The San Francisco call., 1896-11-17
A NEEDED OFFICIAL.

The interviews published in THE CALL
yesterday and this morning on the subject
of the appointment of Secre tary of Mines
and Mining show how thoroug bly, the i'm
portance of this subject is understood by
leading men in the State. 1t is clear
therefore that if resolute effort is made
by the Miners Association to obtain the
appointment of such an official they Will
not lack for support from their fellow
citizens.
The time is propitious for making a
vigorous appeal for this enlargement of
the Cabinet. With the accession to Office
of President Mckinley there will begin a
new era in the mining industry as well as
new administration. 1t will of course
be the am mbition of the new Government
to promote every industry of the country,
nd therefore the inclination will be favor
able to the appointment of the much
desired official.
Every reason points to the conclusion
that the Miners Association and those
mainly interested in the subject should be
diligent at this time in pressing their de-
sires upon Congress. If the work is once
fairly started California will not be left to
prosecute it alone. We can certainly
count upon the whole of the greater West
to act with US, and there will be strong in
ducements for the mining States of the
East to cooperate.
The industry of mining is so vast, so
varied and so widely spread that all the
great sections of the country and almost
all important States have an interest in it.
The existing condition of affairs Is GER
tainly not satisfactory to the miners of
any portion of the country. They have
therefore every inducement to combine
and work toge ther for the appointment of
a representative in the Cabinet, and with
such inducements to the industry gem
orally it seems clear that nothing is needed
for success but vigorous and competent
leadership.
That leadership it devoIves upon Cali
fornia to provide. This is in many re-
spects the greatest mining State in the
Union. Our hydraulic miners have more
to ask and N ore to expect from the Gov
ernment than the miners of any other
State. They have undoubtedly more care
fully studied the subject than those of
other sections, and it is from among them
therefore that the leader should come.
We repeat that whatever the miners
may do in this direction will have the
cordial support of THE CALL. We will
give to the contest ali the space needed TO
attract public attention and to concentrate
popular sentiment on the issue. We de-
sire to see the great mining industry of
this country advanced rapidly to its full
est possible development. We believe
that result can be effected best under the
supervision of Cabinet officer backed by
all the powers of the Government and we
therefore, not less than the miners, desire
TO bring about the appointment OF such
an official.
The task of securing such Cabinet Off
Ger is not one of easy accomplishment, but
it can be effected if the right means are
used. Let ali the mining States be brought
to act together and their com mbined force
will be too powerful to be resisted. To
secure this unity of action is the first step
to be taken. Let that step be made this
winter and it is within the limits of prob
ability that President Mckinley may have
the satisfaction of appointing to his Cab
met from California, or at least from the
great West, Secretary of Mines and
Mining