The record-union., 1894-10-03
NOT PLEDGED.

The Hon. II. NJ. LaRue, the Democratic
nominee for Railroad Commissioner from
this district. says that he has not taken
the Democratic pledge for a horizontal
reduction in the rates of transportation in
this State. Mr.. LaRue appears to object
called out his card. We said in that ed
itorial that he or any other man who
would take such a pledge for the sake OF
obtaining Office was a scoundrel. Since
Mr.. LaRue by his card takes himself out
OF the category of those who would make
such pledge for the sake of public
Office, the epithet does not apply to him.
1t will apply to the other candidates for
Railroad Commissioner until they with
equal frankness repudiate the Democratic
platform.
Mr.. Budd, the Democratic candidate for
Governor, is saying on the stump that
his party, if it is placed in the control OF
State affairs, will reduce the rates OF
transportation % per cent. Since this can
be done only through the Railroad Com
mission. and since one candidate for the
Office of Railroad Commissioners at least
repudiates the pledge, we now ask Mr..
Budd how he proposes to make reduc-
ton, and whether he is not justifying the
charge of insincerity when he claims that
his party has pledged its Commissioners
to that species of injustice.
In the meantime we call upon the other
gentlemen nominated for the Office OF
Railroad Commissioner by the Demo-
cratic District Conventions to define their
position. Are they pledged to find judi
cial conclusion in advance of election to
office? If they are they may rest assured
that they will never qualify for Office.
The courts of this land will certainly pre-
vent that. There must yet remain in the
mind of an American commonwealth
that sense of justice which would forbid
quasi-judicial body to offer judgment
as reward for election to office.
Mr.. Budd appear to look upon this as
people of California to elect him Gov
ernor, and offers them a 25 per cent. re-
duction on their fares and freights if they
will vote for him. This is simply un-
adulterated. unvarnished scoundrelism,
whether it be INDUCED in by James Budd
or any candidate for Railroad Commits
sioner.
Mr.. LaRue requests that in referring to
him in the future we shall use only such
language as one gentleman should use to
another. We wish it distinctly under
stood that it would be the distinguishing
mark of gentleman to call any man,
who is a candidate for judicial position
and who offers a judgment in advance of
the hearing of the case and in advance of
his election, a scoundrel.
We withdraw the epithet as relates to
Mr.. LaRue. He has Withdrawn himsel
from the category of those to whom it
would justly apply. But we apply it to
those who, unlike him. still offer the cor
rupting bribe of purchased judgment of
a court for the honors and emoluments of
Office.
This civilization has not yet lost all
conscience. The people of California will
not become robbers and thieves, and they
do not propose to steal any property. The
demagogues have raised such hue and
cry that they naturally suppose that there
is no honesty left in the State; but they
are entirely mistaken, and the man who
offers a valuable consideration for the
votes of the electors of this State will not
find the sympathy he expects. Mr..
LaRue's declaration that he is not pledged
to any reduction, and that he will deter
mine only after hearing all the facts. and
that he will do justice between the rail-
roads and the people, does him honor,
and restores him to the very high opinion
we have always entertained for him. At
the same time Mr.. LaRue will find in it's
justice ample apology for the strength of
our denunciation, and will accept as sim
cere the statement that we rejoice to learn
that it does not apply to our fellow towns
man.