The record-union., 1897-01-24
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
Extracts From Editorial Expression Of
Journals
OF the State and the Coast on Sub.
ieCtS of Living and News
Interest.

Oakland Tribune: At the next ses-
sion of Congress New Mexico, Oklaho-
ma, Arizona and probably Indian Ter
ritory will apply for admission as
States. In the case of New Mexico,
according to the report Of the Governor
IN 1898, there had been no material in
crease in the population during the pre-
V1ouS year, and it's status has probably
not changed very greatly since then.
Oklahoma is in a far less eligible sit
uation, and it's admittance to the Union
at this time would be exceedingly pre-
mature. AS late as 1895 the population
was 275,000, less than that of a num-
ber of American cities. In that year, Of
its twenty-five counties, only thirteen
had names. The residue were distin-
guished by letters of the alphabet only
About half the counties had no Court
houses, and only a few anything like
permanent public buildings. The only
buildings then owned by the Territory
itself were three college structures
Clearly, Oklahoma does not deserve to
be invested with Statehood. Arizona,
In 1895, had a population Of 1900 eX-
elusive of Indians, less than that Of
many Pennsylvania counties. On the
score of population it lags far behind
Oklahoma, though it has reached a
higher state than the latter in some
other respects.
CUBAN SYMPATHY.
Oakland Enquirer: The Assembly
Committee on Federal Relations has re-
ported back the Cuban resolutions,
which were referred to it, with YER
dict that, while sympathy is in order, it
is inopportune at this time to offer
advice to the Federal Government as TO
the treatment of a grave national ques-
ton" 1t certainly is. The Cuban
problem is not going to be solved in
Sacramento.
CORRUPTION TALK.
Colusa Sun: The Sun" has no pa
tience with those who talk of Corrupt
Democrats" or of corrupt Republi-
cans,'' for corruption is confined to no
party, and no man can tell where the
greater percentage lies. When a party
man IS corrupt the party does not be-
come responsible for him until 1t sus-
tafns the corrupt acts. Now, one Duck
worth was elected Chief Clerk of the
Assembly, and took, everybody admits,
several thousand dollars corruptly from
the State treasury. This should not
count against the party unless the par
ty holds said Duckworth in the posi-
ton, in which case the party becomes
responsible. This is the alternative
presented to the party in power.
TO PROTECT THEM.
San Bernardino Times-Index: H. C.
Dibble of San Francisco thinks that the
general public has no interest in the
transactions Of legislators, Boards of
Supervisors and Boards Of Education,
and proposes to throw about them
safeguards to protect them against the
undue influence of the people whose
representatives they are supposed 20
he. These bodies are to be left un-
trammeled according to his bill, AS
sembly bill No. ITO, to do their sweet
will and pleasure, and they can only
receive instructions from and make
pledges to the conventions which non.-
mate them.
THE WHIPPING POST.
Fresno Republican: Delaware, one of
the few States which has maintained
the whipping post as a means Of pun
ishfng certain kinds of crime, Is about
to adopt new Constitution which will
give no authorization for the whipping
post. Delaware has tried it and ought
to know more regarding its merits
than localities which have not tried it,
but many people will nevertheless re-
tain the opinion that eternal justice
will not be fully sustained when the
whipping post is lacking. 1t may be
argued that the punishment is cruel
and degrading, but it is not more cruel
than the crimes that it usually pun
ishes and scarcely more degrading than
confinement in jail For the wife beater
the whipping post Is the most fitting
punishment-and there are other crimes
for which it is equally appropriate
Perhaps Delaware does not need the
whipping post, but there are other
States which do.
PET SCHEMES FOR REFORM.
Stockton Independent: Governor
Budd should not be surprised at the at
titude of an apparent majority in the
Legislature in opposition to some of his