The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-01-13

/ were HSIQ In tine nOTIn OF III the SOulu,
whether they represented the miners
or the farmers, wherever over the
length and the breadth of this great
State choice has been thus manifested
for a United States Senator. that
choice, without an exception, has been
Indicated in favor of Hon. George G..
Perkins.
If any Legislature through it's act
should, as it ought, reflect the will of
| the people, then this Legislature and
this Senate, as coordinate branch
| thereof, should give its unqualified sup
port for the great office of United
States Senator to George c. Perkins.
| There never was a doubt from the
time VIXEN he returned to this State
from the scene of his laboTs in Wash
/ ing-ton but what the choice of the peo-
pie was in favor of Mr.. Perkins,
choice solemnly ratified at the polls.
! Many in this State, of calm and ma
| ture Judgment, favor the election of
| United States Senator by a direct vote
of the people. The substitute method
of instruct ton to legislators approaches
as nearly as possible to the adoption Of
| that principle and even those who may
not be bound by any expressed wish of
| their constituency are nevertheless
privileged to know and to feel that he
is the choice of the great masses of
this State
| Nearly four years ago Governor
Perkins was appointed as a United
States Senator to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Hon. Leland
Stanford. 1 well remember that upon
| that occasion in Oakland a meeting
was held wherein speeches were made
congratulating Mr.. Perkins by reason
of this great honor.
Il felt then that it mattered not so
much what was said about him then,
but what would be said of him when
| his term of office was done. The test
after all must be not what is said Of
| the candidate before he has entered
upon his duties, but what is the verdict
| of his constituency when he has re-
| turned from the accomplishment of his
lators. Senator Perkins has stood this
great test.
| This may have been regarded as
| period of probation for Senator Perk-
| ms. The high estimation in which he
| was held by his State and by his party
was, two years later shown in his cleo
| ton for the uneXpired term He is no
| longer upon probation, but has taken
| his place in the Senate of this country
and has gained for himself a high posi-
| ton in the esteem and in the confidence
| of his fellow legislators in that grand
| body.
There are men in the Senate of the
! United States who are great juriSts,
others who are great diplomats, others
who are more or less representative of
the vital interests of the nation This
State itself is represented from the
south by a lawyer, but Mr.. Perkins
stands as a representative, not so much
of diplomacy, or of the law, but he
stands as a representative business man
on behalf of the commercial and mer-
camille interests of the State of Cali
fornia.
Il believe that it is a magnificent
thing to have in the Senate of the United
States a sound business man, who has
practical acquaintance with the ne
cessities of the nation, and with her
great industrial affairs.
Hitherto it would seem to have been
the practice in the many States, and in
California particularly, to send million
aires to the United States Senate.
There have been Senatorial contests
which have gone down into history, and
which have properly provoked a demand
by the people for constitutional
amendment which will give to them a
direct choice.
The politics of this State, however,
have in the last two Senatorial cleo
tons been elevated by the selection of
the present incumbents in the United
States Senate, and Mr.. Perkins stands,
together with Mr. White, representative
Of new time, and of a new era, when
not wealth alone, but merit, prevails.
I'VE in Alameda County justly feel
proud Of Senator Perkins. Many factors
contributed to the remarkable express
sion of the popular will in favor of Re-
publican principles in that county, not
the least of the influences was the fact
that the legislative ticket embodied in
itself the avowed candidacy of our
townsmen and fellow-citizen, George c.
Perkins. for United States Senator. He
is peculiarly a man of the masses and
is properly the champion, not of the
rich and the privileged, but of the plain,
common people, whom Lincoln said that
the Lord must love because he made so
many of them.
Although he is an employer of labor,
and a manager and in control of great
Shipping interests, still in this State the
voice of his employees has never been
lifted in complaint against him.
He was not born rich, but he earned
and acquired his position. Mr.. Per
kins began life a poor boy. He to that
extent embodfes in himself something
of the meaning of Garfeld's remark
when he said that he never met rag
ged urchin but what he felt he might
owe him a salute, for he knew not what
possibilities for the future were in him.
Mr.. Perkins has energy and intelli-
gence, and this has been shown by his
career in the Senate. He mas made a
record of which not only he, but the
State which he represents, may well
feel proud
Eastern commemorative maintain
their pre- eminence in Congress by re-
turning time and time again their rep
resentatives who have acquired expert
ence and position California. may we'll
profit by their example in according a
renewal for six years OF the term or
office to Mr.. Perkins as their representa-
tive.
This man of whom / speak does not
parade his virtues, and yet he is pop
ular because he has charity, and be-
cause he has liberality-a liberality and
a charity which is not manifested in
display before the public by munificent
gifts but in the continued and ever in
creasing substantial kindnesses which |
have gone out from him to his needy fell |