The record-union., 1896-10-01
MALICIOUS MISUNDERSTANDING
Ex-COngressman Caminetti Shown Up
at Home.
From the Jackson Republican,

~ IlOmc.
(F'rom the Jackson Republican,
A. Caminetti, ex-Congressman from
this district and present candidate on
the Demo-Populist ticket for Assem-
blyman, in his speech before the late
Democratic Convention accepting the
nomination for ASsemblyman. as he
stated solely from disinterested motives
70 help the Democratic party, took oc-
caslon to travel out Of his latitude and
launched forth into TRADE against
corporations in general and the railroad
company IN particular, and attempted
to roast Grove l.. Johnson for his atti-
tude In Congress in relation to the re-
1undlng debt of the Central Pacific to
the United States. The late Congress-
man and Would-be ASsemblyman, in
the bitterness of his spirit, made the
most audaclous attempt to deceive a
representative body of men in conven-
ton assembled that it has ever been
our lot to witness. He referred to the
fact that Congressman Johnson had
circulated through his Congressional
District a lengthy statement exrlaining
his course on the refunding proposition,
which purported to be q complete vim
dication of his course on that measure
Mr.. Caminetti did not attempt to refute
the assertions made by Mr.. johnson.
He did not claim that the money due
the Government, and which was Sc
cured by a second mortgage, would be
collected by foreclosure of that mort
gage. But he said that in a few words
he would show the utter falsity of
Johnson's reasoning. He then went on
tn that fha ha1 49,
road company had grown immensely
rich from the proceeds of the railroad.
Most Of them We're millionaircs. Out
or the colossal fortunes they had accu-
mulated they were we'll able to liqui-
cate the debt due the Government. In
the presence Of these facts what be-
came of Mr.. Johnson's defense, and
why was not the company compelled to
pay! The impression which the Dem
ocratic nominee for the Assembly tried
10 create and which he succeeded in
creating, was that the Government
could collect the millions due 1t by legal
process, II not out Of the corporate
property. at least by falling back upon
the private fortunes Of the stockhold-
ers. The retired Congressman cunning
y refrained from stating that the pri-
vate resources of the stockholders were
accountable for the debts, but the effect
Of his remarks was just the same as If
ne had said 50 In the plainest and most
emphatic language possible. In that
Democratic Convention there were men
present from every portion Of the coun-
ty, and no doubt the repudiated Repre-
sentative, sore over his defeat and
anxious to injure the man who defeated
him SO overwhelmingly, calculated that
the delegates would depart for their
respective homes and there tell their
neighbors and friends that Congress-
man Johnson had betrayed his con-
stituents on this refunding measure,
because every dollar might be collected
from the millionaire stockholders, for
A. Caminetu had said so and he Is a
lawyer by profession mad a retired
Congressman from necessity, and there
fore ought to know.
Now the decision Of the United States
Supreme Court in the Stanford case
settles the point that the private means
of the stockholders of the railroad COM
pany cannot be held responsible for the
debts OF the corporation. We cannot
believe otherwise than that Mr.. Cami-
neti knew, when he made this as
founding speech in the convention, the
scope Of that decision as we'll as any
lawyer In the land and consequently
was fully aware Of the impotency of
the argument he was trying to palm off
upon his Democratic hearers. Let Re
publicans throughout the Second Dis
tr1ct, in view Of such disreputa BILE
methods, be nerved to redoubled exer-
tions in behalf of the election of Grove
l.. Johnson, than whom an abler or
more faithful Representative was never
sent to the halls of Congress from the
racliic Coast. And let the people of
Amador County put forth their utmost
Efforts to prevent the election of one
who resorts to the methods herein de-
scribed to the Legislature Of this State;
Notwithstanding that Democrats and
Populists have Joined forces to bring
about that humiliating result