The herald., 1894-12-20
STATE DIVISION.
A Sacramento Paper Reviews the sisus
tion Past and Present.

From the Record-Union.l
Ata supervisors convention held the other
day in Los Angeles, a lot of resolutions, pre-
faced by a long-winded whereas" were intro
duced. demanding q division OF the state.
After going in with whoop and discussing the
document with a rush, the matter was with
rawn from consideration as unwise at this
time, and liable to create antagonisms with
out accompl shing the desired result. That is
all right. Someone with long head moved
upon the convention discrectly.
The Los Angeles HERALD hits the nail on the
head when it says that the south end is not
now strong enough to effect state division, and
when ii isit will not want it, because 1t Will
ba able to dictate terms Let us add that it
will not then, it does not now nor ever will.
need to dictate terms. The idea of dictation
in state economics is absurd. The whole state
interest is the interest OF the whole people of
the state. The idea of distribution OF state
patronage by scattering state institutions we
shall some day get away from. 1t is all wrong.
The tendency of the time in all states is to
avoid wide distribution OF state institutions to
conserve the pride or selfishness of sections.
Institutions should be located with a view to
the wisest economy for the state, regardless OF
local claims. Any section that needs the drop
pings of a S ate institution TO i've upon is not
worthy of conservation. The proposit on, for
instance, to consolidate the two state prisons
is wise, because it means economic admins
tration, better enforcement of discipline ana
the batter promotion OF the reform OF the
criminal If he is not incoIrigible and his safer
keeping if he is.
Summed up, all the pleas made for state di-
vision disclose these two motives only namely
the local ambition to have state institutions,
and the desire of politicians to have Office.
There is but seeming in the claim OF unfair
treatment. 1t is not true. The southern coun-
ties have been as fairly represented and treated
as any others. Legislation has not been inim-
ical TO their prosperity. If it has, lei some one
point out wherein. The southern counties
have a fair share of public institutions: in
sane asylum, a reform school, normal school.
and there might be added to the list the sol-
diers home and term OF the supreme court.
For IL successive years, except lew months,
il has had the gubernatorial Office. In thc late
election it was given a majority of the state
Offices, and not one went to the vast territory
north of Sacramento. But no one hears of any
complaint from the northern counties on that
account.
We agree with the Fresno Ext ositor that if
ever the time comes when good reason can he
advanced for state division. it will not bear
record of a single one of the reasons now adj
vanced The San jose Mercury has wisely
changed its tune also, and now soberly says
that the people OF the state do not want state
division and hat there is no res son for it All
the talk about 'irreconcilable differences"
'inharmonious relations" differences in soil,
climate and commerce." is verest nonsense,
and the sensible, progressive men OF the south
ern counties know it.
California is grand state geogr phically, in
variety of climate, resourc S and promise, and
its importance is not to be diminishe by di-
vision that is called for by no pressing need,
will not lessen the burdens of taxation, or pro-
mote the development of this the best heritage
of our race on the American continent