Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-07
Action of the California Republican
Convention Commented On.
THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TALK
Sentiment Of the People is Against
the Measure.
UNITED IN OPPOSITION

fornia republican state convention con-
demning the Pacific railroad funding bill Is
gratifying to the California congressional
delegation, except, perhaps, Mr.. Johnson
They regard this action of the state con-
vention as a suitable answer to the state
ment of Mr.. Huntington that the delega-
ton In Congress did not represent public
sentiment in their state when they opposed
the plan Of the Pacific railroad people.
Senator Perkins of California said that
he thought the declaration Of the republi-
can state convention against the funding
bill was fair expression of the sentiment
Of the people of California on that subject
IF there is any one question on which
the people of my state united, it is on
this In the last campaign both the demo-
Gratis and the republicans declared in op-
position to the funding bill, and It may
fairly be said that this opposition is unani-
nous. The Cdlifornans are not anti-rail-
read people. l am not an anti-ralroad
man. We simply want what is fair and
honest, and believe that the interests OF
the public and the railroads should lie the
same. The opposition to this Pacific rail
read funding proposition arises from the
belief that it is not fair; that 1T vas made
to cost great deal more than it shoIld
have through subcontracts and various
other plans of which the promoters were
the beneticiarieS.
The California people, too, are anxious
that the question Should be gotten out Of
the way in some manner, and kept out of
politics. where it is a constant irritant.
This convention which is now declared
against the funding bill is undoubtedly a
representative convention, and its action
very directly contradcts Mr.. huntingdon S
statement that there was real public
sentiment in California against the funding
bill There has been an unusual amount Of
interest in the election of delegates to this
convention. There was a strong Allison
sentiment and strong Reed sentiment,
and as it shows now a stronger Mckinley
sentiment in the state. The selection of
delegates was therefore made with a great
deal of care, and after a contest on all
sides, and the success of the Mckinley peo-
pie was in response to public sentiment in
favor of protection for American industries.
The fact that this sentiment did prevail in
spite of the popularity of both Mr.. Reed
and Mr.. Allison indicates that the great
mass of people Of the state, who just now
are more interested in protection than any
thing else, We're represented at the con-
Vention. This makes 1t evident that the
convention was representative and it's dec
laration on the Pacific railroad question
must be accepted as a declaration of the
sen timent of the people. No action was
taken as to the Santa Monica appropriation
to the river and harbor BILL but other mem
bers of the California delegation and my
self have received kilograms showing the
fornia delegation by the people of California
without regard to party"
Significance of the Action
Representative Hilborn of California said
that the resolutions of the republican state
convention were an outburst Of public SEN
timent The adoption of the resolutions
under the circumstances is simply the ex-
preston Of an uncomfortable public senti-
ment in opposition to the funding bill. The
action of the convention in this matter is
particularly significant when the circum-
stances are taken into consideration. In
the first place, the convention was not ex-
pected to declare any state policy, but was
there for the sole purpose of electing dele
gates to the natioral convention. The rail-
road people, as has been their custom
throughout the history of Pacific railroads.
undertook to control the convention, 50 as
to prevent the adoption of resolutions ad-
verse to the funding bill, and also to pre-
vent instruction to delegates fer any par
ticular candidates. They die everything
possible for the accomplishment of this,
and were in a better position to succeed in
their object than they can ever hope to be
again. In the appointment of committees
and in the organization wherever their in
fluerce could be exercised they used 1t to
insure their control of the convention. Yet
when 1t came to test they were simply
overwhelmed by the popular sentiment.
1t was the first time in the history Of the
railroad that they had not been able to so
far control the republican convention as to
prevent any declaration adverse to their
own plans. The Huntington people have
always aimed to have the delegates to the
national convention uninstructed so that
they could use them in the national con-
vention IN such way as seemed most likely
to serve the interests of the railroad. On
this occasion, however, they failed both in
their attempt to prevent the instruction to
the delegates and to prevent the adoption
of the anti-fundng bill resolution.
The Sentiment of the People.
Representative Mclaughlin of California
said: THE resolution adopted by the Cali
fornia republican convention against the
funding bill Is, have no doubt, expressive
of the sentiments of the republicans of the
state. Denunciation of the bill, however
Is not rare in my state. The last legisla-
ture denounced 1t. Various boards of trade
throughout the state have denounced it.
and the democratic executive committee
has denounced 1t. The sentiment of the
people of California, irrespective of party
IS overwhelmingly against the funding bill
and the republicans of the state are partic-
ularly strong against it,
Huntfngton's Statement Refuted.
Representative Mcclure said: 1.-THE reso-
luton is undoubtedly expressive of the
sentiments of the people of California
we haVent gone as lar here as the reSolu-
tions in advocating the government owner
ship of the road, because we have found
that there is a feeling against it. The
resolutions go far to refuting Mr.. Hunt
ington's statement that there are only a
few people in the state opposing the bill.
The democratic state convention, which
meets on the 18th of June, will take the
same action. and will condemn the bill in
strong terms. The democratic state CEN
trail committee several weeks ago con-
demned it and sent me resolutions to put
before the House,
Senator Whites Irony.
Senator White, democrat, said ironically:
ut is good confirmation of Mr.. Hunting
toms estimate of public sentiment"
Sentiment From the First.
Representative Barham of California
said: The resolutions are merely a re-
announcement of the sentiment OF. the peo.
pie of California as 1t has been from the
first, and as it was expressed by the unan-
imous resolution of the legislature"
ReftcrntiOn of Republican Position.
Mr.. Lous said that the resolutions were
simply a reiteration of the position of the
republicans of California on this question