The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-06
THE SENATORIAL CONTEST.


The Legislature being Republican. .
member OF that party will surely be
chosen senator. There may exist in the
minds of some the narrow idea that q
senatorial contest 10 q mere party affair.
and that outsiders rishtfully have no
part or lot in it. Such as believe that
way are mistaken; the selection OF a
man to senatorial honors ia q matter Of
the highest interest to the whole people
| of a state. While the dominant party
has the right to make its own selection,
there lie something due to the general
wishes Of the people OF all parties.
1t has sometimes occurred that persons
90 strongly, or rather so meanly partisan,
have expressed the wish that the party
opposed to theirs may choose as candi =
dates the poorest and worst material.
that an advantage may accrue to their
side, We ore not OF that class /;
on the contrary, We favor
selection by all parties OF the best men
they have, because il assures the wisest
policies and faithful and efficient dis
charge OF public duties. 1t is on this
principle that we express ourselves on
the pending senatorial contest
So far as we are informed there are
but two candidates. They are George
@. Perkins and M. H. de Young. The
former is man we'll and iavorably
known to the people of this state, and
welbelieve that as between the two he is
the choice OF 80 per cent of the populs-
ton. We feel sure that we state the
fact that he is favored by the intel ligent
and honest men OF all parties. He b as
had experience in the legislature and in
the gubernatorial chair Of the state has
served short term in the national SEM
ate and in all positions he has held his
services have been acceptable to the
people and creditable to himself. Sena-
tor Perkins hss been prominent in
business for many years and has &C.
quainted himself with the wants of the
state. His personal character is above
reproach.
Mr.. de Young possesses good deal OF
energy and q certain smartness. but
there is nothing in his sttainments or
career that specially designates him as
a suitable man for the high place of
United States senator. He is not o
speaker. nor does he possess other quail
ties that would give him a creditsble
status in the highest legislative body in
the world. DE Young has been active
in politics. and more especially as a
party manipulation. He has frequently
been delegate to conventions and
member of party committees, but he has
never been intrusted with publio-office,
high or low. In 80 far az this is con-
cerned, he has not had the confidence of
ais party. and, 80 far as known, candi-
daoy for Office on his part has never
been at the suggestion or supported by
the better element OF his party. His
ambition is towering for one of his cali
bre and character.
There is extant an ugly suspicion. to
put it in the mildest form, that other
influences than the promotion of the
common welfare and the sentiment Of
patriotism are to be brought to bear
upon legislators in the pending senate
rial contest. Perhaps it Is an outgrowth
of the seeming hopslessness of the
chances on one side If the decision is to
rest wholly upon personal merit and
popular opinion. 1t may have arisen
from the bad rspute which has rested
upon previous Legislatures in like con-
tests, and in the passage of obnoxious
laws or the defeat OF meritorious meas-
ures.
California has suffered enough already
in reputation on account of official de-
linquency and corruption, and irregular
and fagitious political methods. The
people are aroused to the necessity for
reform, and mean to have it. Let there
be a start now in the right direction
and q precedent made that will be
worthy to be followed hereafter.
We do not know whether there are
any A. P. AS in the legislature or not,
but it ia presumable there are many.
They profess devotion to pure poll.
tics. For the first time in this
state they have an opportunity
to demonstrate their fidelity to
this principle. If they prove recreant
they will deserve severer condemnation
than others. Let the selection of q
United States senator be made. uninflu.
enced by Doodle or machine and boss
politics, and above all let the wishes Of
the vast majority Of the Republican
party and the people generally be recog.
nized and obeyed.