The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-17
M'CONN|GLE ON A RAMPAGE,
The Ventura Editor Gives Some
Lively POstOffice History.
A Democrat Who Seems TO Think
He Hos a Grievance.
He Uses Some Strong Language Re-
gArding Stephen NJ. White
and Congress
Cannon.

pancy of four years and ak months,
nine months of which he held the Office
under q Democratic administration, q
Successor has been appointed to N. II.
Shaw for the Ventura poetoffice. The
gentleman who received the appoint
ment is j. L. AIgsbrite, a quiet and
personally inoffensive resident of this
place for number of years, whose chief
claim for distinction is that he has
been for some time the son OF an acct
dental congressman. No blame at
taches to him, however, on that score
for he doubtless secured an excellent,
good wife, even il he did get loud
mouthed, unlettered, pretentious old ig'
noramus for father-in-law.
In personal sense we have no unkind
feeling for Mr.. Argabrite, though we
made a contest with him Tor the offlce
to which he has been appointed. Ia
fact, we cannot but admire the luck, II
not the genius, of man who was ena-
bled to receive substantial recognition
at the hande of an administration which
he did nothing whatever to place IN
power-didn't even vote its ticket
while the fellows who put up the CAM
paign funds and did all the work, hol-
lering and voting got left. And while 1t
may be- peculiarly gratifying to him and
his intimates, the appointment is no
lese, from political standpoint, gross
and stupid outrage. We do not mean
that it Ia an outrage in personal sense,
for we have never lived off the crumbs
OF Office and can worry along, az usual,
without public pap, but it is u brutal
insult to the party as whole which
will probably not soon be forgotten.
And it may also be set down as the
outcome OF unique combination OF cir
cumstances not often occurring, though
not excusable on that or any other
ground.
Hon. Stephen NJ. White had lsud-
able desire to become a United States
senator and his Democratic friends
throughout the state. the writer in
cluded, were equally DESTROYS that HE
ambition should be gratiied. And
through a series OF years, fecked with
defeats and victories-the former the
more numeroue-that one grand desid-
eratum was never loet sight OF by the
gentleman himself or his true and faith
.ul friends and henchmen.
His victory was their victory, his de-
feat was their defeat. When he re-
joiced they felt glad and when he sor-
rowed they were also depressed. He
was the pride of the Democracy, "CaIi-
fornis's favorite son." the champion
orator" "Our Steve" AID the bully
boy with the glass eye" all round
II be expressed desire to preside
over state convention, his wish was
promptly gratifed, and il he preferred
to be on the f1oor-which wac rare-his
will was law. Did he want to 20 as
delegate-at-arge to a national conven-
ton, his faithful adherents were only
too glad to send him, and when the
wicked Examiner attempted TO minimize
his merits, break down his influence and
accused him OF an unholy alliance with
the railroad people, the Democratic
country prese OF the state our modest
establishment among the nun Der -
jumped in and laid the Monarch"
out as cold as wedge. And wnen the
Legislature met at Sacramento, which
promised the fruition of all our hopes
and desires, after years of privation and
hard struggle. his old true and tried
phalsnx of friends, with gripsacks in
hand and fidelity in their soule, rallied
around him like colony of bees to
their sovereign ruler.
And when Foote and Lynch and other
gentlemen prominent in the party
essayed to press their claims they were
waved back. and told to blde their
time-that "California's favorite son,
"Our Steve" was the logical candidate,
and they had no business or right to
step in and prevent or embarraes the
placing of the twigs of laurel upon the
massive brow of our uDcrowned king.
And when it was discovered that the
Populists on whose support some reh-
snce had been placed had fallen down,
and that their whilom ignorant and
treacherous old belwether, Cannon,
was despsed by all parties, trusted by
none and powerless for any good, the
situation only stimulated the faithful 10
increased exertion.
Their efforts were finally crowned
with success and great was the rejoic-
ing. The conquering hero's tri-
umph was proclaimed amid the
plaudits of the multitude, accumulated
by hearty cheers from Democratic
throats, and his greeting home was an
ovation of which an emperor might
have been proud. to say nothing of the
sunptuous bapquets which followed.
And while other citizens commingled and
lent their voices to the hum, Democrats
composed the army, Democrats made
the demonstration possible and Democrats
alone rejoiced in sincerity and in truth.
Butsln then things have Chopped"
to use a homely expression. While the
honorable senator probably recognizes,
in passive way, the services OF his
Democratic friends, he makes no hesita-
ton in giving about all the credit for
his own elevation to Cannon, and shows
bis appreciation by allowing that men
tai cipher and congressional nobody the
federal patronage OF the entire district.
A man who voted against and villifed
in the coarsest language the Democratic
party and it's Candidates, and even OPP
posed White himself at one time and
denounced him as little railroad
attorney"
Through the personal efforts OF Sena-
tor White, Cannon was forced as a can
didate on Democrats, at o time, too,
when it was in their power to have nom
mated and elected come intelligent and
respectable member OF their own party.
His nomination was held ont as prize
scheme to aid in the election OF Mr..
White to the senate. and while lite wis
dom WAS doubted and general offensive
ness recognized by majority Of the
convention, all acquiesced for the sake
of that IL en- so-considered paramount
|. Ohianf