The herald., 1894-11-04
PATTON AT SANTA MONICA.
An Hospitable Reception Given
to the Candidate.
His Address Listened to With Atten-
tiOn and Respect.
A Speech Fall of Good Hense and
Patriotism-He Frankly Discusses
the HarbOr Question and
Its Features.
SANTA MONICA, CAL, Nov. 2, 1894

SANTA MONICA, CAL, Nov. 2, 1894.
EDITOR HERALD:
As per announcement. Georges. Patton,
Democratic candidate for congress in
this (the Sixth) district. addressed the
people OF Santa Monica. He had a
representative audience OF some 200. 1t
would have been larger had there not
been other attractions last evening. The
Foresters had a large initiation, Bishop
Nichols of the Episcopal church was on
one Of his semi.occaaonal visits, and
the young people mad dance.
Under the circumstances the audi
ence was a good one, and his listeners
composed one of the most attentive
crowds we have ever seen in the town.
As You can imagine, it WAS not bolster.
ous one, aa the town has large element
of Republicans and Pepulists, and many
feel sore over Mr.. Patton's attitude on
the hsrbor question. Bat there was
something better than noisy applause.
The speaker held the closest attention,
and only two or three left the hall dur
ing his discourse, and they all came
back. The upturned faces OF the audi
OuCo W6T6 hti buTu0Q LOWdIA tu6 SlUQu6ut
and able young speaker, with no whis-
pering or side remarks. The discourse
WAS "meaty" throughout, and his
listeners acted "a though they feared
they would lose something if they di-
verted their attention.
Mr.. Patton, accompanied by Fred
Harknsss, came down on the evening
train, arriving at 6 O'Clock, and pro-
ceeded to Hotel Arcadia, where a few
Democratic friends met them and es-
corted them to Steere's opera house.
Here they found the Santa Monica band
discoursing inspiring music with quite
a crowd in waiting.
While parleying few minutes in the
anteroom there was some little by-play
in the way OF good-natured bsdinage.
Mr.. Patton wanted to know il his body
guard considered themselves able to
protect him. Fred Harkness spoke up
and said he had advissd George" to
wear . rubber coat to protect himself
against q possible shower of ancient
henfruit. Another party thought an
umbrella would be better. Some one
else kindly proposed to sit in the wing
of the stage and let down the drop
curtain in the event Of hostile demon
stration. So the fun went ON until the
time arrived to face the audience. AS
the party filed on to the stage the crowd
applauded, and all apprehension that
some fellow with a head like Scent
watermelon might possibly cause some
Interruption was dissipated and the
serious work began.
Judge T. u. Owens, the presiding off.
o6r of the evening, introduced bhe
speaker with q few pertinent remarks.
He said all great governments are reps
resented by different parties, and that
government is governed best where the
opposing parties accorded to each
other respectful hearing, or words to
that effect. A good citizen is always
ready to leten to fair discussion. He
then presented Mr.. Patton, and the ora
tor OF the evening entered upon a fair,
candid discussion OF public affairs, con-
fining himself mainly to state questions.
Mr.. Patton, who by the way is hand
some gentleman, in the prime of life,
with the fire and vigor of noble man
hood unimpaired-at once placed him>
self en- rapport with his audience. and all
showed kindly disposition to give him
a most respectful hearing. which they
did. He began by abiding in hsppy
way to the dignity and Importance of the
franchise. and expressed the belief that
the psrpetuity of our government could
be only maintained by a proper. .appre-
citation of the right to vote and the de-
termination to exercise that privilege
with honesty and fidelity to hign SEN
timent OF patriotism.
The speaker then entered upon an
able and fair discussion that no
one could mistake. He touched
happily upon the absurdity of the pres-
ent hard times being brought about by
the last two years OF Democratic rule.
Other countries. he showed, were also
affected, and there had been q financial
cyclone, beginning in its virulence dur
ing Harrison's administration. The
causes OF the financial depression, he
said. dated back twenty years. when
John Sherman struck down ths financial
eystem by securing the demon etization
of silver, followed by the depreciation in
the value OF lands and the lowering of
the prices OF agricultural products. The
only party, he claimed, that holds cut
the hope of return to silver was the
Democracy.
Mr.. Patton next discussed briefly the
tariff, touching upon coal, iron, wool
aud sugar. and hiA remarks have been
80 often reported l shalt not repeat
them. He closed by showing that the
next two congresses cannot cause any
change in the tariff. and turned his al
tention to state affairs.
The railroad question then claimed
Mr.. Patterns attention. He ia very
strong and we'll informed on this theme.
He showed that while the Republican
party lodged this issus in their plat
form the Democrats have been out
spoken, plain and emphatic. He re
viewed the history OF the Central Pacific
road, covering the bonded indebtedness
and land grants, and explained how four
men had become enormously rich by
acting in bad faith towards the govern.
nent and practicing merciless cinun
upon the people OF California. Uron
this line of discussion Mr.. Patton called
out several rounds OF applause, the most
hearty being when he announced that he
was proud TO say he was the author OF
the railroad plank il the Democratic
platform.
Mr.. Patton closed his interesting
speech with full fair, frank reference
to the harbor discussion. He said he
had no personal interest to be in.
jured by the selection of a site for deep
water harbor, wherever it might be, but
his fsalty to the public welfare com
pslled him to prefer San Pedro. He
didn't believe Mr.. Huntington wanted a
harbor anywhere. AS long aa he could
keep up contest between San Pedro
and Santa Monica, and have the choice
of placee pOstpOned he Unnld ha eariu.