral opinion, controlling. am willing
TO engage in discussion with Mr.. Estee
during the greater part OF the month of
October, or such number of meetings as
he may elect during that month, upon
the issues of the campaign. Ii we con-
sent TO debate limited to the tariff, it
will be an admission upon our part that
Il 4. .~f h, ri frr
were immaterial and unworthy of con-
sideration.
Here is clear and loyal adhesion to
the railroad plank of the Fresno con-
vention. and plainly expressed desire
to make it an issue in the White Estee
discussion. Here was perfect good
faith; and, prior to that time, Mr.
Whites attitude on all public matters
relating to the railwsys had been une-
quivocally ON the popular eide. For a
short time he occupied purely profess
sional relation to the Southern Pacific.
being their attorney at Los Angeles and
appearing in certain special cases for
that corporation, but he quickly re-
signed the post.
The Examiner has found out that all
the Democratic papers in California,
with precisely four exceptions, are for
Mr.. White for senator and presto! in
effect, it ranges them all as railway Or
gans. Here is richness for you! The
HERALD thus discovers that it, amongst
the rest, is an organ of the Southern Pa
cific. AS this journal during the past
sixteen years has kept staunchly in line
with the Democracy OF California, has
championed its principles and advocated
its platiorms, our surprise at being
ranged in this category is somewhat OF
the strongest. Our metropolitan con-
te mpoi ary must permit us to tell it that
in this instance it is adopting very un-
wise and untenable position. During
bis later public career, Or since he was
spoken of in connection with either the
governorship or the United States sena-
torehip, the HERALD was an unhinching
supporter OF the late George Hearst,
and we have never heard that he was
looked upon as railway candidate.
There is something almost amusing in
this vagary of the Examiner. 1t is a
case of the one honest and infexible
iuryman against the obstinate eleven.
As our San Francisco contemporary
has made advocacy in the Fresno con.
vention of the plank calling for the
abolition of the railway commission as
the test of soundness on the railway
issue, we beg to call its attention to the
following sprightly and trenchant obser-
vations on that head anent the Exam
iner's favorite candidate. Hon. w. w.
Foote, taken from the Fresno Expositor
Stephen M. White opposed the plank
in the Fresno platform pledging the
Democratic members of the legislature
to vote for the submission of constitu-
tional amendment abolishing the rail-
road commission and relegating the
whole question of railroad regulation
back to the legislature, and the reasons
he gave for his opposition remain un-
answered to this day. He said that if
the people could not elect three honest
men to serve as railroad commissioners,
how did they expect to elect 12O honest
men to the legislature, operating
as two separate bodies, either one
of which could effectually block legis-
lation. He pointed to the legislatures
of the past 20 years, and asked if any
reasonable man could believe that past
experience warranted expectation of
relief through legislative action.
There was a good deal of irrelevant talk