The San Francisco call., 1896-04-17
CALIFORNIA AT ST. LOUIS.

Shall California send to the st. Louis
convention a pledged or an unpledged
delegation? That question occupies at
this time more or less of the thought of
every earnest Republican. It is right that
this should be so. The question involves
the next important step to be taken in
the campaign and calls for an immediate
solution. 1t should, therefore, be dis
cussed at once, and discussed thoroughly,
in order that Republican sentiment may
be crystallized into definite form before the
State Convention meets to take action on
the issue.
THE CALL favors an unpledged delega-
ton on two broad grounds. First, that
such delegation would most faithfully
represent the prevailing sentiment of Cali
fornia Republicans. Second, that it would
be more able than pledged delegation to
advance the interests of California. To
represent the rank and file of the party
and to promote the welfare of the State
are surely considerations that must have
great weight with every loyal Republican
and every true Californian.
1t is clear that only an unpledged dele
cation can truly represent all Republicans
of California, because a delegation pledged
to particular candidate would be antag-
onistic to all others and the great mass of
the voters of the party in this State
are not opposed to any one of the illus
yul,n 90
candidates for the Presidency. 1t would
be unjust to send to st. Louis a delegation
pledged beforehand to be adverse to the
claims of either Allison, Cullum, McKin-
ley, Morton, Reed or any other aspirant.
AS the Republicans of the State will 10y
ally and enthusiastically support whoever
is nominated at st. Louis, why should
they be put in the attitude of arbitrarily
mated?
Equally clear is it that the interests of
California can be advanced by free and
untrammeled delegation much more eff
fectually than by one bound up by irreyo-
cable pledges. Nor are these interests of
little moment. We have seen great works
of pubic improvement promised by the
National Government to this State de-
layed from year to year for lack of sufi-
cient influence with the executive depart
ment of the Government to push them
forward. In this City the delayed Post
Office building is an illustration of how the
TOT L. IL
istration influence, and by citing cases in
other parts of the State it would be easy to
multiply examples.
When, in addition to the improve
ments promised but not carried out, con-
sideration is given to such great interests
peculiar to the West as mining, irrigation,
a Hawaiian cable, subsidies to Pacific
Ocean shipping and the improvement of
Pacific Ocean harbors and the great rivers
of the coast, it will be seen that the issue
is one of the greatest consequence. Cali
fornia should have representative in the
next Cabinet. Her rank in the Union en-
titles her to such an office. She will never
get it, however, if she acts blindly. What
can she profit by pledged delegation?
What may she not profit by delegation
of strong, brainy, loyal and aggressive
men acting in untrammeled freedomP
THE CALL urges these arguments with
all the force that springs from moral
conviction. Sanguine in the faith that it
is right, it calls for full and free discus
sion of the subject. We invite the whole
Republican press of the State to take it up.
We open our own columns to any earnest
Republican who wishes to be heard on
this issue, so important to all. Let it be
understood then that THE CALL is opposed
to no particular candidate and favors
none. We are for the Republican party
and the interests of California, and solely
on those grounds we favor an unpledged
delegation that will be loyal to all and
antagonistic to none.