The record-union., 1896-12-13
Voice OF THE PRESS.
Extracts From Editorial Expression Of
Journals
OF the State and the Coast on Sub
jeCts of Living and News
Interest.


Pacific railroad funding bill at the pres
ent session of Congress. The first ques-
ton is whether the refunding bill will
come up during the short session The
next Is what to do with the roads, in
case the bill is beaten. SIngularly
enough while all the opponents OF re-
funding have been so pronounced and
even bitter in their opposition, not one
of them has ever advanced any coherent
and businesslike proposition in answer
to the latter question. Not only that,
but hardly any two of them all have
ever agreed upon any proposition, good,
bad or Indifferent. How then can they
expect the people of the United States
to fall in with their wishes and buy
pig in a poke?
HERES A SCHEME.
Colusa Sun: Manly sport seems to be
the fad Of the age. We have pitied, en-
dured and embraced the prize-ring and
the football. In the latter per cent. OF
those engaged receive serious injury and
death Is frequently the result. Now.
why not turn the rage for such things to
some practical use? Suppose we take
two condemned murderers, give each the
necessary training and on given day
put them into an arena with short sword
and have a fight ito the f1nish?' Let
the victor have his liberty. The sun
will undertake to give the State SO, o,0OO
for the privilege Of the gate money for
the first contest. Thousands Of men
rush in when possible to see the death
sentence executed and tens of thousands
n,-t' in n
men are injured, manned and killed, and
at least ten thousand would pay SIu
each to see such a contest as that above
suggested If one could be held in san
Francisco. There would be about 1t the
elements of true sport" for one would
go free-each would be given a chance
for his life. The true sport will tell you
that he will not shoot bird sitting be-
cause he wants to give 1t chance.
Juries would oftener inflict the death
penalty If they knew the defendant
would have a chance for his life and OF
becoming a hero; of having page after
page in the great newspapers devoted to
his exploits. He might, it is true, feel
in duty bound to kill some one else in
order to complete his exploit, but men
patronize sport that kills and mains.
This scheme might become the Single
tax to support the Government and at
the same time give the people all the ex-
citement they need.
AN EXTRA SESSION.
Los Angeles Express: There appears
to be no doubt now that special
session Of the Fifty-ffth Congress Will
be called. Senator Thurston announces
this as a positive fact, and while lie
would not reveal his authority 1t is GER
tain that he voices the desire of Presi-
dent-elect Mckinley. It is said that
Chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means Dingley will soon officially
promulgate the announcement OF the
call for a special session, which is sup
posed to be agreed upon as March Iotn
CUBA.
San Jose Herald: Secretary Of State
Olney in his annual report says that the
time may not be far distant when the
United States will find it necessary to
change its policy toward Cuba of
course the President knew what Olney
was going to say, and taking 1t IN con-
nection with his own declaration in his
might come very shortly Likely
enough Spain may precipitate 1t py
some foolishness 1t is also probable
that Gomez and Maceo will DO some
thing shortly TO hurry up our Govern
ment. IN fact they seem to be doing
1t now.
ORGANIZED LABOR THREATENED
Stockton Mail: The unemployed the
country over are becoming real men
ace to organized labor. 1t IS not IN the
nature of man to suffer privauonS ana
hardships for any great period in sup
port of a principle, and see companion
enjoying employment and meanume
selfishly consume the proceeds OF his
labor. made possible only by the first
mans sacrifice The unemployed are
threatening TO "cut wages" The AS
sociation OF the Unemployed of San
Francisco has adopted resolutions
against regular trades unions and the
california Labor Convention in partic-
lar. The association had sent COM
nittee to ask cooperation with the Ia
Dor convention, but was rudely re
pulsed, whereat there was great indig-
nation. Resolutions were passed de-
claring that the members should offer
their services TO factories and employ
ers of labor at wages less than the
union scales. This Is a serious matter
and one that Will sooner or later force
itself upon the attention of students
of labor problems.
UNDESERVED.
Los Angeles Times: An Eastern pa
per says that Arthur Sewau will have
~, throw a brick through q plate glass
window to let the American people
know that such a man ever lived. This
ts wholly undeserved. Mr.. Sewall's
conduct throughout the campaign was
that of a gentleman and singularly in
contrast with that Of Tom Watson, the
other sleeping partner of what Bourke
Cochran facetiously termed Mr.. Bry-
ans political bigamous household"
ECONOMY IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
Fresno Expositor: There is one por-
ton of President Cleveland's message
that may well challenge the attention
and approval Of good men of all parties.
1t is that portion which urges the ut
most economy in public affairs.
The people Of this country have been
called upon during the past three years
OF depression to economiZe in their own
private affairs as never before, and this
has been a condition, not confined to a
single class-but universal. Capitalists,
business men of moderate means, and
laborers, have each in their way been
taught the lesson of necessity.
Why should not our legislation con-
form to the same condition of things
and exercise the same frugality and at