The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-29
LOCAL POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

Inc local campaign Is opening now
with some spirit, and about all the candi-
dates for local offices are in the field. 1t
does not require any superintendent
, amount Of wisdom to determine where
greatest strength and merit reside among
the local tickets. The Republican party
has put forward in an open, square and
straightforward way ticket that ought
to be and will be elected. Not that on
. opposing tickets there are not named
some competent men for Office, but there
is no earthly reason why the Republicans
of Sacramento should fail to give their
ticket full support, nor will they so fail.
The Democracy is divided house: its
trust; any union the party may effect be-
fore election will not inspire confidence
in the party, for It's after the loaves and
fishes in a manner that indicates very
little concern about the public business
of the county.
Two other half hearted tickets are in
the feld-one the Matching of a party
with aims impossible of accomplishment,
and that by no means will be able to con-
vince the thinking world that its chimeri-
cal propositions can be made substruct-
ural of this Government. The other
ticket is hybrid affair, chosen not in the
open and the light, but put up by men
well-meaning enough, no doubt, but
mistaken sadly as to the methods of
effecting reforms that they claim to have
in view.
When the Citizens organization. which
works behind closed doors-and it
is truism that secret political organization
is in uncongenial soil in republic, and
is an offense to free institutions-ent
into State and National politics. it de-
parted at right angles from IT'S announced
original purpose. 1t lost whatever sig
nificance it originally had, when it en-
tered the ring the contest for United
States Senator creates.
That action means that it lacks the
cohesion essential to keep any party in
tact as municipal organization of purely
non-partisan character, and free from
private ambitions and party political con-
tentions. There is nothing original or
strong in the making up of a ticket from
three or four political party tickets. 1t
means nothing, for it is not an assault
for specific municipal reforms, nor a
movement to break down partisanship in
municipal government, or to counteraet
corrupting influences.
To pick Observation-Disclosures here and
there one from holly opposed parties in a
warm contest for the United States SEN
atorship, and put them on common
ticket, is, frankly. little short of idiotic.
1t is, as any thought viii make clear, a
carrying of water on both shoulders, a
weak attempt to favor both and neither
that is absolutely silly. 1t would have
been, however, distinct evidence of
self-confidenee to have refrained from
entering that field at all.
If there is any virtue in even half-and-
half municipal tickets experience has
not developed it. Sacramento has tried
these schemes several times, and not
long ago, and invariably with Ill success.
Municipal or county affairs have never
been better managed by officers chosen
upon mixed ticket, which was an
chored by no party responsibility. In
fact, straight-out independent move
ments may command respect and
achieve some notable success, but the
amalgamation and leopard tickets, which
on their face are but bids, never yet
benefited the people according to prom
Use.
The Republican party, locally, has put
forward a sound ticket for which, as
party it is alone responsible, and in q
county where it is usually dominant.
That means a good deal for good and
economic government.
It a Presidential year also, and there
is reason for maintaining both local and
national standards at common front.
The REcoRD-UNIoN, which has proved
on more than one occasion that it is not
partisan hide-bound. and does not fear
or hesitate to criticise party in all its