The record-union., 1893-01-25
A PROFFERED GUIDE FOR THE
LEGISLATURE.

A San Francisco newspaper has the
effrontery to say to the Legislature that
the very best thing it can do is to take at
single gulp whatever Mr.. Leeds adj
ministers and give Che matter no further
concern. According to this unblushing
sheet the Legislature might as well ad-
jOurn after committing to Mr.. Leeds and
the San Francisco Traffic Association all
the duties and responsibilities of Iegisla-
ton.
We are coolly told that the Legislature
should
vote for the railroad measures presented by
the Traffic .Asso ciation, because those meas
ures have been carefully studied by Traffic
Manager Leeds, who is a master of transpor-
tation, and because, than him, there is no one
In the state better able TO devise measures
suited to the present crisis. = For this
reason we hope that all the measures proposed
by the Traffic Association will pass un-
changed, unless the changes be such as meet
the associations approval. = The way
10 victory has been pointed out by a man who
can be trusted, anG all who have any respect
for themselves or any ambition for future
honor ana prefernent viii follow it and not
allow themselves TO be turned aside by either
Establishments or argument.
However members of the Legislature
from San Francisco may look at the mat
ter. though we scarcely think they pro-
pose to surrender their independence and
be lead in the leash by Mr.. Leeds. MEM
bers of the houses from the interior can
not meekly receive the advice to ignore
argument, reason and justice, and take
without wincing whatever the San Fran
cisco Traffic Association chooses to pre-
scribe. The scheme of the Traffic Asso-
citation to make interior industry. pro-
duction and enterprise subservient to it's
selfishness is not likely to induce the
representatives of interior interests to
harness themselves to the associations
cartwheel.
1t is entirely in keeping with the spirit
of greed characteristic of commercial
interests represented in the Traffic Asso-
citation to suggest to country members
that the best thing they can do is to fol-
low the lead of the alleged merchants of
the metropolis. 1t is the advice the fox
gives to its prey. 1t is nothing short of
insulting arrogance and brazen effrontery
to propose to the interior that a CONNER
cial influence which has proved the
chief obstacles to commercial develop-
ment and trade enlargement and wholly
harmonious relations between carrier
and producer, shall be made the sole
judge of what is best for interior welfare.
San Francisco merchants in the Traffic
Association have rendered interior inter-
ests no aid; they have closed their ears
and eyes and pockets to every call that
may be properly addressed by the peo-
pie of State TO its metropolis. The onlv
concern that city has manifested in pro-
ductive interests has been in the largest
profit it could make upon the produce
sent to it from the country. 1t has re-
turned the grower nothing; has not aided
MIN in a single developing enterprise.
has treated irrigation and interior manu-
featuring and other progressive move
ments with cool indifference; has refused !
to invest dollar of the money produc-
ton has reservoired in San Francisco. in
any safe scheme to upbuild and develop
the State.
When the history of this State comes to |
be written in the calm of the future the
impartial chronicler will record with
smazement the fact that the chief city of
California, with commercial and financial
capital with millions of idle coin and un- |
used credit, operated below so low and
selfish horizon of self-interest that it did /
nothing whatever to forward develop |
ment of State territory, the growth of
which in productive strength must con-
tribute to the importance of the metropo- |
lis. He will record with shame and bu- |
initiation that in an age of great mer-
chants and broad commercial views |
everywhere else, in the metropolis of
California the boundaries of trade activ- |
ity and comprehension were defined by I
the limits Of capacity and desire to ped /
die goods to the people of the counties of |
the State and to foster only agencies that
would make the people its dependents.