The herald., 1898-12-27
The Making of a Senator
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Three main factors enter into senatorial
contest-personal worth, political patronage
and private sack. For the purpose OF con-
sidering the impending conflict at the cap
itol, the first factor-personal worth-may
be eliminated. l know many good, simple
minded people believe United States SEN
ator is elected because he possesses in an
eminent degree all those high qualifications
and abilities deemed necessary Tor his sue
cess at Washington. Theoretically, that
should be true; practically, there is no truth
in it. In these degenerate days, the success
full scramblers for the senatorial toga are
those that can give their supporters the
best assurances of easy berths and good sal
aries as rewards, or those Others that SIM
ply produce their coin, buy the place, and
are content with driving good bargain.
Shocking! Of course it is to moralists, but
moralists, reformers and all that ilk have
but small place in politics, and their voice
is that of one crying in the wilderness. Poll
tics is an intensely practical proposition,
and he who plays the game deals for the
most part with the selfish and the avaric-
ious. Ii one would win, he must keep
firm grasp upon his chessmen, and direct
their every movement.
With some knowledge, then, of the game
now playing, consider personal worth
false quantity. No one hears the abilities
of the candidates discussed. The sole ques-
ton is that which Herrin propounded;
"How many votes does he control!" Nor
would it be suggested that votes should go
to a candidate because he is palpably SUI
perior to his rivals in senatorial equipment,
provided such a man were in the field Ever
before the members of the legislature is the
figure of Political Patronage, and ever
around them is the shadow of the Private
Sack.
These two geni will wage n mighty battle
for their favorites at Sacramento. The rail
road will stand aside until the combatants
are about exhausted, and then will step in
and claim the stronger for its own. lie Will
be made the senator, for such is the rail-
roads way. 1t no longer uses its coin as
freely as OF yore in buying votes. 1t now
forces the man that solicits its favor to sep
arate himself from his own coin, and then,
if his opponent prove more formidable, it
simply appropriates him. 1t is immaterial
who the man is, if he but wear the railroad
collar But let no man be blind in his wis
dom. and allow himself to think the rail
road will not cast the deciding vote when
the lines are drawn and the issue comes.
Shall it pay Herrin salary of $4,000, and
then lose the greatest prize OF the year!
Perish the thought!
The new senator will have two lines of
political patronage on which to draw. The
state administration becoming Republican,
scores of good places will be opened for the
faithful. Then the taking over Of Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines. and the es-
tablishment of the territory OF Hawai-, open
Il field Of vast possibilities. The prizes to
be won will be dangled in all their golden
will he tempted or intimidated by the
agents.
Most of the members of the legislature
seek to use their seats at Sacramento as
stepping stones to better things. Ninety
per cent of the new members are poor men,
who can i'll afford the expense Of cam
paign. Many of these 60 to Sacramento
with the laudabe object of remedying public
evils, and making good laws for the people.
But deep down in the heart of each of them
is yearning desire for higher office with
salary, an appointment under the admin
istration, or a connection with a rich cor
poration for the purposes of private busi-
ness. Some may enter politics without sell
fish motives, but term at Sacramento will
effectually cure that weakness. Should peo-
pie express surprise then, if the members of
the legislature are frequently dazzled by the
specious promises of corporation that
seems all-powerful throughout the state?
The railroad manipulates conventions, nomi-
mates state officers, and names senators.
Who are the members of the legislature
that they should not bow down before the
sovereign will?
But there is always the Private Sack. The
Republican press says rich and juicy one
is abroad in the land, seeking whom it may
devour. An shall little law-maker say it
nay? What benefteth it man to take the
promise of job to come, and overlook the
ready gold at hand? Better it is that ninety
ard nine jobs should be hung up on the tree
of promise than that one sack should be dis
appointed in its hopes.
Patronage and the sack will each claim its
votaries The railroad will always hold the
balance of power. That explains why Her
rim was so anxious to know how many votes
De Young and Spreckels controlled. Hunt
ington's man needs knowledge of his oppo-
nent's strength before making the game.
But he will get the votes, and make the SEN
ator, for the railroad is mighty and will pre-
ail.-Edward f. Moran in San Francisco
Call.