The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-09-27
ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
Politics on the Pacific Slope-Business
Revival Under the New Tariff.

Politics on the Pacific Slope-Business
Revival Under the New Tariff.
Staff Correspondence
OAKLAND, CAL, Sept. 1871 trust
shall never again cross the continent,
as did, in July. Trains were not
on time; there were wrecks and
rumors OF wrecks, and in California
and Nevada there were soldiers on
every car and at the railroad sta
tions. Such were the reminders of
the great strike which was almost
over when made my last trip west
ward.
POLITICS.
From what I can learn of the polit-
ical situation in California there will
be a considerable increase in the
Populist vote. 1t is safe to say that
a majority of the voters are in favor
of the United States government
taking control of the Central and
Union Pacific Railroads in satisfac-
ton of their debts. If this were done
the United States would have an
iron highway from San Francisco to
Omaha.
Politics is greatly mixed out here.
The Republicans present the Protec-
ton issue; the Democrats promise a
reduction in the enormous cost of
the State government; the Populists
are indulging their usual views,
while all parties declare against re-
funding the debt of the Pacific Rail-
roads.
NEWSPAPERS. :,
l had not been here long when
| several citizens desired me to go into
| a newspaper enterprise. They guar
anteed me practically circulation
three times what a Winston daily
paper could have and they said !:
"Here is the finest opportunity one
could have in the city," But things
| look different to one who has IL
practical acquaintance with news
papers. l figured on the PROPOSE
ton (more for the sake of others,
however, and came to the conclusion
that this ''fine opportunity" would
result in a loss of about 800 per
month. therefore warned my
friends not to go into it.
| CIRCULATION.
Observation has taught me, and
the experience of others has confirm
my opinion, that it takes a large
town to support two daily papers.
For instance, here are Oakland and
Los Angeles, each with about $1,000
white population. and each with
three papers. Efforts have been
made to establish in each city a
fourth paper, but they came only to
bankruptcy. The experience of
North Carolina has been significant,
for newspaper deaths have done
harm to Raleigh, Winston, Newbern,
Asheville, Greensboro and numerous
other towns.
| VOTING.
| California proposes to restrict the
right to vote by refusing the ballot
to persons convicted of crime and to
those who shall not be cable to read
the Constitution in the English Ian
| guage ard write his name" Good
results may be expected from this
provision. 1t will raise the standard
of voters and contribute to a more
intelligent selection of public officers
The Australian ballot system has
| proven SO popular in this State that
not only are all general elections
conducted according to it, but many
clubs and societies now use it. One
printed ballot contains the names of
all candidates, and the voter marks
his preference by putting a cross
| opposite the candidates. name. Ali
ballots are printed by the county
| and are uniform.
| BUSINESS.
There is general revival of bust
ness since the new tariff went into
effect. Crops are good and the i'm
provement will continue. The wool
grower is puzzled to observe the
better price for wool since that arti.
Gle went on the free list. 1t is certain
that the beneficial results of The re-
duced tariff will shake the confidence
of many Republican in his SO called
policy of "Protection." There is
little doubt but business will improve
all over the world after this long
settling period during which all fic-
titious values had to disappear.
lam glad to read in The SENTINEL
ofimproved conditions indicated by
interviews with her most prominent
merchants. W. f. BURBANK.