The herald., 1895-05-16
printed in full at the opening OF this &C.
Congressman Barham's Speech.

| Hon. John A. Barham. member of con-
| gress FROM Santa Rosa, was the next
| speaker. his subject being The State OF
California. Mr.. Barham spoke as fol
lows:
at is we'll that you have siven me to-
| night the subject The State of California,
| for the reason that California always
| speaks for herself. | am not native
| son, but | got here as quick as l could.
! (Applause.) | arrived in the state Of Cali
| tornia in 1si9. l remember well the early.
days of California. and the struggles OF
! the pioneers of this state. | find the
great difficulty that surrounds national
legislation with regard TO the state OF
! California comes from the fact that our
( members of the south, and east and north
| do not understand us. They don't be-
| lieve we tell the truth. (Laughtcr) Not
| long ago | was travelling on the Northern
| Pacific railroad from Yellowstone Park
| to Portland. -Four young men were on
| the train who said they ware coming to
| the state or California. Unfortunately
| for me l said. You must see our big
| trees You understand, my fellow cti-
| zens, that live in the far north. | rep
! resent the First district OF California,
| which borders upon Oregon and Nevada.
| They said, We have intended to visit the
big trees Unfortunately said again,
We have a church in Santa Rosa. my
| home, built out of one redwood tree.
| They looked at me in perfect astonish-
ment, wondering that l still lived after
making such statement One OF them
| was an Artist, and after we had gone q
| short distance | got out upon the plat
| form. He approached and took snaI
shot at me. saying, L have got you.
| Well, | said. what of it?' He replied.
| i have got the boss liar of the world.
(Laughter.)
"Now my friends California needs
some things. She needs appropriations
| for her rivers and harbors. (Applause.
l came from the far north to see youi
rivers and your harbors, and to confer
with your repres entatives. We want aid
up north. We have only about eight
| hundred miles of coast line to attend to.
The miner in the Sierra Nevadas needs
| appropriations and relief. Those untold
millions of gold which lie hidden in the
| hills should be released, and he should
have appropriations that he may take out
the gold without injury TO the farmer, oil
the navigable streams OF this state.
| might Just as well get down to business
with you. as l came here to confer with
the people of this section as to what they
want from congress. l have been told
that distinct issue was made as tC
where your appropriations should be
spent in this county. l understand that
your people and your representatives favor
/
government officials have reported in favor
| of that location. And | say to you now.
if it is agreeable to you people, and
understand 1t to be so, that my vote ir
congress will be for an appropriation fol
San Pedro haibor. cloud applause and
cheers.) Now, as l said, we need appro-
priations in the northern section OF this
state, and 1 hope that when your repre-
sentatives come to vote in congress they
will see that our needs are supplied. We
/ should go back there united upon this
subject of appropriations. applause.
| l didn't come down here to make q
speech. but to look after the question O.
your harbors. l came by the ocean and
| I sailed into San Pedro, landing there to-
| day for the first time. | have heretofore
examined other points in your county and
other portions of our coast and | expect
/ to make thorough investigation into
this matter before returning to my home. "
| (Applause.)