The San Francisco call., 1897-10-27
Hon. James G, Mcguire An
nOunces His Candidacy
for Governor.
He Says He Will Stand on the
Democratic Platform, What
ever That May Be.
Opinions on the Congressman IS
Chances by Some Leading Re-
pubhcans-He Cannot Win.

Congressman Jamss G. Maguires an
nouncement OF him as a candidate for
Fubernatorial honors has created no en-
thusiasm. He will allow his name to go
before the next Democratic State Corven-
tlon as a candidate for Governor, and ,
laying aside hIs long-cheTished hobby of
single tax. will stand upon the platform
Of the Democratic party, whatever that
MAY he. His declaration is as follows:
Il Is quite probable that my name will be
81 milted 10 he next Democratic state Con-
vention : candidate TOT Governor. Ii nomi-
mated l viii certainly be pleased to acce pit.
but VIII max no com binstions, nor viii
make any pr mlses o:her Than those con-
tanned IL the published platform in order to
secure the nCmi laI-Oa.
am not candidate for the office in any
sense involving the manipu alton Of county
committees or conventions or primary cleo
uo1S IN order TO StCurr friendly delegates. /
want q Tree aud uutrammeled State cOnven-
ton, standing for Democratic principles un-
lhlterlu9ly aud seeking the strongest candI-
Gale 10 represent those principles. To such r
convention ! would Submtt my name and
3 b de Its judgment No other kind Of Demo-
CTat convenuol can nominate the next Cow
eTnor ! 60 mol know that 1 am, or tha, I Will
bc, the strongest cEnd date. No mans judg-
ment OF his own popuisrity Is OF any value.
But the general opinion OF free and honest
delegates from every county IN the State will
b- rig int on al such queS tiOus, and tle party's
strength depends upon their being free and
honest in their choice ard actions. \ pro-
grammed convention IS always an abomlna-
1iou, aud IN the Democra tic parry II Always in
Nites ana generally secures deieGt in Callfor-
nlr.
The single tax will not be an issue il the
next canIlaIgn IN California because IL Is yet
In the educational Stage. II mas not vet ad-
vanced 10 The siage OF practical politics In
the esta b.Ishmen o. a new pol ltical principle
th- c-eaenC5 UT he people must be changed
by education before any rational attempt can
Ue mAue 10 enact the rev principle. In Cali
tornla the sing.e tax can be secured only
through q co7sutuuonal amendment, which
must be Su omitted by me legislature and
adopted by the people. The Governor mas not
even veto on such amendment.
mere i one great vice IN our system OF tax
alton which the next State adm lnistration
and all County Asses Sors and Supervisors
should be pledged to correct, and ICr which
The pre-ent constitution provides a remedy.
! 2 Ter 10 the provision OF The constitution re-
Inc same quality au' similarly located 10 be
equally assessed for taxation. The provision
mas been violated IL lue interest Of specu-
!2tors and against occupying owners for the
last eighteen years, III nearly every county If
not IN every county, OF the State. The en-
iorcemeDt OF thst provision OF the coustitu.
uou would force into settlement and use vast
quantities OF land now held In idleness for
r. -p culAtlou and give homes to tens OF tnou-
sands o. our homeless people, including thou
>shis OF our maturing sons and daughters, for
VA n there are no opportunities open.
No honest man can oppose this reform, Hi-
though 1t would tend 10 accomplish one OF the
purposes OF the singie tax.
The great battle tor human rights as against
the monopoly powers 81 coucentrated wealth,
must and Will b. clearly and strongly pro-
Gained In the platform. II Il Is to be, as De-
leve il will be, truly Democratic. There is
no longer room in this country for TWO mo-
nopo!y UaTteS-oue active and the other pas
sve- The Democratic party must become
more anu more democraIc-more and more
aggressIve IN Its utter hostility TO all forms of
pr yllege. or il must die. Ii cannot die. be-
cause is principles are eternal, and men are
so constituted b. their Creator that those
principles must ever and everywhere find or
ganlz-d and Jealous sup. ort
The announcement was received wi b
but little surprise, for il has en- known
1or some rfme that the advocate OF single
Tax was afA cted with a lively guDernsto-
rial Dee. Democratic politicians who
have had sharp eye on the people and
have o-en quick 10 note the 81 ms of sat s.
facuon which the present Republican ad-
minlstrauOn has Occasioned are trying 10
hone that Mcguire may prove strong
enough to stave OF the defeat which they
ieel will be theirs.
The Republican leaders believe that Mr..
Mcguire Is the strongest man in the
Democratic camp for the position, but are
confident that he cannot win.
Several prominent Repu ublcans were in
tervlewed yesterday. ami all expressed