The record-union., 1896-06-07

1t must be said for the Democrats of
who fight in good spirits with old
smoothbores in the face of magazine
rifles. They are so accustomed to being
at disadvantage in point Of equip
ment that they have apparently become
unconscious of their hard luck. In the
matter of newspapers their plight is al
most ludicrous, for there is not one
journal of Statewide circulation that
does battle for the party. San Fran
cisco is a Democratic city, yet of it's
six dailieS not one is Democratic Most
OF them hammer away like hot partisans
for Republicanism, and there is only the
Examiner" to offset them. That paper,
however, has no mind to make any sac
rifices for the Democracy. Half of its SUBJ
scribers are Republicans and, on busi-
ness principles, it is not to be blamed
for not wanting to offend them by hav-
ing anti-Republican opinions. So it is
silent editorially on system as to all the
questions which divide the parties. More
that that, it endears itself to the Repub-
lican readers by detailing it's cleverest
reporters to write divertingly, Of the
racy If the Democrats don't like this
sort of thing they are without recourse,
for if they drop the Examiner they
must take a Republican organ in it's
stead, or go without the news. The es-
teemed Examiner has the Democ-
racy in the door, and knows It, Time
was when the Democracy was mad
about 1T, but that was long ago. The
party is reconciled now to doing without
newspaper help in San Francisco, and
the leaders arrange campaigns accord
fngly. One good result of this anoma-
lous situation is that the voter is COM
PEELED to do his own thinking There is
no city in the United States where news
paper influence counts for so little. The
election of SutrO, with no daily paper
Tor him. by a clear majority over all his
opponents, was a sufficient demonstra-
ton of that. / am told that General
Spreckels is greatly disappointed at
finding the Cali Is not a commanding
power in the realm of political opinion.
1t is not surprising that he should be
disappointed, but San Franciscans have
grown SO used to regarding a newspaper
as a commercial enterprise merely that
interested views would astonish them.
why Democratic city with many
wealthy Democrats should be without
an organ Of the party is thus made plain.
since it is daily borne in upon men of
sense that the press here is a puryevor
or Views and nothing more. such men
are not tempted to put money into a.
newspaper simply for opinions sake
They are afraid it wouldn't pay. and
their fear is well grounded. considering
their limitations. A first-rate news
paper in this city that should also he
democratic would at once get a State
circulation, but it takes more than
money and politics to make a ffrst-rate
newspaper There is every likelihood
tnat the California Democracy will have
10 continue to worry along without an
organ In San Francisco The party SO
Iar as this town goes, is in the same
boat with the Populists.
Speaking of the Call" 7 have NOT
seen 1t mentioned in print that Charles
AZ ohortridge, the editor, has broken
ocWn In health and has not been active
IN the papers management for several
months. He was confined to his bed for
weeks and is now rusticating at tbe
springs. The fearful excitement and
responsibility of metropolitan iourna1-
ism, which is wearing on one who has
not learned by long experience inst
what ought to be left cut, was too nucb
for Mr.. Shortridge. Accustomed az be
is IN private life to strong speech and
energetic action, the restraints of the
cars editorial page could not but
nave peen as choking hand upon his
throat Life without the freedom to
"hoop things up and, as he would say.
rip 'em UP the back, is not tolerable
tc Major Shortridga AS the "CaII,,
speaks for all, which is equivalent To
sPeaklng for nobody in particular the
MAJOR sank under the weight of sup
Presslon, and 1T is his gifted brother,
colonel Sam, who has been contribut-
ing the editorials, the beauty of whose
rhetoric and avoidance of dangerous
thought have interested all students
OF modern journalism. To conduct a
great paper which speaks for the
whole world and everybody in il. is no
task at all for the Colonel. 1t is re-
taxation from his tolls as a LAWYER
ana statesman. Even when he departs
as delegate to the ST. Louis Conven-
ton the CALI will not be without its
daily supply of editorials, for it is ar
ranged, L am Informed, that a short
hand writer shall record his car-step
speeches to the multitudes assembled at
the various railway stations and tele-
graph them back for home use.
nr To-
mending, will on his recovery resume
the duties of the editorship has not
been disclosed by General Spreckels.
The denomination OF Congressman
Mcguire has given general satisfac-
ton to Democrats, but it brings es-
pecial joy to the sing .e-taxers, whose
chief in California the Judge is. They
justly regard Maguire's hold on popu-
lar favor as q proof that the people
no longer regard belief in the single
tax as a sign that 4 man is a crank
Yesterday l asked Joseph Leggett,
Judge Maguires second in command.
concerning the strength of the disciples
of Henry George in this State. He said
it was hard to tell. There are single
tax clubs here, in Sacramento, Oakland,
santa Rosa, Los Angeles. San Rafael.
Visalia and Hanford. Only those in
San Francisco and Los Angeles show
much activity. Ten thousand sigma
lures have been obtained to a petition
TO the Legislature asking for a law
which shall abolish all taxes except on
land values. The campaign In Della
ware for the capture of the Legisla-
ture. said Mr.. Leggetf, sis doing more
Tor the cause than anything that has
ever happened. You can't measure our
strength by the enrnlIad man, hnrShira